Makita UM401DW Manuel D'instructions page 8

Installing mulching plate (Fig. 12 & 13)
1. Turn off the interlock switch and remove the key. If
you are recharging the mower, stop recharging
and disconnect the charging plug.
2. Turn the mower on its side to expose the blade.
3. Install the two protrusions of the mulching plate
into the holes in the deck. Push the mulching plate
into the discharge opening until the hook of the
mulching plate is held by the undercover. Open
the rear guard and make sure that the hook of the
mulching plate is properly held by the undercover.
WARNING:
Always install the mulching plate when operating the
mower with the rear bag removed.
Mulching
While mulching, your new mower is designed to cut
the grass clippings into small pieces and distribute
them back into the lawn. Under normal conditions, the
mulched grass will biodegrade quickly to provide
nutrients to the lawn.
Please review the following recommendations for
optimum mulching performance.
1. Avoid mowing when the grass is wet from rain or
dew. Wet grass may form clumps which interfere
with the mulching action and reduce run-time. The
best time to mow grass is in the late afternoon
when the grass is dry and the newly cut area will
not be exposed to direct sunlight.
2. For best mulching performance, set the cutting
height to remove about one third of the grass
blade length, ideally no more than 38 mm at one
time. If the lawn is overgrown, it may be necessary
to increase the cut height to reduce the pushing
effort and prevent overloading the motor. For
extremely heavy mulching, it is advisable to first
cut at a high cut height setting, and then re-cut to
the final cut height. Otherwise, make narrower
cuts and mow slowly.
3. For best performance, keep the mower housing
free of built-up grass. From time to time turn off
mower and wait for the blade to come to a
complete stop. Then unplug the key and turn
mower on its side. Using an object such as a stick,
wipe out any accumulation of grass in the blade
area. Be careful of the sharp edges of the blade.
Clean often in wet, spring grass, and always after
every use.
4. Certain types of grass or grass conditions may
require that an area be mulched a second time to
fully disperse the grass throughout the lawn. If
cutting a second time, it is advisable to cut per-
pendicular (across) the first cut pattern. DO NOT
CHANGE CUT PATTERN IN ANY WAY THAT
WOULD CAUSE MOWING DOWN A HILL.
5. Change your cutting pattern from week to week.
This will help prevent matting and graining of the
lawn.
8
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Switch action (Fig. 14 & 15)
This mower is equipped with the interlock switch and
handle switch. If you notice anything abnormal with
either of these switches, stop operation immediately
and have them checked by your nearest Makita
Authorized or Factory Service Center.
1. Insert the key into the interlock switch.
2. Slide the key to turn on the interlock switch.
3. Depress the switch button.
4. Pull the switch lever toward you while depressing
the switch button.
5. Release the switch button as soon as the motor
starts running. The mower will continue to run until
you release the switch lever.
6. The indicator indicates remaining capacity of the
battery only when the motor is running.
7. Release the switch lever to stop the motor.
8. When not in use, turn off the interlock switch and
remove the key. Store the key in a safe place out
of reach of children.
Overload protector (Fig. 14)
This mower is equipped with an overload protector
which automatically cuts out to break the circuit
whenever heavy work is prolonged. When it cuts out,
turn off the interlock switch and remove the key.
Inspect the blade for damage or something wrong.
After making sure that there is nothing wrong with the
mower, push the restart button to resume operation.
Run time
Actual run time for your mower will vary depending on
the season and grass conditions. Average run time on
a full charge is 75 minutes. The following chart
provides approximate run times when using mower
with a partial charge.
Time on charge % of full charge
1 Hour 25%
3 Hours 75%
4 Hours FULL
Run time
20 Minutes
55 Minutes
75 Minutes