Toro 20330 Operation Manual - Page 9

Side-discharging the Clippings Use the side discharge for cutting very tall grass. If the bag is on the mower, remove it before side-discharging the clippings. Removing the Side Discharge Chute To remove the side discharge chute, lift up the side deflector, remove the side discharge chute, and lower the side discharge deflector. Operating Tips The blade is sharp; contacting the blade can result in serious personal injury. Stop the engine and wait for all moving parts to stop before leaving the operating position. Installing the Side Discharge Chute Lift up the side deflector and install the side discharge chute (Figure 13). General Mowing Tips • Clear the area of sticks, stones, wire, branches, and other debris that the blade could hit. • Avoid striking solid objects with the blade. Never deliberately mow over any object. • If the mower strikes an object or starts to vibrate, immediately stop the engine, disconnect the wire from the spark plug, and examine the mower for damage. • For best performance, install a new blade before the cutting season begins. • Replace the blade when necessary with a Toro replacement blade. Cutting Grass • Cut only about a third of the grass blade at a time. Do not cut below the 2-1/8-inch (54 mm) setting unless the grass is sparse or it is late fall when grass growth begins to slow down. Refer to Adjusting the Cutting Height. • When cutting grass over 6 inches (15 cm) tall, mow at the highest cutting height setting and walk slower; then mow again at a lower setting for the best lawn appearance. If the grass is too long, the mower may plug and cause the engine to stall. • Mow only dry grass or leaves. Wet grass and leaves tend to clump on the yard and can cause the mower to plug or the engine to stall. Figure 13 Wet grass or leaves can cause serious injury if you slip and contact the blade. Mow only in dry conditions. • Be aware of a potential fire hazard in very dry conditions, follow all local fire warnings, and keep the mower free of dry grass and leaf debris. • Alternate the mowing direction. This helps disperse the clippings over the lawn for even fertilization. • If the finished lawn appearance is unsatisfactory, try one or more of the following: - Replace the blade or have it sharpened. 9