DANGER
Without the grass deflector, discharge cover,
or complete grass catcher assembly mounted
in place, you and others are exposed to blade
contact and thrown debris. Contact with
rotating mower blade(s) and thrown debris
will cause injury or death.
•
Always install the grass deflector when
removing the bagger and changing to
side-discharge mode.
•
If the grass deflector is damaged, replace
it immediately. The grass deflector directs
material down toward the turf.
•
Never put your hands or feet under the
machine.
•
Never try to clear the discharge area or
mower blades unless you move the power
takeoff (PTO) to the O
FF
position, rotate the
ignition key to O
FF
, and remove the key.
Transporting the Machine
Ensure that the latch is fastened at the rear of the
bagger hood before you trailer the machine.
DANGER
Transporting the machine with grass or debris
in the bagger can damage the machine.
Do not leave grass or debris in the bagger
while transporting the machine.
Operating Tips
Machine Size
Remember that the machine is longer and wider with
this attachment installed. By turning too sharply in
confined places, you may damage the attachment or
other property.
Trimming
Always trim with the left side of the mower. Do not trim
with the right side of the mower because you could
damage the bagger chute and discharge tube.
Cutting Height
For optimum bagging performance, set the deck
height-of-cut to remove no more that 51 to 76 mm (2
to 3 inches) or 1/3 of the grass height, whichever is
less. Cutting off more than this reduces the capacity
of the vacuum system.
Cutting Frequency
Cut the grass often, especially when it grows rapidly.
You will have to cut your grass twice if it gets
excessively long; refer to
Bagging Long Grass (page
.
Cutting Technique
For best lawn appearance, be sure to slightly overlap
the mower into the previously cut area. This helps
reduce the load on the engine and reduces the chance
of plugging the blower assembly and tube.
Bagging Speed
The bagging system may plug if you drive too fast
and the engine speed is too slow. On hills, it may be
necessary to slow the ground speed of the machine.
Mow downhill whenever possible.
CAUTION
As the bagger fills, extra weight is added to
the back of the machine. If you stop and start
the machine suddenly on hills, you may lose
steering control or the machine may tip.
•
Do not start or stop suddenly when going
uphill or downhill. Avoid uphill starts.
•
If you do stop the machine when going
uphill, disengage the PTO. Then back down
the hill using a slow speed.
•
Do not change speeds or stop on slopes.
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