Ariens 912 - Manual (Page 12)

Operation (Continued)
A new lawn has much softer blades of grass
and has a higher moisture content. It is impor­
tant for this type of iawn to be cut with sharp
biades.
Cutting height will vary with different types of
grass, climate, and individual preference.
When first using your riding mower, cut grass
a little longer than you did with narrower cut­
ting units until you are sure that a greater cut­
ting width will not cause scalping due to ir­
regularities in lawn.
Generally, grass should be cut about 1-1/2”
long in spring, and not less than 2!’ long in hot
summer weather.
If grass is high, or if it contains a high degree
of moisture, cut it first with mower pan set
high and then cut it with mower pan set lower.
This gives better distribution of clippings and
provides a clean second cut.
Height of cut should not be set too low on
thick, lush lawns. Such grass, if cut too short,
may die. This also applies to springy, heavy
growth lawns. If blade is set too low, mower
pan will drag on grass and restrict air flow thus
reducing discharge of grass clippings.
A
WARNING: NEVER attempt to clear
riding mower pan or discharge while
engine is running. Disengage Mower
Clutch lever (OUT), stop engine, remove
key, wait for moving parts to stop before
attempting to clear away any obstruc­
tion.
Grass should be cut when it is dry; not when it
is wet from dew, rain or from watering. When
wet, grass tends to pack inside mower pan and
will not discharge properly, especially if height
of cut is set too low.
A CAUTION: Stay alert for holes, rocks,
roots and hidden hazards in area of
operation. Exercise extreme caution
when operating on or crossing gravel
drives, walks or roads. Stay alert for traf­
fic.
To insure most complete and even cut, overlap
each swath.
Plan your cutting so that you always trim with
the left side of mower pan.
Following the same pattern each time you
mow your lawn can develop ridges at right
angles to direction of mowing. By changing
direction of mowing (when possible) you can
prevent this.
Turn clockwise (right turn) when beginning to
mow large, open areas. This discharges clipp­
ings away from borderline objects (sidewalks,
driveways, fences, etc.). After making a
clockwise pass, mow in a counterclockwise
(left turn) direction. This discharges clippings
evenly over cut grass. Continuous clockwise
mowing will cause a build up of clippings,
preventing a uniform cut.
Slow down when making turns. Short, fast
turns can cause; scuffing (outside front tire
slides and pulls out grass), step type cutting or
some grass may not be cut.
When mowing, regulate forward travel speed
with Speed Selector and always operate
engine at full throttle. This maintains proper
blade speed and air flow to facilitate discharg­
ing of clippings. Mowing with a lower throttle
setting causes blade to tear grass, resulting in
poor lawn appearance.
A good fertilization program and frequent
watering will help keep your lawn weed free
and green all year long. Due to variations in
climate, soil and grass varieties, contact your
local garden supply dealer, park or golf course
superintendent, or county agent to obtain
specific information pertaining to your area.
NOTE: Be sure to clean mower pan after each
use. Do not allow grass clumps or a coating of
grass and debris to collect inside of mower
pan. Avoid operation over bare ground intermit­
tent with grass cutting as this causes dirt and
grass to collect and cake under pan surface.
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