4
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Never let children or untrained people operate or
service the equipment. Local regulations may restrict
the age of the operator.
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The owner/user can prevent and is responsible for
accidents or injuries occurring to himself or herself,
other people or property.
Preparation
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Evaluate the terrain to determine what accessories and
attachments are needed to properly and safely perform
the job. Only use accessories and attachments
approved by the manufacturer.
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Wear appropriate clothing including hard hat, safety
glasses and hearing protection. Long hair, loose
clothing or jewelry may get tangled in moving parts.
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Inspect the area where the equipment is to be used and
remove all objects such as rocks, toys and wire which
can be thrown by the machine.
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Use extra care when handling gasoline and other fuels.
They are flammable and vapors are explosive.
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Use only an approved container
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Never remove gas cap or add fuel with engine
running. Allow engine to cool before refueling.
Do not smoke.
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Never refuel or drain the machine indoors.
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Check that operator’s presence controls, safety
switches and shields are attached and functioning
properly. Do not operate unless they are functioning
properly.
Operation
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Never run an engine in an enclosed area.
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Only operate in good light, keeping away from holes
and hidden hazards.
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Be sure all drives are in neutral and parking brake is
engaged before starting engine. Only start engine from
the operator’s position.
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Be sure of your footing while using this machine,
especially when backing up. Walk, don’t run. Never
operate on wet grass. Reduced footing could cause
slipping.
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Slow down and use extra care on hillsides. Be sure to
travel side to side on hillsides. Turf conditions can
affect the machine’s stability. Use caution while
operating near drop-offs.
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Slow down and use caution when making turns and
when changing directions on slopes.
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Never raise deck with the blades running.
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Never operate with the PTO shield, or other guards not
securely in place. Be sure all interlocks are attached,
adjusted properly, and functioning properly.
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Never operate with the discharge deflector raised,
removed or altered, unless using a grass catcher.
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Do not change the engine governor setting or
overspeed the engine.
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Stop on level ground, disengage drives, engage
parking brake (if provided), shut off engine before
leaving the operator’s position for any reason
including emptying the catchers or unclogging the
chute.
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Stop equipment and inspect blades after striking
objects or if an abnormal vibration occurs. Make
necessary repairs before resuming operations.
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Keep hands and feet away from the cutting unit.
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Look behind and down before backing up to be sure of
a clear path.
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Keep pets and bystanders away.
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Slow down and use caution when making turns and
crossing roads and sidewalks. Stop blades if not
mowing.
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Be aware of the mower discharge direction and do not
point it at anyone.
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Do not operate the mower under the influence of
alcohol or drugs.
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Use care when loading or unloading the machine into
or from a trailer or truck.
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Use care when approaching blind corners, shrubs,
trees, or other objects that may obscure vision.
Maintenance and storage
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Disengage drives, set parking brake, stop engine and
remove key or disconnect spark plug wire. Wait for all
movement to stop before adjusting, cleaning or
repairing.
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Clean grass and debris from cutting unit, drives,
mufflers, and engine to help prevent fires. Clean up oil
or fuel spillage.
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Let engine cool before storing and do not store near
flame.
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Shut off fuel while storing or transporting. Do not store
fuel near flames or drain indoors.
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Park machine on level ground. Set parking brake.
Never allow untrained personnel to service machine.
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Use jack stands to support components when required.
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Carefully release pressure from components with
stored energy.