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4.3.10 Operating Tips
• Review the Safety Instructions (Section 1) and read this manual carefully
before operating the lawn mower.
• Set the engine speed to the fastest position for the best cutting results.
• Maintain a sharp blade throughout the cutting season. Periodically file down
nicks on the blade. Replace the blade when necessary with an original
Exmark replacement blade.
• Clean the air filter frequently. Mulching stirs up more clippings and dust
which clogs the air filter and reduces engine performance.
Cutting Grass
• Grass grows at different rates at different times of the year. In the summer
heat, it is best to cut grass at the 2-1/2 inch (64 mm), 3 inch (76 mm), or 3-
1/2 inch (90 mm) cutting height settings. Cut only about a third of the grass
blade at a time. Do not cut below the 2-1/2 inch (64 mm) setting unless the
grass is sparse or it is late fall when grass growth begins to slow down.
• When cutting grass over 6 inches (15 cm) tall, first mow at the highest cutting
height setting and walk slower; then mow again at a lower setting for the best
lawn appearance. If the grass is too long and the leaves clump on top of the
lawn, the lawn mower may plug and cause the engine to stall.
• Alternate the mowing direction. This helps disperse the clippings over the
lawn for even fertilization.
If the finished lawn appearance is unsatisfactory, try one or more of the following:
• Sharpen the blade.
• Walk at a slower pace while mowing.
• Raise the cutting height on your lawn mower.
• Cut the grass more frequently.
• Overlap cutting swaths instead of cutting a full swath with each pass.
• Set the cutting height on the front wheels one notch lower than the rear
wheels. For example, set the front wheels at 2-1/2 inches (64 mm) and the
rear wheels at the 3 inches (76 mm).
Cutting Leaves
• After cutting the lawn, ensure that half of the lawn shows through the cut
leaf cover. You may need to make more than one pass over the leaves.
• For light leaf coverage, set all the wheels at the same cutting height setting.
• If there are more than 5 inches (127 mm) of leaves on the lawn, set the
front cutting height 1 or 2 notches higher than the rear cutting height. This
makes it easier to feed the leaves under the lawn mower deck.
• Slow down your mowing speed if the lawn mower does not cut the leave
finely enough.
• If you mow over oak leaves, you can add lime to the grass in the spring to
reduce the acidity of the oak leaves.