Rover 30 User Manual

TM
Mulch ’N Catch
Convertible Rotary Lawnmower
Model 30
TM
Rover Mowers Limited MULCH ’N CATCH Rover Mowers Limited MULCH ’N CATCH
Congratulations on your purchase of Rover Mowers’ latest addition to its lawn care range, the Rover Mulch ’N Catch Mower.
The Rover Mulch ’N Catch is a convertible mower. This allows you to use the mower with the grass catcher fitted to the mower, (to pick up the grass cuttings) or remove the grass catcher and fit with the mulching plug to mulch the grass. The advantage of this design is that it allows you to gain the benefits of mulch mowing, but at times of rapid growth, or when the mulched grass clippings are tending to build up, the grass catcher can be fitted and the grass clippings removed.
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Mulching
The Rover Mulch ’N Catch mower set up as a mulching mower (grass catcher removed and mulch plug fit­ted) reduces the grass clippings into very fine particles. The design allows for the even distribution of the grass particles at the base of the lawn. The mulched clippings can then:
• Breakdown quickly, releasing nutrients into the soil, saving on fertiliser costs
• Reduce evaporation of moisture from the soil which reduces water­ing costs and effort
• Help to control temperature extremes protecting the roots of the grass
• Assist in controlling soil erosion
1.2 Benefits for your lawn
Research has shown that lawns are usually cut too short. Grass, like any other plant life, relies on photosyn­thesis to regenerate and survive. Reduced leaf size (from cutting too low) can seriously affect a lawn by:
• Making it easy prey for disease
• Encouraging weeds to take hold
• Exposing the soil to: – greater evaporation – temperature extremes; and – erosion
Raising the cut heigh and using mulch mowing follows the best practice for nurturing a healthier more attractive lawn.
1.3 Benefits for you
Because you mulch as you mow the time and cost savings are also sig­nificant:
• Eliminates raking of leaves before mowing (the Mulch ’N Catch mower picks up and converts fall­en leaves into mulch)
• Eliminates raking of cut grass
• Saves the time spent emptying the catcher
• Automaticaly disposes of grass clippings
• Eliminates the need to dispose of clippings at the refuse tip
SETTING UP
2.
TMTM
WARNING
Before removing or installing the Mulch plug or Grasscatcher the Engine must be stopped.
2.1 Multi-purpose
Your Mulch ’N Catch mower is set up for mulching as delivered from the factory:
• Multi-purpose mulch blade fitted
• Mulch plug fitted To convert to a grass catching mower simply remove the mulch plug and fit the grass catcher sup­plied. (Refer to the section on mulch plug removal for detailed instruc­tions)
2.2 Installing the Mulch Plug
1. Lift the rear flap
2. Remove the grass catcher (if fitted)
3. Insert the long right hand side of the mulch plug first.
4. Guide the mulch plug, until the spring tab rests against the top edge of the mower base and the lower “ramped” edge rests on the front top edge of the axle retain­ing bracket.
5. Give the mulch plug a firm jolt forward and down into place.
2.3 Removing the Mulch Plug
1. Lift the rear flap.
2. Grasp the handle and, with a firm jolt, lift the mulch plug up and away from the mower.
3. Guide the mulch plug out by rotating the shorter left hand side to the right and then guiding the longer right hand section until clear of the mower. (Refer to the diagram on the mulch plug itself)
3.
MAINTENANCE
3.1 General Mower Maintenance
Refer to your Rotary Lawnmower Owner’s Manual, Section 3, Maintenance.
3.2 Mulching Equipment
For optimum mulching performance:
• The mulching blades are to be
kept sharp
• Maintain the blade sharpening
angle when sharpening
• Keep the cutting edge feather free
when sharpening
• Keep the underside of the mower
deck and the mulch plug free of grass build-up
Rover Mowers Limited MULCH ’N CATCH
TM
3.3 Cutting Assembly
WARNING
Before working on the mower:
• Stop the engine
• Remove the spark plug wire
1. Disconnect the spark plug wire.
2. Move the Cut Height Lever to the high cut position and fold the handle bars down.
3. Tilt the mower so that the spark plug is up.
4. Inspect the cutting assembly for damage and wear.
5. Check the disc retaining bolts. Tighten the centre bolt to 65-70 Nm and the three concentric bolts to 8-11 Nm.
If clumping of grass is visible, raise the cutting height of the mower.
3.4 Blade Change
Refer to your Mower Owner’s Manual.
1. Disconnect the spark plug wire.
2. Set the mower to the high cut position.
3. Lift the rear flap and prop open to give access to the blades.
4. Remove the blade retaining bolts, nuts and washers and discard.
5. Fit new blades, blade bolts, washers and nuts in sets to maintain balance.
Useful Mulching Hints Mulch mowing is an acquired art form,
and to produce the best results consis­tently, follow these useful hints:
• Do not attempt to mulch if the grass is too wet. Wet grass tends to clump
together and does not evenly spread out. It also clogs up the underside of the base.
Do not mulch on too low a cutting height. Remember the maximum cut should be 25mm off the top of the grass, or 1/3 the grass blade height, whichever is the lesser amount. Refer to diagram.
Do not push the mulch mower too fast. To obtain the best finish it may be necessary to regulate the ground speed.
Run the engine at full throttle. Running the engine at low speed does not allow the blades to mulch the grass efficiently.
Keep the mulch blades sharp. The mulch blades are designed to cut and recut the blades of grass. If the mulch blades are not kept sharp mulching per­formance will be reduced.
Keep the underside of the base clean. Build-up of grass under the base blocks the air flow created by the mulch blade and reduces mulching performance.
AUSTRALIA Rover Mowers PO Box 1235 Eagle Farm, 4009 Australia.
04003993 Rev. B
ROVER
Mowers Limited
ABN 11 000 257 303
PRINTED IN AUSTRALIA
NEW ZEALAND Rover Mowers East Tamaki, Auckland New Zealand.
© Copyright
10-2004
Loading...