Walker MS Operator's Manual

Also see for MS: Detailed instructions Owner's manual Illustrated parts manual Owner's manual

Operating Instructions34Avoid Low Hanging BranchesIMPORTANT: Operate the engine at full throttlewhen mowing, to allow the engine to produce fullhorsepower and to increase efficiency of the enginecooling system.• Keep the mower deck and discharge chute clean.• Mow with sharp blades. A dull blade tears thegrass (resulting in poor lawn appearance) and usesextra power (slowing the mowing speed).• It is preferable to cut grass when it is dry and nottoo tall. Mow frequently and do not cut grass tooshort. (For best appearance, cut off 1/3 or less ofexisting grass height.)• When mowing, operate the engine at full throttlefor the best cutting action and performance of thegrass handling system (GHS). Mowing with a lowerengine RPM causes the mowing blade to not cutclean and tear the grass. The engine is designed tobe operated at full speed.• When mowing in adverse conditions (tall and/orwet grass), mow the grass twice. Raise the mowerto the highest setting - 4 in. (102 mm) - for the firstpass and then make a second pass cutting to thedesired height.• Use a slow setting on the FSC for trimming op-erations.• Make sure the mower is leveled properly for asmooth cut. Refer to Deck Leveling in Assembly Instructions.• Use an alternating stripe mowing pattern forbest appearance and vary the direction of the stripeeach time the grass is mowed to avoid wear patternsin the grass.• Avoid damage to the grass by slipping and skid-ding of the drive tires. Use smooth control move-ments of the steering levers since the hydrostatictransmissions are “power boosted controls” and jerk-ing the levers can easily slip the tires. For sharp turns,do not allow the inside wheel to stop and twist ongrass; pull inside steering lever into reverse for asmooth “rolling” turn (one wheel rolling forward whilethe other rolls backward).• When using a side discharge mower deck, theside discharge deflector shield must not be re-moved and must be kept in the lowest possible po-sition to deflect grass clippings and thrown objectsdownward. Orient the side discharge away from side-walks or streets to minimize cleanup of clippings.When mowing close to obstacles, orient the side dis-charge away from obstacles to reduce the chance ofdamage to property by thrown objects.DischargeShieldSide Discharge Deflector Shield inLowest Position• When operating on a slope, reduce speed anduse caution to start, stop, and maneuver. Avoidsharp turns or sudden changes in direction. Themaximum recommended slope operating angleis 15 degrees or 26% grade.