4
IMPORTANT SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES
WARNING: THIS SYMBOL POINTS OUT IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS WHICH, IF
NOT FOLLOWED, COULD ENDANGER THE PERSONAL SAFETY AND/OR PROPERTY OF
YOURSELF AND OTHERS. READ AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL
BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE YOUR UNIT. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE
INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY. WHEN YOU SEE THIS SYMBOL,
HEED ITS WARNING.
WARNING:
The engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components
contain or emit chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other
reproductive harm.
DANGER:
Your tractor was built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation in this
manual. As with any type of power equipment, carelessness or error on the part of the operator can
result in serious injury. To help prevent accidents, read and take the following precautions before
operating this tractor. Failure to observe the following safety instructions could result in serious
injury or death.
1. GENERAL OPERATION
•
Read, understand, and follow all instructions in
the operator’s manual and on the machine
before starting. Keep this manual in a safe
place for future and regular reference.
•
Only allow responsible individuals familiar with
the instructions to operate the machine. All
operators should evaluate their ability to oper-
ate the tractor safely enough to protect
themselves and others from serious injury.
Know controls and how to stop the machine
quickly.
•
Do not put hands or feet under the cutting deck
or near rotating parts.
•
Clear the area of objects such as rocks, toys,
wire, etc. which could be picked up and thrown
by the blades. A small object may have been
overlooked and could be accidentally thrown by
the mower in any direction and cause injury to
you or a bystander. To help avoid a thrown
objects injury, keep children, animals,
bystanders and helpers at least 75 feet from
the mower while it is in operation. Always wear
safety glasses with side shields or safety
goggles during operation or while performing
an adjustment or repair, to protect eyes from
foreign objects. Stop the blades when crossing
gravel drives, walks or roads.
•
Be sure the area is clear of other people before
mowing. Stop machine if anyone enters the
area.
•
Never carry passengers.
•
Use extreme caution when shifting into reverse
and backing up. Always look down and behind
before and while backing.
•
Be aware of the mower and attachment
discharge direction and do not point it at
anyone. Do not operate the mower without
either the entire grass catcher or the chute
guard in place.
•
Slow down before turning. Operate the
machine smoothly. Avoid erratic operation and
excessive speed.
•
Never leave a running machine unattended.
Always turn off the blades, place the
transmission in neutral, set the parking brake,
stop the engine and remove key before
dismounting.
•
Turn off blades when not mowing.
•
Stop the engine and wait until the blades come
to a complete stop before (a) removing the
grass catcher or unclogging chute, or (b)
making any repairs, adjusting or removing any
grass or debris.
•
Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.
•
Do not operate the machine while under the
influence of alcohol or drugs.
•
Use extra care when loading or unloading the
machine into a trailer or truck because the unit
could tip over causing serious personal injury.
•
Never make a cutting height adjustment while
the engine is running if the operator must
dismount to do so.
•
Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and
close-fitting slacks and shirts. Do not wear
loose fitting clothes or jewelry. They can be
caught in moving parts. Never operate a unit in
bare feet, sandals or sneakers.
