Bolens 13067 - Manual (Page 22)

CONTROLS AND OPERATION (Cont.)
Front Anti-Scalp Wheel
Adjustment, 33" Decks only
Remove the nuts securing wheels. Place
wheel in the desired position (Q, Fig. 35)
and secure with nuts removed earlier. Set
both wheels to the same height. Normally,
the lower hole should be used.
Stopping (See pages 17 & 18
for description of controls)
1. Remove your foot from drive pedal.
2. Depress brake pedal.
3. Move mower blade drive lever down to
the disengaged position.
4. Move engine speed lever to the slow
position.
5. Move transmission shift lever out of
the N (Neutral) position.
6. Shut engine off by turning the ignition
key to the OFF position.
7. Set parking brake by fully depressing
brake pedal and moving brake lock to the
right.
8. Lower mower lift lever to the lowest
(DOWN) position. This will rest the
mower deck on the ground.
(Also see Parking, below.)
Parking
1. Park the riding mower in a clean, level
spot.
2. Park the mower out of the reach of
children.
3. If possible, park the riding mower
inside a dry enclosure, after the unit has
cooled.
4. Set parking brake.
5. Move transmission shift lever out of
the N (Neutral) position.
6. Remove key from key-switch and store
it out of the reach of children.
7. Do not park the riding mower on a
slope. Block the wheels (place blocks of
wood on both sides of the wheels) to
prevent it from rolling.
8. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark
plug. Prevent spark plug wire from
touching spark plug. This will prevent
accidental starting.
Mowing Tips
Never mow in R (Reverse).
The best time to mow your lawn is in the
early afternoon. This is usually when the
grass is most dry. Avoid cutting the lawn
when it is wet—wet grass tends to form
clumps. Also, the sensitive newly cut
areas will not be exposed to direct sun.
For best performance, always keep the
mower deck blade(s) sharp. A dull blade
tends to tear grass, not cut it.
Do not cut the grass too short, especially
in hot weather. This can kill the grass and
may allow weeds to gain a foothold. We
recommend a cutting height of 2-1/2".
For best results, adjust mower deck height
so the blade cuts off only the top third (or
less) of the grass.
If the lawn is overgrown, or if you must
use the mower on extremely uneven
terrain, use the highest cutting height
setting.
Unless a special pattern effect is desired
(next column), vary your cutting pattern
from week to week. Alternate mowing the
lawn from north to south and from east to
west. This will help prevent matting and
graining of the grass.
For best results, always mow with the
engine speed lever in its FAST position.
Make sure the mower deck is level. If the
deck is not level it will cut unevenly.
If you are not using an optional bagging
attachment, direct the discharge towards
the cut portion of the lawn. This will best
disperse the clippings. (See also Testing
Height of Cut, on the previous page.)
Keep the inside of the mowing deck clean
and free from grass buildup. (See
STORING YOUR RIDING MOWER,
page 31.)
Special Pattern Effects
It is possible to create patterns in your
lawn by mowing in specific directions.
You can "train” your lawn to "grain" in a
specific way by mowing in the same
pattern every time. Some patterns are
listed below.
To produce a pattern of contrasting
stripes. Mow the lawn in parallel strips
that run in opposite directions to each
other. (For example North to South and
then South to North.)
To produce a "diamond" or "checkerboard"
pattern, first mow the lawn in parallel
strips. Then, within a couple of days,
mow your lawn again in parallel strips but
at right angles to the first mowing. (For
example: The first mowing is done east to
west and/or west to east. The second
mowing is then done north to south
and/or south to north.)
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