Mulch ’n catch, Convertible rotary lawnmower, Model 30 – Rover MULCH 'N CATCH 30 User Manual

Page 4

Rover Mowers Limited MULCH ’N CA TCH

Congratulations on yourpur

chase of RoverMowers’

latest addition to its lawn

care range, the Rover

Mulch ’N Catch Mower .

The Rover Mulch ’N Catch is a convertible mower

.This allows you to use the mower

with the grass catcher fitted to the mower, (to pick up the grass cuttings) or remove the

grass catcher and fit with the mulching plug to mulch the grass. The advantage of this

design is that it allows you to gain the benefits of mulch mowing, but at times of rapid

growth, or when the mulched grass clippings are tending to build up, the grass catcher

can be fitted and the grass clippings removed.

INTRODUCTION

1.1

Mulching

The Rover Mulch ’N Catch mower

set up as a mulching mower (grass

catcher removed and mulch plug fit-

ted) reduces the grass clippings into

very fine particles. The design

allows for the even distribution of

the grass particles at the base of the

lawn.

The mulched clippings can then:

•

Breakdown quickly, releasing

nutrients into the soil, saving on

fertiliser costs

•

Reduce evaporation of moisture

from the soil which reduces water-

ing costs and effort

•

Help to control temperature

extremes protecting the roots of

the grass

•

Assist in controlling soil erosion

1.2

Benefits foryour

lawn

Research has shown that lawns are

usually cut too short.

Grass, like any

other plant life, relies on photosyn-

thesis to regenerate and survive.

Reduced leaf size (from cutting too

low) can seriously affect a lawn by:

•

Making it easy prey for disease

•

Encouraging weeds to take hold

•

Exposing the soil to:

–greater evaporation

–temperature extremes; and

–erosion

Raising the cut heigh and using

mulch mowing follows the best

practice for nurturing a healthier

more attractive lawn.

1.3

Benefits foryou

Because you mulch as you mow

the

time and cost savings are also sig-

nificant:

•

Eliminates raking of leaves before

mowing (the Mulch ’N Catch

mower picks up and converts fall-

en leaves into mulch)

•

Eliminates raking of cut grass

•

Saves the time spent emptying the

catcher

•

Automaticaly disposes of grass

clippings

•

Eliminates the need to dispose of

clippings at the refuse tip

SETTING UP

2.1

Multi-purpose

Y our Mulch ’N Catch mower is set

up for mulching as delivered from

the factory:

•

Multi-purpose mulch blade fitted

•

Mulch plug fitted

convert to a grass catching

mower simply remove the mulch

plug and fit the grass catcher sup-

plied. (Refer to the section on mulch

plug removal

for detailed instruc-

tions)

2.2

Installing the Mulch Plug

1.Lift the rear flap

2.Remove the grass catcher

(if fitted)

3.Insert the long right hand side

of the mulch plug first.

4.Guide the mulch plug, until the

spring tab rests against the top

edge of the mower base and the

lower “ramped” edge rests on the

front top edge of the axle retain-

ing bracket.

5.Give the mulch plug a firm jolt

forward and down into place.

2.3

Removing the Mulch Plug

1.Lift the rear flap.

2.Grasp the handle and, with a firm

jolt, lift the mulch plug up and

away from the mower.

3.Guide the mulch plug out by

rotating the shorter left hand side

to the right and then guiding the

longer right hand section until

clear of the mower. (Refer to the

diagram on the mulch plug itself)

MAINTENANCE

3.1

General MowerMaintenance

Refer to your Rotary Lawnmower

Owner’s

Manual, Section 3,

Maintenance.

3.2

Mulching Equipment

For optimum mulching performance:

•

The mulching blades are to be

kept sharp

•

Maintain the blade sharpening

angle when sharpening

•

Keep the cutting edge feather free

when sharpening

•

Keep the underside of the mower

deck and the mulch plug free of

grass build-up

W A

RNING

Before r

emoving orinstalling the

Mulch plug orGrasscatcher

the

Engine must be stopped.

3.3 Cutting Assembly

1. Disconnect the spark plug wire.
2. Move the Cut Height Lever to the

high cut position and fold the handle
bars down.

3. Tilt the mower so that the spark plug

is up.

4. Inspect the cutting assembly for

damage and wear.

5. Check the disc retaining bolts.

Tighten the centre bolt to 65-70 Nm
and the three concentric bolts to
8-11 Nm.

3.4 Blade Change

Refer to your Mower Owner’s Manual.
1. Disconnect the spark plug wire.
2. Set the mower to the high cut

position.

3. Lift the rear flap and prop open to

give access to the blades.

4. Remove the blade retaining bolts,

nuts and washers and discard.

5. Fit new blades, blade bolts, washers

and nuts in sets to maintain balance.

Useful Mulching Hints

Mulch mowing is an acquired art form,

and to produce the best results consis-
tently, follow these useful hints:

• 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 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 diagram.

• Do not push the mulch 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
recut the blades of grass. If the mulch
blades are not kept sharp mulching per-
formance will be reduced.

• Keep the underside of the base clean.

Build-up of grass under the base blocks
the air flow created by the mulch blade
and reduces mulching performance.

WARNING

Before working on the mower:
• Stop the engine
• Remove the spark plug wire

If clumping of grass is visible, raise
the cutting height of the mower.

ROVER

Mowers Limited

ABN 11 000 257 303

04003993
Rev. B

NEW ZEALAND
Rover Mowers
East Tamaki,
Auckland
New Zealand.

Rover Mowers Limited MULCH ’N CATCH

Mulch ’N Catch

Convertible Rotary Lawnmower

Model 30

PRINTED IN
AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIA
Rover Mowers
PO Box 1235
Eagle Farm, 4009
Australia.

10-2004

3993 Mulch & Catch Brochure 23/9/04 2:51 PM Page 1