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CHILDREN
Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the
presence of children. Children are often attracted to the
unit and the mowing activity. Never assume that children
will remain where you last saw them.
1. Keep children out of the mowing area and under the
watchful care of another responsible adult.
2. Be alert and turn unit off if children enter the area.
3. Before and during reverse operation, look behind and
down for small children.
4. Never carry children, even with the blade(s) off. They
may fall off and be seriously injured or interfere with
safe unit operation. Children who have been given
rides in the past may suddenly appear in the mowing
area for another ride and be run over or backed over
by the machine.
5. Never allow children to operate the unit.
6. Use extra care when approaching blind corners,
shrubs, trees, or other objects that may obscure
vision.
EMISSIONS
1. Engine exhaust from this product contains chemicals
known, in certain quantities, to cause cancer, birth
defects, or other reproductive harm.
2. Look for the relevant Emissions Durability Period and
Air Index information on the engine emissions label.
IGNITION SYSTEM
1. This spark ignition system complies with Canadian
ICES-002.
SLOPE OPERATION
Slopes are a major factor related to loss-of-control and tip-
over accidents, which can result in severe injury or death.
Operation on all slopes requires extra caution. If you
cannot back up the slope or if you feel uneasy on it, do not
operate on it.
Control of a walk-behind or ride-on machine sliding on a
slope will not be regained by the application of the brake.
The main reasons for loss of control are: insufficient tire
grip on the ground, speed too fast, inadequate braking, the
type of machine is unsuitable for its task, lack of
awareness of the ground conditions, incorrect hitching and
load distribution.
1. Mow across slopes, not up and down.
2. Watch for holes, ruts, or bumps. Uneven terrain could
overturn the unit. Tall grass can hide obstacles.
3. Choose a slow speed so that you will not have to
stop or change speeds while on the slope.
4. Do not mow on wet grass. Tires may loose traction.
5. Avoid starting, stopping, or turning on a slope. If
tires lose traction (i.e. machine stops forward motion
on a slope), disengage the blade(s) (PTO) and drive
slow off the slope.
6. Keep all movement on slopes slow and gradual. Do
not make sudden changes in speed or direction,
which could cause the machine to rollover.
7. Use extra care while operating machines with grass
catchers or other attachments; they can affect the
stability of the unit. Do not use on steeps slopes.
8. Do not try to stabilize the machine by putting your
foot on the ground (ride-on units).
9. 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 or ditch, or if an
edge caves in.
10. Do not use grass catchers on steep slopes.
11. Do not mow slopes if you cannot back up them.
12. See your authorized dealer/retailer for
recommendations of wheel weights or
counterweights to improve stability.
13. Remove obstacles such as rocks, tree limbs, etc.
14. Use slow speed. Tires may lose traction on slopes
even though the brakes are functioning properly.
15. Do not turn on slopes unless necessary, and then,
turn slowly and gradually uphill, if possible. Never
mow down slopes.
TOWED EQUIPMENT (RIDE-ON UNITS)
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 manufacturer’s recommendations for
weight limit for towed equipment and towing on
slopes. See attaching a trailer under OPERATION.
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. Travel slowly and allow extra distance to stop.
6. Do not shift to neutral and coast down hill.
WARNING
Never operate on slopes greater than 17.6 percent
(10°) which is a rise of 3-1/2 feet (106 cm)
vertically in 20 feet (607 cm) horizontally.
Select slow ground speed before driving onto
slope. Use extra caution when operating on
slopes with rear-mounted grass catchers.
Mow across the face of slopes, not up and
down,use caution when changing directions and
DO NOT START OR STOP ON SLOPE.
Safety Rules and Information
