Operating Instructions
46
General Information
The Grass Handling System (GHS) consists of a
rear discharge mower deck connected to a 10 in.
(25 cm) blower and a rear mounted grass catcher
with 7.0 bushel (246 liters) capacity or optional 9.5
bushel (335 liters) capacity. The GHS blower oper-
ates any time the mower blade clutch is engaged
and moves grass through the rear discharge deck
chute into the grass catcher. Blower airflow is ex-
hausted out the back of the grass catcher, through a
filtering screen. When the grass catcher is full and
needs to be emptied, a “full” signal horn alerts
the operator. When the “full” signal horn sounds, it
is important to stop mowing to prevent overfilling
and clogging of the blower system.
IMPORTANT: Normally, the GHS blower operates
with no maintenance or cleaning required. How-
ever, under certain operating conditions, the inside
of the blower housing may accumulate a deposit of
dirt, causing wear and binding of the blower wheel.
Normally, dirt buildup occurs when mowing a com-
bination of dirty and damp grass, especially in
the springtime. When operating in these condi-
tions, check the blower wheel frequently for
binding and clean the blower housing as required.
Refer to CLEANING the GHS Blower in
Mainte-
nance Instructions
.
NOTE: In Autumn, when using the GHS mower to
vacuum leaves, it is recommended to raise the
front of the mower deck 2 to 3 notches [1 to 1-1/2
in. (25 to 38 mm)] higher than the rear. This will
avoid “bulldozing” leaves, particularly when the
leaves are piled in a thick layer. To make this ad-
justment, the hitch pins in the two (2) front deck
support pins are repositioned 2 to 3 notches higher
while leaving the rear pins in their original position.
NOTE: When a side discharge or mulching mow-
er deck is installed on the GHS model, a blower
intake cover should be installed in the blower intake
tube. This cover “unloads” the blower and seals
the intake to effectively eliminate power loss and
blower noise when the blower is not being used.
Blower Intake Cover
NOTE: An alternative to using the blower intake
cover when a side discharge or mulching deck is
installed on a GHS model is the blower lockout kit
(P/N 6541). The blower lockout kit releases ten-
sion on the blower drive belt and does not require
the blower intake cover.
DANGER
NEVER operate the GHS catcher with the
back door open. Objects may be thrown
out the back of the catcher with sufficient
force to cause serious injury to bystand-
ers or property damage. NOTE: For non-
catching operation, the "No-Catch" De-
flector is an available accessory item.
DANGER
ROTATING BLOWER BLADES
NEVER operate the GHS blower with the
blower discharge chute uncovered (grass
catcher in the dump position) since dan-
gerous projectiles may be thrown. NEVER
put hands into the blower discharge chute
for any reason. Use a stick or similar in-
strument to remove any material if clog-
ging has occurred.
CAUTION
NEVER leave grass clippings in the grass
catcher after mowing. Damp clippings
generate heat as they decompose. This
MAY cause spontaneous combustion.
Blower
Intake Cover
