Toro 20351 Quality Guide - Page 9

Elements of Great Quality of Cut Overview Quality of cut issues are best handled before they happen. Two factors largely determine quality of cut: proper mower setup and adequate operator instruction. This section describes the elements of proper mower setup. It also describes the elements mower preparation, lawn preparation, safety procedures, and mowing tips the operator should know to use the mower safely to get a great quality of cut. Figure 2 5300.010.TIF Setup Figure 1 5300.012.TIF We have found that an improperly set up mower can start the customer off with a feeling that their new mower is defective and will never be right. Once an operator gets the idea that the mower is defective, it can be very difficult and very time consuming to prove the machine is performing properly. Customer education is the other part of the quality of cut formula. When a customer begins to use a new machine and it performs improperly, a complaint can be the result. When the machine is checked, sometimes no technical problems are found. This may indicate the customer is not operating the machine properly for the conditions. It can be very difficult to convince a customer that a problem cannot be resolved in the shop, but must be resolved instead by a change in operating the mower. Initial customer education is critical in preventing this situation. If this situation arises after the customer has taken delivery of the mower, a visit to the customer's lawn for demonstration of the problem and the suggested solution may be necessary. On all mowers, proper mower setup consists of doing the following and making any necessary adjustments: 1. Inspect for damage, scratches, dents, and for bent or crooked parts. Make sure the wheels roll true and the control cables are undamaged. Repair any problems before continuing. 2. Fill engine with gas and oil (4 cycle) or fuel mix (2 cycle). 3. Check that all grease fittings are greased. 4. Check that all key hardware (blade bolt, wheels, handles, etc.) is tight. 5. Start the engine and check the no-load RPM. Note: Engine speed typically increases 100-200 RPM during engine break-in. Set the engine RPM so that a small increase in no-load speed does not cause it to overspeed. 6. Operate the drive, blade, and traction controls (gear shift, throttle, choke, engine or blade-stop, etc.) to make sure they work properly. 7. Height of cut (HOC) adjusting mechanism moves freely and engages firmly. 8. Blade is sharp, balanced, and tracks properly. 9. Deck is level side-to-side and front-to-rear. On riding mowers, also do the following and make any necessary adjustments: 10. Check the front wheel toe in. Service Dealer's Guide to Great Quality of Cut 2 - 1