SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Never mow while barefoot or wearing open sandals or thongs. Wear long trousers and heavy shoes
Know your controls. Read the owner’s manual carefully. Learn how to stop the engine quickly in any
emer-gency
Make sure the lawn is clear of sticks, stones, bones, wire and debris. They could be thrown by the blade
Stop the engine and disconnect the spark plug wire before clearing blockages, checking, or working on
the mower.
Before using, always visually inspect to see that blades, blade bolts and cutter assembly are not worn or
damaged. Replace worn or damaged blades in sets to preserve balance.
DAMAGED BLADES AND WORN BOLTS ARE MAJOR HAZARDS.
•Check all nuts, bolts and screws often; always be sure the mower is in a safe operating condition. Use
only genuine replacement parts.
•Refuel outdoors only. Do not smoke while fuelling engine. Add fuel before starting the en-gine. Never re-
move the cap off the fuel tank or add fuel while the engine is running or the engine is hot. If fuel is spilled, do
not attempt to start the engine but move the machine away from the area of the spill and avoid creating any
source of ignition until fuel vapours have dissipated.
•Do not mow whilst people, especially children or pets are in the mowing area.
•Replace worn or faulty silencers (muffler).
•Mow only in good daylight.
•Never use the mower unless the grass catcher or guards (rear flap) provided by the manufacturer are in
•Start the engine carefully with feet well away from the blade.
•Do not operate the engine in a confined space where exhaust fumes (carbon monoxide) can collect.
•Stop the engine whenever you leave the mower, even for a moment.
•Do not allow children or people unfamiliar with these instructions to use the mower.
•Store the mower in a well-ventilated room away from naked flames such as may be found in hot water
heaters.
•Do not over-speed the engine or alter governor settings. Excessive speed is dangerous and shortens the
mower life.
•It is advisable to wear suitable eye protection when operating a mower.
•Turn the fuel off at the conclusion of mowing and reduce the throttle setting during engine run-out.
•Store fuel in a cool place in a container specifically designed for the purpose. In general, plastic
containers are unsuitable.
•Stop the engine, disconnect the spark plug wire and inspect the mower if: a) the mower begins to vibrate
abnormally; or b) after striking a foreign object.
•Never cut grass while walking backwards.
•Stop the engine before pushing the mower across gravel drives, walks or roads.
•Walk, never run.
•Mow across the face of slopes, never up and down. Exercise extreme caution when changing direction
on slopes. Do not mow excessively steep slopes.
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Never pick up or carry a mower when it is operating.
Raising the cut height and using mulch mowing follows the best practice for nurturing a healthier more attractive
lawn with less water usage.
BENEFITS FOR YOU
Because you mulch as you mow the time and cost savings are also significant:
Eliminating raking of leaves before mowing (Mulch mowing picks up and converts fallen
Eliminating raking of cut grass.
Saves time spent emptying the catcher.
Automatically disposing of grass clippings.
Eliminating the need to dispose of clippings at the refuse tip.
USEFUL MULCH MOWING TIPS
Mulch mowing is an art form and to produce the best results consistently, follow these useful hints:
Figure 20. Grass height
Do not attempt to mulch if the grass is too wet.
Wet grass tends to clump together and does not evenly spread out.
It also clogs up the underside of the base.
Do not mulch mow on too low a cutting height.
Remember the maximum cut should be 25mm off the top of the
grass, or 1/3 the grass (blade) height, whichever is the
lesser amount. Refer to figure 20.
Do notpush the mower too fast.
To obtain the best finish it may be necessary to regulate the ground
speed.
Run the engine at full throttle.
Running the engine at low speed does not allow the blades to
mulch the grass efficiently.
Keep the mulch blades sharp.
The mulch blades are designed to cut and re-cut the blades of grass. If the mulch blades are not
kept sharp, mulching performance will be reduced.
Keep the underside of the mower and mulch plug clean.
Build-up of grass under the mower base blocks the airflow created by the mulch blade and
reduces the mulching performance.
If the conditions for mulch mowing are not ideal and some clipping trails are visible after cutting maybe
necessary to:
1. Fit the grass catcher and catch mow.
2. Re-mow over the visible clippings.
3. Raise the cut height.
4. Rake the clippings up after mowing.
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Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use common sense when operating the mower. DO NOT use
the mower whilst tired or under the influence of drugs, alcohol or medication. A moment of inattention
while operating may result in serious injury.
