5
Slope Operation
Slopes are a major factor related to loss of control and tip-over
accidents which can result in severe injury or death. All slopes
require extra caution. If you cannot back up the slope or if you
feel uneasy on it, do not mow it.
For your safety, use the slope gauge included as part of this
manual to measure slopes before operating this unit on a
sloped or hilly area. If the slope is greater than 15 degrees as
shown on the slope gauge, do not operate this unit on that area
or serious injury could result.
Do:
1. Mow u
p and down slopes, not across. Exercise extreme
caution when changing direction on slopes.
2. Watch for holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, or other hidden objects.
Uneven terrain could overturn the machine. Tall grass can
hide obstacles.
3. Use slow speed. Choose a low enough speed setting so that
you will not have to stop or shift while on the slope. Tires may
lose traction on slopes even though the brakes are function-
ing properly. Always keep machine in gear when going down
slopes to take advantage of engine braking action.
4. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for wheel
weights or counterweights to improve stability.
5. Use extra care with grass catchers or other attachments.
These can change the stability of the machine.
6. Keep all movement on the slopes slow and gradual. Do not
make sudden changes in speed or direction. Rapid engage-
ment or braking could cause the front of the machine to lift
and rapidly flip over backwards which could cause serious
injury.
7. Avoid starting or sto
pping on a slope. If tires lose
traction, disengage the blade(s) and proceed slowly
straight down the slope.
Do Not:
1.
Do not turn on slopes unless necessary; then, turn slowly
and gradually downhill, if possible.
2. Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embankments. The
mower could suddenly turn over if a wheel is over the edge
of a cliff, ditch, or if an edge caves in.
3. Do not try to stabilize the machine by putting your foot on
the ground.
4. Do not use a grass catcher on steep slopes.
5. Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced traction could cause
sliding.
6. Do not shift to neutral and coast downhill. Over-speeding
may cause the operator to lose control of the machine
resulting in serious injury or death.
7. Do not tow heavy pull behind attachments (e.g. loaded
dump cart, lawn roller, etc.) on slopes greater than 5
degrees. When going down hill, the ex
tra weight tends to
push the tractor and may cause you to loose control.
(e.g. tractor may speed up, braking and steering ability
are reduced, attachment may jack-knife and cause
tractor to overturn).
Children
1. Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the
presence of children. Children are often attracted to the
machine and the mowing activity. They do not understand
the dangers. Never assume that children will remain where
you last saw them.
a. Keep children out of the mowing area and in watchful
care of a responsible adult other than the operator.
b. Be alert and turn machine off if a child enters the area.
c. Before and while backing, look behind and down for
small children.
d. Never carry children, even with the blade(s) shut off.
They may fall off and be seriously injured or interfere
with safe machine operation.
e. Use extreme care when approaching blind corners,
doorways, shrubs, trees or other objects that may
block your vision of a child who may run into the
machine.
f.
To avoid back-over accidents, always disengage
the cutting blade(s) before shifting into Reverse. If
equipped, the “Reverse Caution Mode” should not
be used when children or others are around.
g. Keep children away from hot or running engines. They
can suffer burns from a hot muffler.
h. Remove key when machine is unattended to prevent
unauthorized operation.
2. Never allow children under 14 years old to operate this
machine. Children 14 years old and over should read
and unde
rstand the instructions and safe operation
practices in this manual and on the machine and
should be trained and supervised by a adult.
Towing
1. Tow only
with a machine that has a hitch designed for
towing. Do not attach towed equipment except at the hitch
point.
2. Follow the manufacturers recommendation for weight
limits for towed equipment and towing on slopes.
3. Never allow children or others in or on towed equipment.
4. On slopes, the weight of the towed equipment may cause
loss of traction and loss of control.
5. Always use extra caution when towing with a machine
capable of making tight turns (e.g. “zero-turn” ride-on
mower). Make wide turns to avoid jack-knifing.
6. Travel slowly and allow extra distance to stop.
6. Do not shift to neut
ral and coast downhill.
Service
Safe Handling of Gasoline:
1. To avoid personal injury or property damage use
extreme care in
handling gasoline.
Gasoline is
extremely flammable and the vapors are explosive.
Serious personal injury can occur when gasoline is spilled
on yourself or your clothes which can ignite. Wash your
skin and change clothes immediately.
a. Use only an approved gasoline container.
b. Never fill conta
iners inside a vehicle or on a truck
or
trailer bed with a plastic liner. Always place contain-
ers on the ground away from your vehicle before filling.
c. When practical, remove gas-powered equipment from
the truck or trailer and refuel it on the ground. If this is
not possible, then refuel such equipment on a trailer
with a portable container, rather than from a gasoline
dispenser nozzle.
d. Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim of the fuel
tank or container opening at all times until fueling is
complete. Do not use a nozzle lock-open device.
2
Safe
Operation
Practices
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 man-
ual before attempting to
operate this machine.
Failure to comply with
these instructions
may result in personal
injury. When you see
this symbol,
HEED ITS
WARNING.
Your
Responsibility
Restrict the use
of this power machine
to persons who read,
understand
and follow the warnings
and instructions
in this manual and on
the machine.
