Bolens 134-585A - Manual (Page 4)

Hints for Best Performance
This electric riding mower is the
ultimate in quietness and con­
venience. It has its own character­
istics that must be considered in
its operation. The "fuel" is in the
form of stored electricity in three
12-Volt batteries wired in series
to provide a 36-Volt system. The
gasoline engine and the electric
motor are similar in the way they
consume fuel (either gasoline or
electricity) by the fact that the
harder the unit is operated, the
faster the fuel is consumed. Cutting
at the maximum ground speed in
heavy grass will consume more
electrical energy than cutting at
an average speed in average or light
grass. The length of operating time
is in direct proportion to the way
the unit is driven and the cutting
conditions. As an example, the unit
will cut light grass for approxi­
mately one hour at a modest
forward speed. That time may be
cut in half when cutting heavy grass
at high speed. The size of lawn to
be cut becomes the major influenc­
ing factor in how the unit is used.
The built-in charging system takes
12 hours to 100% charge the
batteries.
Your riding mower is engineered
and designed to give you a mani­
cured lawn with a minimum amount
of effort for the operator. The twin
blade cutting deck is designed to
effectively discharge the cut grass
from the deck onto the lawn or into
a grass catcher.
If you are cutting without a grass
catcher and the grass is wet, thick
or lush you should cut in a counter
clockwise direction to discharge
the grass towards the cut section of
your lawn. Recutting large amounts
of clippings will cause windrows
of grass.
When cutting with a grass catcher
kit, you can cut either clockwise or
counter clockwise. Plan your cutting
so you always trim with the left
side of the deck and have clearance
for the grass catcher.
Grasses such as Merion or Kentucky
Blue should not be cut less than 2
inches high. Infrequent cutting re­
moves too much of the leaf surface.
Never cut off more than
'/3 of the
grass blade.
It is important to have the blade
of your mower sharp when cutting.
Details on blade sharpening are ex­
plained in the Maintenance Section
of this handbook. Cutting with a
dull blade generally results in a
white cast over a recent cut lawn
and later the tips of the blades turn
brown.
Avoid cutting wet grass because it
will clog up under the deck and will
not discharge properly. The general
appearance will be much better
when the grass is dry when you cut
it. A new lawn has much softer
blades of grass and has a higher
moisture content. It is extremely
important for this type of lawn to be
cut with a sharp blade.
Following the same pattern every
time when you mow your lawn can
develop ridges at right angles to the
direction of mowing. By changing
your direction of mowing (diagonal
or right angle) you can prevent
this.
Grass Catcher Model No. 194-01 5A
is available as optional equipment
for the mower shown in this manual.
Warning: The mower shall not be
operated wihout the entire grass
catcher or chute deflector in place.
Note: Under normal usage bag
material is subject to wear, and
should be checked periodically. Be
sure any replacement bag complies
with the mower manufacturer's
recommendations. Use factory
replacement bag No. 764-122.