EMAK efco ZEPHYR 72 Manuel D'utilisation Et D'entretien page 33

2. It is always better to cut grass when it is dry.
3. The blades must be in good condition and well
sharpened so that the grass is cut straight without a
ragged edge, which leads to yellowing at the ends.
4. The engine must run at full speed, both to ensure a sharp
cut of the grass and to get the necessary thrust to push
the cuttings through the collector channel.
5. The frequency of mowing should be in relation to the
rate of growth of the grass. The grass should not be left to
grow too much between one cut and the next.
6. During hot and dry periods, the grass should be cut a
little higher to prevent the ground from drying out.
7. The best height of the grass on a well-kept lawn is about
4-5 cm. With one cut, you do not need to remove more
than a third of the total height. If the grass is very tall, it
should be cut twice in a 24-hour period - the first time
with the blades at maximum height, possibly reducing
the cutting width, and the second cut at the desired
height.
8. The appearance of the lawn will improve if you alternate
cutting in both directions.
9. If the engine speed is lowered while you are cutting grass
or if the cutting deck tends to get blocked, you should
reduce the forward speed since this may be too high for
the condition of the grass. If the problem persists, the
probable causes are either badly sharpened blades or
deformed wings.
10. Be very careful when mowing near bushes or low kerbs
as these could distort the horizontal position of the
cutting deck and damage its edge as well as the blades.
Emptying the collector channel
Cutting very tall or wet grass, particularly at too high a speed,
can cause the collector channel to become blocked.
Should his happen, it will be necessary to:
- stop forward movement, disengage the blade and stop the
engine;
- take off the grass-catcher or stone-guard and remove the
accumulated cuttings going in through the exit of the
collector channel.
- Model 13 H only: open the hatch (F, Fig.14) after having
removed the safety cotter pin (D) and released the latch (E),
going in through the exit of the collector channel.
WARNING: These operations must only be performed
when the engine is stopped.
Summary of the main conditions whereby the safety
devices permit or stop work
The safety devices work in two ways:
- by preventing the engine from starting if all the safety
requirements have not been met;
- stopping the engine if even just one of the safety
requirements is lacking.
a) The conditions required for starting the machine are:
- speed adjustment pedals (forward and reverse drive) not
pressed;
- blade engage control disengaged;
- operator seated or parking brake activated.
b) The engine stops when:
- the operator leaves his seat when the blades are engaged;
- the operator leaves his seat with the speed adjustment
pedals (forward drive and reverse drive) not pressed, but
without engaging the parking brake;
- the grass-catcher is lifted or the stone-guard is removed
when the blade is engaged;
- The parking brake is engaged without having disengaged
the blade;
- The reverse speed adjustment pedal is pressed without
turning the key to R (reverse mowing) when the blade is
engaged.
Circuit board protection device
The electronic circuit board is equipped with a protection
device that breaks the circuit if there is a fault in the electrical
system. It results in the stopping of the engine and is
signalled by three audible signals before the pilot lamp turns
off (only on models that are so equipped). The circuit resets
when the key is turned to the OFF position. Ascertain and
deal with the cause of the fault to avoid re-activating the
protection device.
CAUTION: To avoid activating the protection device:
- do not reverse the cables on the battery terminals;
- be careful to not cause short-circuits.
End of Work
When you have finished mowing, disengage the blade and
ride the machine with the cutting deck in the highest
position, except when riding on sloping ground, in which
case the cutting deck must be put in the lowest position.
Stop the machine, engage the parking brake and turn off the
engine by turning the ignition key to OFF. When the engine is
stopped, close the fuel stop-cock (A, Fig.11).
WARNING
- To avoid backfire, put the accelerator in the SLOW
position for several seconds before stopping the
engine.
- Always take out the ignition key before leaving the
machine unattended.
- When the machine is not in use, remove the key and
protect the ignition switch by closing the cap (A, Fig.26).
CAUTION
- To keep the battery charged, do not leave the key in the
ACC (1) position when the engine is not running.
- In the event that the ignition key switch is damaged, put
the accelerator in the STARTER position to stop the engine.
Cleaning the machine
After each use, clean t he outside of the machine, empty the
grass-catcher and shake it to remove residual grass and
earth.
CAUTION: Before cleaning or washing the machine,
remove the key and protect the ignition switch by
closing the cap (A, Fig.26).
WARNING
- Always empty the grass-catcher and do not leave
containers full of cut grass inside a room.
- Do not let debris and dry grass remains accumulate in
the upper part of the cutting deck, in order to keep the
machine at maximum efficiency and safety levels.
CAUTION: Never use hose nozzles or harsh detergents
to clean the machine, especially the bodywork.
Clean the plastic parts of the body with a damp sponge using
water and detergent, taking care not to wet the engine, the
electrical parts or the electronic circuit board located under
GB
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