Service Manual

Service Dealer’s Guide to Great Quality of Cut 5 - 1
Troubleshooting Quality of Cut
This section contains some common complaints along
with actions that will normally resolve the complaints
described. To keep the section brief and easy to use,
we make no attempt to explain how the suggested
action resolves the problem. Definitions of the terms
used here are in the Glossary in the Appendices of this
manual.
Note that a good quality of cut is achieved by several
factors working together. Any "will fit" parts should be
replaced with OEM parts before troubleshooting. It is
difficult to determine if a part meets the original
specifications if it is not the original manufacturer's part.
Small variations can change the performance
noticeably. Use only OEM parts intended for the
machine.
General Troubleshooting
Procedures
While many problems with quality of cut require
specific actions to resolve, there are a few things that
are generally common to most problems. To avoid
duplication, these are stated here. In most cases, these
items should be verified before going to more specific
suggestions.
Note: A new lawn can exhibit several of the quality of
cut problems. Most of these will resolve themselves
when the lawn begins to thicken to a normal level.
1. Cut late in the day after the sun has had an
opportunity to dry the grass.
2. Keep the engine at full RPM. Verify RPM with a
tachometer. Engine speed should within the
manufacturer's recommended speed specified
range, not lower or higher.
3. Walk or drive more slowly.
4. Move over and take less than a full width cut.
5. Check for grass build-up in cutting chamber.
6. Raise the height of cut and cut the lawn. Come
back a day or two later and re-cut to the preferred
height.
7. Check for a sharp blade. Sharpen as instructed in
the Operator's Manual.
8. Check for belt slippage on mowers using a belt in
the blade drive system (Toro BBC, Riding Mowers,
and Wide Area Mowers).
9. Keep the right (discharge) side of the mower over
previously-cut grass.
Specific Quality of Cut
Problems and Possible
Solutions
Following are descriptions of specific quality of cut
problems and possible solutions to them. If the general
troubleshooting procedures previously described do
not resolve a quality of cut problem, look for the
problem and its possible solution(s) in the following
descriptions.
Blowout
1. If bagging or side discharging, look for and
remove any restriction to airflow. A plugged air
exhaust in a bagger for example, or a plugged
chute when side discharging or bagging.
2. If the blade pitch is fairly flat front to rear, raise the
rear of the mower slightly.
Note: Do the opposite if you are bagging leaves
and the mower pushes them away instead of
picking them up.
3. Check to see if a blowout kit (sometimes called a
baffle kit) is available for the model. See “Special
Tools” in the Appendices.
Clumping
Toro Recycler mowers and mulching mowers can be
more susceptible to clumping because the clippings
stay in the chamber longer than in other types of
mowers. If the general troubleshooting procedures
previously described do not resolve the problem,
1. Convert the mower to side discharge for at least
one mowing.
2. Convert the mower to bagging for at least one
mowing.