Poulan PO500N22SH User Manual - Page 8

OPERATION The operation of any lawn mower can result in foreign objects thrown into the eyes, which can result in severe eye damage. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields while operating your lawn mower or performing any adjustments or repairs. We recommend standard safety glasses or a wide vision safety mask worn over spectacles. HOW TO USE YOUR LAWN MOWER ENGINE SPEED CONTROL MODELS WITH REMOTE THROTTLE Engine speed is controlled by the throttle control located on the upper handle. • Move lever forward to FAST engine speed for starting and better bagging. • Move lever backward for SLOW engine speed. • Some models have engines equipped with a choke feature. Move the lever all the way forward to the CHOKE position when starting a cold engine. • Reinstall wheel components in the same order as they were before removal. Tighten securely. • Make sure all wheels are at same height. Flat washer Wheel Bolt 3/8-16 Spacer Locknut FAST SLOW CHOKE (START) Remote throttle control MODELS WITH FIXED SPEED ENGINES Engine speed was set at the factory for optimum performance. Engine speed is not adjustable. TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT Adjust cutting height to suit your requirements. Medium position is best for most lawns. Raise wheels for low cut and lower wheels for high cut. MODELS WITH MANUAL ADJUST BOLT-ON WHEELS • Remove wheel, bolt, and hardware and reassemble in desired adjustment hole. MODELS WITH "QUICK ADJUST" WHEEL HEIGHT ADJUSTERS NOTE: For shipping purposes, the rear wheels on your lawn mower may not be adjusted to the same position as the front wheels. Before operating mower adjust all wheels to the same cutting height. • Raise wheels for low cut and lower wheels for high cut. • Adjust cutting height to suit your requirements. Medium position is best for most lawns. • To change cutting height, squeeze adjuster lever toward wheel. Move wheel up or down to suit your requirements. Be sure all wheels are in the same setting. NOTE: Adjuster is properly positioned when plate tab inserts into hole in lever. Also, 9position adjusters (if so equipped) allow lever to be positioned between the plate tabs. LEVER BACKWARD TO LOWER MOWER Plate tab LEVER FORWARD TO RAISE MOWER Lever 8 MOWING TIPS CAUTION: Do not use de-thatcher blade attachments on your mower. Such attachments are hazardous, will damage your mower and could void your warranty. • For most cutting conditions and better bagging performance, the engine speed should be set in the FAST position. • Under certain conditions, such as when mowing very tall grass, raise the mower height on the first cut to reduce pushing effort, to avoid overheating the engine, and to avoid leaving clumps of grass clippings. Make the second cut to the desired height. • For extremely heavy cutting, reduce the width of cut. • For side discharge lawn mowers, cut in a counterclockwise direction, starting at the outside of the area to be cut, in order to spread grass clippings more evenly and to put less load on the engine. To keep clippings off of walkways, flower beds, etc., make the first cuts in a clockwise direction. FOR MULCHING MOWERS ONLY - MULCHING MOWING TIPS IMPORTANT: For best performance, keep mower housing free of built-up grass and trash. See "CLEANING" in the Maintenance section of this manual. • The special mulching blade will recut the grass clippings many times and reduce them in size so that as they fall onto the lawn they will disperse into the grass and not be noticed. Also, the mulched grass will biodegrade quickly to provide nutrients for the lawn. Always mulch with your highest engine (blade) speed as this will provide the best recutting action of the blades. • Avoid cutting your lawn when it is wet. Wet grass tends to form clumps and interferes with the mulching action. The best time to mow your lawn is the early afternoon. At this time the grass has dried, yet the newly cut area will not be exposed to direct sunlight. • For best results, adjust the lawn mower cutting height so that the lawn mower cuts off only the top one-third of the grass blades. If the lawn is overgrown it will be necessary to raise the height of cut to reduce pushing effort and to keep from overloading the engine and leaving clumps of mulched grass. For extremely heavy grass, reduce your width of cut by overlapping previously cut path and mow slowly. • When using a rear discharge lawn mower in moist, heavy grass, clumps of cut grass may not enter the grass catcher. Reduce ground speed (pushing speed) and/or run the lawn mower over the area a second time. • If a trail of grass clipping is left on the right side of a rear discharge lawn mower, mow in a clockwise direction with a small overlap to collect the clippings on the next pass. • Pores in cloth grass catchers can become filled with dirt and dust with use and the catcher will collect less grass. To prevent this, regularly hose catcher off with water and let dry before use. MAX 1/3 • Certain types of grass and grass conditions may require that an area be mulched a second time to completely hide the clippings. When doing a second cut, mow across (perpendicular) to the first cut path. • Change your cutting pattern from week to week. Mow north to south one week then change to east to west the next week. This will help prevent matting and graining of the lawn. 13