9. Notes on working with the
machine
Warning:
Risk of injury.
Before each use, observe all
information regarding safe
operation of the machine.
Working on slopes requires special
concentration and care.
Note
Check the mowing deck for correct
installation position before starting
work.
Select a flat, even area for initial
use of your machine and mow in
straight and slightly overlapping
strips for practising purposes.
Grass should always be mowed
when dry.
A perfect, thick lawn is achieved by
– mowing at high engine speed (throttle
lever in MAX position) and a slow
driving speed;
– regular mowing and keeping the grass
short;
– not cutting too short in hot, dry
conditions as the lawn will be burnt by
the sun and become unsightly;
– using a sharp mowing blade, therefore
sharpen regularly;
– changing the cutting direction.
Mowing tall grass
If the grass is very high, it is better to mow
it in two stages:
0478 193 9901 A - EN
– use the highest cutting height,
maximum engine speed and slow
driving speed for the first mowing
operation;
– for the second mowing operation, select
the desired cutting height and set the
maximum engine speed. Adjust the
driving speed to the condition of the
lawn.
Warning – fire hazard!
Avoid overloading the mowing deck
drive. Overloading may lead to
constant slipping of the V-belt and
consequently to a fire hazard due to
overheating.
Unusual running noise, e.g. a
"squealing" (slipping noise) of the
V-belt, indicates overloading. For
this reason, never mow in high
grass when the discharge chute is
blocked or the grass catcher box is
full; use a mulching kit (special
accessory) if necessary.
The mowing deck, particularly the
V-belt area, must always be kept
free of combustible material (grass,
leaves, etc.). It should also be
cleaned regularly to prevent a fire
hazard.
Preventing blockage of the discharge
chute
If the discharge chute becomes blocked
with grass, reduce the driving speed. This
may be too high in relation to the lawn
conditions. The slide of the level sensor
should be fully pulled out. (
If the problem persists, the probable cause
is damaged or worn highlift blade. Replace
the mowing blade.
Furthermore, the mowing deck, discharge
chute and mowing blade should be
cleaned after each use to prevent the
accumulation of grass deposits.
Fertilisation
Mowing the grass deprives the ground of
permanent nutrients, which can be
returned by using a high-grade, long-term
lawn fertiliser. Usually, fertilising three
times per mowing season is necessary.
For this purpose, the lawn should be dry,
so that the fertiliser does not stick to the
grass blades and burns them. It is then
better to water the lawn, which results in
the fertiliser being flushed off the grass
blades. (observe manufacturer's
instructions for use.)
Natural fertilising is possible using lawn
clippings. This is made possible by the use
of the mulching kit. The mulching kit is
available as a special accessory and is not
included in the standard equipment.
(Further information is available from your
VIKING specialist dealer.)
Ground-conserving working
The most important factors for ground-
conserving working are operating
technique and ground moisture.
In order to achieve clean mowing results,
the driving speed must be adapted to the
condition of the grass to be mowed (height
and density) and to the moisture of the
lawn.
Executing curves that are too tight
increases the loading on the turf and leads
8.14)
to poor mowing results, particularly on wet
grass, as the wheels sink into the soft
grass.
87