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WARNING: If you lose steering control while operating
the machine, place the steering control levers in the park
brake position immediately. Inspect the machine and
involve your Hustler dealer to resolve the problem before
continuing to operate.
WARNING: The unit’s control levers are very responsive:
Easy does it! For smooth operation, move lever slowly,
avoid sudden movement. Skill and ease of operation come
with practice and experience. The machine can spin very
rapidly. Use caution when making turns and slow down
before making sharp turns.
Inexperienced operators may have a tendency to oversteer and lose
control. Slow-moving practice maneuvers are recommended to become
familiar with these characteristics before attempting normal speed
operation.
WARNING: Sharp depressions or raised obstacles (such as
gutters or curbs) should not be directly approached at high
speed in an attempt to “jump” them as the operator could be
thrown from the equipment. Approach at a slow speed and
angle one drive wheel at the obstruction. Continue at an
angle until the wheel clears and then pivot the opposite wheel
around.
When turning on soft wet turf, keep both wheels rolling either forward
or backward. Pivoting on one stopped wheel can damage turf. This is
especially important when mowing.
Tractor performance is maximum when the throttle is set at full rpm.
This gives maximum power to the drive wheels and deck when needed.
Use the control levers to control ground speed rather than engine rpm.
Keep blades sharp. Many professional mowing companies have
additional sets of blades and change blades twice a day: once in the
morning and again at noon. Many problems with incorrect cutting
patterns are due to dull blades or blades which have been sharpened
incorrectly. Information on sharpening blades is listed in this manual’s
maintenance section. In addition, most communities have individuals or
companies which specialize in sharpening mower blades. Blade sharpness
should be checked daily.
DANGER: Never work with blades while engine is running
or deck clutch switch is engaged (on). Always place deck
clutch switch in the disengaged position, place control levers
in the park brake position and turn engine off and disconnect
negative battery cable. Block up mower when you must
work under it. Wear gloves when handling blades. Always
check for blade damage if mower strikes rock, branch or
other foreign object during mowing!
Use high blade speed. Your mower is designed to operate at full
throttle. The throttle setting directly controls blade speed. The highest
blade speed generally gives best cut.
Direct grass discharge to right, away from unmown area. Select a
mowing pattern that directs grass discharge towards the outside, not
towards center, of mowing area. Generally, this means using a pattern
utilizing left turns because side discharge is to right. In any case, avoid
throwing grass discharge onto unmowed area because grass is then mowed
“twice”. Mowing twice puts an unnecessary load on the unit and reduces
mowing efficiency.
When mowing a lawn for the first time cut grass slightly longer than
normal to avoid scalping uneven terrain. When possible, it is best to use
the cutting height that was used in the past. When cutting grass taller than
six inches, you may want to mow the lawn twice to achieve a better quality
of cut.
During normal mowing cut only about 1/3 of the grass blade.
Cutting more than that is not recommended unless grass is sparse or it is the
end of the mowing season.
Alternate mowing direction to keep the grass growing straight and
better dispersion of the clippings.
Remember, grass grows at different rates at different time of the
year. Mow more often in the early spring to maintain the same cutting
height. As the growth rate slows in mid summer, mow less frequently. If
you cannot mow at a regular interval, mow at a high cutting height; then
mow again two days later at a lower cutting height.
Raise the cutting height of the mower if the cutting width of the
mower is wider than the previous mower. This ensures that uneven turf is
not cut too short.
Raise the cutting height of the mower if the grass if slightly taller
than normal or if it contains a high degree of moisture. Then mow it again
with the cutting height set lower.
If the machine’s forward motion must be stopped while mowing, a
clump of grass clippings may drop onto your lawn. To avoid this, move
onto a previously cut area with the blades engaged.
WARNING: Never direct discharge of material from mower
deck towards bystanders. Do not operate the mower without
either the discharge chute or the entire grass collection
system in place. Fig. 3-12
FRONT OF TRACTOR FACES THIS DIRECTION
Figure 3-10
FORWARD TRAVEL PIVOT TURN REVERSE TRAVEL
RIGHT TURN
REVERSE TRAVEL
NN
FORWARD TRAVEL
RIGHT TURN
N = Neutral Position
Direction of arrows indicate direction of tractor movement.
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