9
container.
• Always place fuel containers on the ground
away from your vehicle before fi lling.
• Do not fi ll fuel containers inside a vehicle
or on a truck or trailer bed because interior
carpets or plastic truck bed liners
may insulate the container and slow the
loss of any static charge.
• When practical, remove equipment from
the truck or trailer and refuel the equip-
ment with its wheels on the ground.
• If this is not possible, then refuel such
equipment on a truck or trailer from a por-
table container, rather than from a fuel
dispenser nozzle.
• Keep the dispenser nozzle in contact with
the rim of the fuel tank or portable con-
tainer opening at all times until fueling is
complete.
• Never use cellular phones or other por-
table electronic devices when handling
fuel.
FILLING THE FUEL TANK
• Always fi ll the fuel tank with the machine
parked on a hard LEVEL surface with the
engine stopped, the park brake set, and
the key removed from the ignition.
• Do not fi ll the fuel tank completely full. Air
space is required in the full tank to allow
the fuel to expand and contract with tem-
perature changes. A valve is located in
the top center of the tank to allow air to
enter and exit the tank.
• Never remove the fuel cap or fi ll the fuel
tank when the engine is hot. Allow several
minutes to cool.
• Filling the fuel tank, with the machine
parked on a slope, can cause you to over
fi ll the tank.
OPERATIONAL SAFETY
• Read “Operation” section of this manual
before attempting to operate this unit.
• This machine is equipped with an Opera-
tor Protective Structure (OPS) and a seat
belt. Do not operate this machine without
the OPS installed and in good condition.
• Always wear the seatbelt.
• Do not operate on slopes greater than 15
degrees (27%).
• To determine the angle of a slope, an
angle measuring device (inclinometer) is
readily available at your local hardware
store.
• Fenders serve as shields. Do not operate
without them.
• DO NOT drive machine without mower
deck installed. The proper stability of the
machine depends on the weight of the
mower deck.
• Keep bystanders away from equipment
while it is in operation.
• Keep children and pets a safe distance
away. Never direct discharge toward any-
one.
• Start engine from operator’s seat after dis-
engaging PTO and placing steering levers
into the swing-out (neutral lock) position.
• Keep hands and feet away from under-
neath mower deck while engine is running.
Stay clear of all moving parts on machine.
• Wear suitable hearing protection when
operating this machine.
• Do not operate in reverse unless absolute-
ly necessary and then only after careful
observation of the entire area behind you.
• If operator must dismount to make adjust-
ments the engine must not be running.
• Do not move steering levers from forward
to reverse or reverse to forward position
rapidly. The sudden direction change
could cause loss of control, especially on
slopes.
• Reduce speed on slopes and sharp turns
to minimize tipping and avoid loss of con-
trol.
• The operator is responsible for safe opera-
tion on slopes, even slopes of 15 degrees
(27%) or less. Only the operator can de-
termine the stability of the mower on a
given slope based on existing conditions
like: machine speed and direction, slope
variation, slipperiness, drop-off s, holes,
obstacles, etc.
• Stay alert for holes, rocks, roots and other
hidden hazards in the terrain. Keep away
from drop-off s and soft embankments.
• Stop machine and mower deck immedi-
ately upon striking an obstruction. Turn
