Ryobi RY48ZTR100 Operation Manual - Page 20

OPERATION MOWING TIPS See Figure 15.  Keep mower blades sharp.  Make sure the lawn is clear of stones, sticks, wires, toys, tree nuts, tree branches, and other objects that could damage the lawn mower blades or motor. Do not mow over property stakes or other metal posts. Such objects could damage the blade or be accidentally thrown by the mower in any direction and cause serious personal injury to the operator and others.  For a healthy lawn, always cut off one-third or less of the total length of the grass.  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 back and forth across the lawn, turning around in the edges of already mowed grass. NOTICE: To prevent damage to your lawn, use a slow speed while turning rather than spinning in a tight circle.  When cutting heavy grass, reduce speed to allow for more effective cutting and a proper discharge of the clippings.  Do not cut wet grass. Mowing on wet surfaces can cause loss of control, and wet grass will stick to the underside of the deck and prevent proper bagging or mulching of grass clippings.  New or thick grass may require a narrower cut or a higher cutting height.  Keep the mower deck and side discharge chute clean. Remove grass clippings, leaves, dirt, and any other accumulated debris before and after each use. Do not spray with a garden hose to clean. NOTE: Always stop mower, allow blades to completely stop, and remove the start key before cleaning underneath the mower. SLOPE OPERATION See Figure 16. DANGER: Slopes are a major factor related to tip-over and roll-over accidents that result in death or severe injury. Operation on slopes requires extra caution. If you feel uneasy on a slope, do not mow it. For your safety, do not attempt to mow steep slopes greater than 15 degrees. Do not operate in reverse down a slope, unless the mower stops while going uphill. In that situation, stop the blades, look behind you, and back up slowly. Make a copy or cut out the slope guide image later in this manual and use to determine if your slope is too steep for safe operation. Fig. 15 Fig. 16  Mow up and down, not across the face of slopes.  Do not mow on wet grass. Wet grass can cause the tires to lose traction or slip on slopes, even though the brakes are functioning properly.  Watch for holes, ruts, rocks, hidden objects, or bumps which can cause you to slip or trip. Tall grass can hide obstacles. Remove all objects such as rocks, tree limbs, etc., which could be tripped over or thrown by the blade.  Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches, or embankments.  Drive slowly and do not make sudden changes in speed or direction.  Avoid stopping on slope if at all possible. If stopping is unavoidable, make sure to engage parking brake. When restarting, use lowest possible speed. If turning is necessary, exercise extreme caution when changing direction and always turn downhill.  Never attempt to stabilize the mower on a slope by placing your foot on the ground during operation. 20 - English