tip184
05-21-2008, 11:56 PM
Got my Quick 44 Ninja today. Here are some thoughts:
1. Well packed - as others have suggested taking it out of the carton/pallet is more work than initial assembly.
2, Grass deflector is shipped detached from the unit, but there is nothing in the set-up instructions or in the manual about how it attaches (it's not brain surgery - I was able to figure it out easily).
3. My Ninja has the 15 hp Kawasaki - manual and online documentation say:
"Note: The Kawasaki engines have a separate choke control. For cold-starting, pull out the choke knob while cranking the engine. When the engine fires, push the knob in fully."
However, my Kawasaki incorporates the choke control in the throttle control lever - no separate pull-out knob as indicated in the manual. I traced the throttle cable to the carb to determine that when the throttle is in the fully forward position the choke engages. If this is a design change it should be documented.
4. When starting the engine, be sure to insert and turn the key :hammerhead: D'oh! Started right up once I did this. Lots of smoke initially, then it cleared.
5. Steering: I need to practice. I used a 48-in Scag belt-drive for several years (2000 - 2004) but my wrists are shot - so the squeezing necessary to steer a belt-drive is out of the question (speed control on the Quick is pretty easy on the wrist). Most Quick users here suggest that the Quick is pretty manageable - I found myself using lots of upper-body strength to get it to do 180s - normal turning, even running around trees, is not real difficult. I don't have the Step-Saver - I'm walking. I'll keep practicing, and I'll try to let it be effortless (others have suggested that you have to let the mower do its thing and that even a 180 shouldn't be hard - I hope they're right).
6. When cutting, lots of dust/grass shoots out the front of the deck, between the left and center blades. I would have expected nearly all of the discharge to come out the chute. I don't know if this is a design flaw or if my expectation was wrong.
7. Injury: yep, my first injury with the Quick. I walked past it with the chute folded up, and ran my shin across the fairly sharp corner that sticks out. Three-inch gash - mostly superficial but bloody. My own stupidity - it won't happen again...
8. Finally - its construction. The Quick seems to be well made. I noticed no quality-control issues - everything seems to be there and the finish of the mower is great.
So - those are some first impressions. I'll give it some time, practice with it, and see if it becomes as easy to maneuver as I had hoped.
Tip184
1. Well packed - as others have suggested taking it out of the carton/pallet is more work than initial assembly.
2, Grass deflector is shipped detached from the unit, but there is nothing in the set-up instructions or in the manual about how it attaches (it's not brain surgery - I was able to figure it out easily).
3. My Ninja has the 15 hp Kawasaki - manual and online documentation say:
"Note: The Kawasaki engines have a separate choke control. For cold-starting, pull out the choke knob while cranking the engine. When the engine fires, push the knob in fully."
However, my Kawasaki incorporates the choke control in the throttle control lever - no separate pull-out knob as indicated in the manual. I traced the throttle cable to the carb to determine that when the throttle is in the fully forward position the choke engages. If this is a design change it should be documented.
4. When starting the engine, be sure to insert and turn the key :hammerhead: D'oh! Started right up once I did this. Lots of smoke initially, then it cleared.
5. Steering: I need to practice. I used a 48-in Scag belt-drive for several years (2000 - 2004) but my wrists are shot - so the squeezing necessary to steer a belt-drive is out of the question (speed control on the Quick is pretty easy on the wrist). Most Quick users here suggest that the Quick is pretty manageable - I found myself using lots of upper-body strength to get it to do 180s - normal turning, even running around trees, is not real difficult. I don't have the Step-Saver - I'm walking. I'll keep practicing, and I'll try to let it be effortless (others have suggested that you have to let the mower do its thing and that even a 180 shouldn't be hard - I hope they're right).
6. When cutting, lots of dust/grass shoots out the front of the deck, between the left and center blades. I would have expected nearly all of the discharge to come out the chute. I don't know if this is a design flaw or if my expectation was wrong.
7. Injury: yep, my first injury with the Quick. I walked past it with the chute folded up, and ran my shin across the fairly sharp corner that sticks out. Three-inch gash - mostly superficial but bloody. My own stupidity - it won't happen again...
8. Finally - its construction. The Quick seems to be well made. I noticed no quality-control issues - everything seems to be there and the finish of the mower is great.
So - those are some first impressions. I'll give it some time, practice with it, and see if it becomes as easy to maneuver as I had hoped.
Tip184