Operating Characteristics; Operating Tips - Toro 30447N Operator's Manual

Operating Characteristics

Practice driving the machine because it has a hydrostatic
transmission and its characteristics are different than many
turf maintenance machines. Some points to consider when
operating the traction unit, cutting unit, or other implements
are the transmission, engine speed, load on the cutting blades
or other implement components, and the importance of the
brakes.
To maintain enough power for the traction unit and
implement while operating, regulate the traction pedal to
keep the engine speed high and somewhat constant. A good
rule to follow is to decrease the ground speed as the load
on the implement increases, and increase the ground speed
as the load decreases.
Therefore, allow the traction pedal to move backward as the
engine speed decreases, and depress the pedal slowly as the
speed increases. By comparison, when driving from one work
area to another, with no load and cutting unit raised, have the
throttle in the Fast position and depress the traction pedal
slowly but fully to attain maximum ground speed.
The brakes can be used to assist in turning the machine.
However, use them carefully, especially on soft or wet grass
because the turf may be torn accidentally. Another benefit
of the brakes is to maintain traction. For example, in some
slope conditions, the uphill wheel slips and loses traction. If
this situation occurs, depress the uphill turn pedal gradually
and intermittently until the uphill wheel stops slipping, thus,
increasing traction on the downhill wheel.
Use extra care when operating the machine on slopes. Make
sure that the seat latch is properly secured and the seat belt
is buckled. Drive slowly and avoid sharp turns on slopes to
prevent roll overs. For steering control, the cutting unit must
be lowered when going downhill.
WARNING
This cutting unit is designed to drive objects into
the ground where they lose energy quickly in grass
areas. However, careless operation, combined with
terrain angle, ricochets, or improperly positioned
safety guard can lead to thrown object injuries.
• When a person or pet appears suddenly in or
near the mowing area, stop mowing .
• Do not resume mowing until the area is cleared.
Before stopping the engine, disengage all controls and move
the throttle to Slow. Moving the throttle to Slow reduces high
engine speed, noise, and vibration. Turn the key to Off to
stop the engine.
Before transporting the machine, raise the cutting units and
secure the transport latches (Figure 34).
1. Transport latch (wing cutting units)

Operating Tips

Mow When Grass is Dry
Mow either in the late morning to avoid the dew, which causes
grass clumping, or in late afternoon to avoid the damage
that can be caused by direct sunlight on the sensitive, freshly
mowed grass.
Select the Proper Height-of-Cut Setting
to Suit Conditions
Remove approximately 1 inch (25 mm) or no more than 1/3
of the grass blade when cutting. In exceptionally lush and
dense grass, you may have to raise the height-of-cut to the
next setting.
Mow at Proper Intervals
Under most normal conditions you will need to mow
approximately every 4-5 days. But remember, grass grows at
different rates at different times. This means that in order to
maintain the same height-of-cut, which is a good practice,
you will need to cut more frequently in early spring; as the
grass growth rate slows in mid summer, cut only every 8-10
days. If you are unable to mow for an extended period due
to weather conditions or other reasons, mow first with the
height-of-cut at a high level; then mow again 2-3 days later
with a lower height setting.
Always Mow with Sharp Blades
A sharp blade cuts cleanly and without tearing or shredding
the grass blades like a dull blade. Tearing and shredding
causes the grass to turn brown at the edges which impairs
growth and increases susceptibility to diseases.
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Figure 34