The Proper Shifting Technique for a Lawn Mower

Locating the Clutch and Gears

• Find the clutch and the gearshift on your lawn mower. On a riding lawn mower, the clutch is the left pedal on chassis. The gearshift will be located on chassis to the side of the lawnmower's seat -- similar to its location in an automobile with a manual transmission.

Shifting Gears

• Start the lawn mower and choose a gear or speed. The clutch and the brake are the same pedal, and pressing it will alternately activate one or the other function. The mower must be stopped to shift gears, so you would press and hold the pedal down to stop the machine and shift gears, and then gradually release the pedal, which will allow the mower to resume motion.

Shifting Precautions

• On some riding mowers, the clutch/brake pedal must be completely depressed before shifting gears. Failure to do so will prevent the lawn mower from stopping completely, and this can result in damage to the gearbox. In addition, on some models, failure to stop the lawn mower before shifting between the forward and reverse gears causes damage to the transmission.

Other Considerations

• For mulching grass, use either the first or second gear. Shift to the second or third gear for normal lawn mowing operation. When riding up or down hills, shift to a lower speed. If the engine is not operating smoothly or begins to lose power, there is too much of a strain on it. Shifting to a lower gear should alleviate this problem.