Safety Instructions
13
9. Watch for holes, rocks, and roots in the terrain
and for other hidden hazards. When mowing
tall grass, mow higher than desired to expose
any hidden obstacles. Then, clean the area and
mow to the desired height.
10. Avoid sudden starts or stops. Before backing
the machine up, look to the rear to be sure no
one is behind the machine. Watch carefully for
traffic when crossing or working near roadways.
11. Disengage the blade drive when transporting
the machine across drives, sidewalks, etc. Never
raise the mower deck while blades are
rotating.
12. The maximum recommended side slope
operating angle is 20 degrees or 33% grade.
When operating the machine on a slope, reduce
speed and use caution to start, stop, and
maneuver. To prevent tipping or loss of control
of the machine, avoid sharp turns or sudden
changes in direction.
13. Never adjust cutting height with the engine
running. Before adjusting cutting height or
servicing, disengage the blade clutch (PTO),
stop the engine, and remove the ignition key.
Wait for all movement to stop before getting off
the seat.
NOTE: The electric clutch brake should nor-
mally stop drive line rotation within five (5) sec-
onds of disengaging the PTO clutch.
14. For side discharge mower decks, do not oper-
ate with the grass deflector chute removed.
Keep the deflector in the lowest possible
position.
15. When using the tilt-up deck, observe the fol-
lowing recommendations:
a.
Do not move tractor with deck in tilt-up po-
sition.
b.
Never tilt body forward with deck in tilt-up
position.
16. In case of a clogged or plugged mower deck:
a. Disengage the blade clutch (PTO) and turn
the engine off before leaving the seat.
b. LOOK to make sure blade drive shaft move-
ment has stopped before trying to unclog
the system.
c. Disconnect the spark plug wires.
d. Never place hands under the deck use a
stick or similar tool to remove clogged ma-
terial.
17. If the cutting blades strike a solid object or the
machine begins to vibrate abnormally,
immediately disengage the blade clutch
(PTO), stop the engine, and wait for all
moving parts to stop. To prevent accidental
starting, disconnect the spark plug wires.
Thoroughly inspect the mower and repair any
damage before restarting the engine and
operating the mower. Make sure cutter blades
are in good condition and blade nuts are torqued
to 60 ft-lb (81.3 N
⋅
m).
18. Do not touch the engine or muffler while the
engine is running or immediately after stop-
ping the engine. These areas may be hot
enough to cause serious burns.
19. When leaving the machine unattended, dis-
engage the blade clutch (PTO), stop the
engine, and remove the key.
MAINTENANCE
1. To prevent accidental starting of the engine
when servicing or adjusting the machine, re-
move the key from the ignition switch and dis-
connect the spark plug wires.
2. To reduce fire hazards, keep the engine free of
grass, leaves, excessive grease, and dirt.
3. Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to ensure
the machine is in a safe, working condition.
Check the blade mounting nuts frequently, mak-
ing sure they are tight.
4. Perform only maintenance instructions de-
scribed in this manual. Unauthorized main-
tenance operations or machine modifications
may result in unsafe operating conditions.
