Husqvarna Z554L Owner Manual - Page 19

O P E R AT I O N WARNING! Do not drive the rider on terrain that slopes more than 10 degrees. Mow slopes up and down, never side to side. Avoid sudden directional changes. Mowing Tips • Find and flag rocks and other fixed objects to avoid collisions. • Begin with a high cutting height and reduce it until the desired mowing result is attained. Cut the average lawn to 2-1/2" (63.5 mm) during the cool season and over 3" (76.2 mm) during the hot months. For healthier and better looking lawns, mow often after moderate growth. • For best cutting performance, mow grass over 6" (15.2 cm) in height twice. Make the first cut relatively high; the second to the desired height. • The mowing result will be best with a high engine speed (the blades rotate rapidly) and low speed (the rider moves slowly). If the grass is not too long and dense, the driving speed can be increased without negatively affecting the mowing result. • When mowing large areas, start by turning to the right so that clippings will discharge away from shrubs, fences, driveways, etc. After one or two rounds, mow in the opposite direction making left hand turns until finished. • Use compressed air to clean top surface of the deck. Avoid flooding water on top surface, engine and electrical components. • When the mulching kit is used, it is important that the mowing interval is frequent. WARNING! Do not make adjustments unless: • the engine is stopped, • the ignition key is removed, • the park brake is engaged Moving Machine By Hand Bypass Valves Bypass valves are used to release the system so the machine may be moved by hand when not running. Hydro Pumps When pushing or pulling the mower, engage the bypass valve on each transaxle. Access to the valves is from the lower rear of the unit. The bypass valves are located on the front, inner sides of the transaxles. Set the deck to the lowest position when accessing the pump valves. To disengage each pump, turn the slot on the pump valve 45O clockwise from the RUN position to the BYPASS position. • The finest lawns are obtained by mowing often. The lawn becomes more even and the grass clippings more evenly distributed over the mown area. The total time taken is not increased as a higher operating speed can be used without poor mowing results. • Avoid mowing wet lawns. The mowing result is poorer because the wheels sink into the soft lawn, clumps build, and grass clippings fasten under the cowling. • Hose the mower deck underside with water after each use. When cleaning, the mower deck shall be raised into the transport position. Make sure the mower is cooled and the engine is off. Load the machine into truck or trailer by driving up ramps in low gear. DO NOT LIFT! The machine is not intended to be lifted by hand. WARNING! Use extreme caution when loading the machine into a truck or trailer using ramps. There is the possibility of serious injury or death if the machine falls off the ramps. 19