Troy-Bilt 1900678 - Manual (Page 22)

B CAUTION: To avoid personal injury, disen­
gage the cutting blade before crossing gravel
drives, roads, or sidewalks to prevent the blade
from throwing stories or other hazardous objects.
TO ENGAGE THE WHEELS
(Self-Propelled Models Only)
A. Pull the wheel drive handle up and hold it against
the handlebar grip. Then push the wheel drive lever
forward until it latches in the forward position. See Photo
4-5.
Photo 4-5: To engage the wheel drive on self-propelled
models.
B. Increase or decrease the engine speed to adjust the
ground speed.
C. TO STOP THE WHEELS, release the wheel drive
handle from its position against the handlebar grip.
TO STOP THE ENGINE
A. Release the blade control handle and the wheel
drive handle (on self-propelled models).
B. Put the engine throttle lever in the Slow (S) posi­
tion.
C. Pull the engine throttle lever all the way back to the
STOP position (and turn the key to OFF on electric start
models).
^ CAUTION: To prevent injury from accidental
or unauthorized starting, disconnect the
spark plug wire and move the wire away from tho
olug when leaving the mower unattended or Vi/hen
the mower is not in use. Always remove the key
from the switch on electric start models.
OPERATING THE MOWER
Use the following tips to help you in getting the best
possible use from your TUFF-CUT® Mower.
A. Although your TUFF-CUT® Mower is wider and
longer than ordinary mowers, its large rear wheels and
perfect balance make it surprisingly easy to maneuver.
Become familiar with your mower by first practicing
with it in a clear, level section of your property, with the
engine throttle control set at a slower engine speed
setting. Practice engaging and disengaging the con­
trols until you are completely comfortable with their
ease and manner of operation. Remember, with the
self-propelled model, let the powered wheels do the
work while you simply guide the mower along.
B.
Making turns is exceptionally easy because the
weight of the engine is centered over the rear wheels.
Thus, you need only apply light downward pressure on
the handlebars to tip up the front of the mower prior to
making a turn. On self-propelled models, it’s easier to
make a turn if you first disengage the powered wheels
by releasing the wheel drive handle. With the wheel
drive disengaged, the inside wheel will pivot in place
while the outside wheel rolls freely. After completing
your turn, simply reengage power to the wheels and
continue with your mowing.
WARNING*
TO HELP AVOID PERSONAL INJURY:
Exercise extreme caution when changing direc­
tion on slopes to prevent loss of control, slip­
ping or falling.
When mowing or turning on a slope with a self-
propelled mower, keep the wheel drive lever
ENGAGED until you aie sure that you have
complete control of the mower. Failure to do so
could result in loss of control of the mower.
Do not mow excessively steep slopes.
C. For precision trimming with the self-propelled mower,
simply disengage the powered wheels by releasing the
wheel drive handle. Then inch the mower forward by
gradually pushing the “feather-touch” wheel drive lever
forward until the drive cogs contact the wheels. To stop,
pull back on the wheel drive lever.
D. When cutting tall growth, or if you are on uneven
terrain, use the highest cut setting. Then gradually
reduce to the desired cutting height over the course of
2 or 3 mowings. Go easy in extra tough grass or weeds
as forcing the mower tends to make it slow down or stall.
E. Keep the blade sharp. A dull blade will tear, bruise
and split the ends of grass.
F. Vary your cutting pattern from week to week. This
helps to prevent matting and graining of the grass.
G. Always trim using the left side of the mower, as the
discharge deflector is on the right side of the machine.
Mow around obstacles in a counterclockwise direction
(viewed from the operator’s position). Also, mow with the
discharge deflector pointed away from the obstacles on
the first two passes. Then, reverse the direction. This
will reduce the chances of damage to property from
any thrown objects.
H. When mowing alongside a street or walk, mow with
the discharge deflector pointed onto your own property
(away from the street or walk). This will eliminate the
need to sweep clippings from the sidewalks, etc.
i. Mow ditches in the direction of the ditch. This will
result in debris and clippings being discharged into
the ditch. Mow both sides of the ditch first, and then
mow the bottom. When mowing ditches, watch out for
cans, bottles, or other debris which could become dan­
gerous high-speed projectiles.
J.
While mowing, never point the discharge deflector
at any person at any time.
20