Operation
WARNING
Hands, feet, hair, clothing, or accessories can
become entangled in rotating parts. Contact
with the rotating parts can cause traumatic
amputation or severe lacerations.
•
Do Not operate the machine without
guards, shields, and safety devices in place
and working properly.
•
Keep hands, feet, hair, jewelry, or clothing
away from rotating parts.
•
Be aware of the discharge/spreading path
and direct discharge away from others. Avoid
discharging material against a wall or obstruction
as the material may ricochet back toward the
operator. Raise the tines, slow down, and use
caution when crossing surfaces other than grass
and when transporting the machine to and from
the work area.
•
Be alert, slow down and use caution when
making turns. Look behind and to the side before
changing directions. Do Not operate in reverse
unless absolutely necessary.
•
Stop spreading when making tight turns to
minimize uneven distribution pattern, application
rate, and chemical drift.
•
Chemicals may drift and cause injury to people
and animals; it may also damage plants, soil, or
other property.
•
Do Not change the engine governor setting or
overspeed the engine.
•
Park the machine on level ground. Stop engine,
wait for all moving parts to stop, and remove the
spark plug wire(s).
– Before checking, cleaning or working on the
machine.
– After striking a foreign object or abnormal
vibration occurs (inspect the machine for
damage and make repairs before restarting
and operating the machine).
– Before clearing blockages.
– Whenever you leave the machine. Do Not
leave a running machine unattended.
•
Stop engine, wait for all moving parts to stop, and
engage parking brake:
– Before refueling
•
Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not
alert to the presence of children. Children are
often attracted to the machine and the working
activity. Never assume that children will remain
where you last saw them.
– Keep children out of the working area and
under the watchful care of another responsible
adult, not the operator.
– Be alert and turn the machine off if children
enter the area.
– Before and while backing or changing
direction, look behind, down, and side-to-side
for small children.
– Never allow children to operate the machine.
– Do Not carry children, even if the aerator
or spreader is not in use. Children could fall
off and be seriously injured or interfere with
the safe operation of the machine. Children
that have been given rides in the past could
suddenly appear in the working area for
another ride and be run over or backed over
by the machine.
•
Reduce the weight of the load when operating
on hills and rough terrain to avoid tipping or
overturning of the machine.
•
Granular materials can shift. This shifting
happens most often while turning, going up or
down hills, suddenly changing speeds, or while
driving over rough surfaces. Shifting loads can
cause the machine to tip over.
•
When operating with a heavy load, reduce your
speed and allow for sufficient stopping distance.
Use extra caution on slopes.
•
Reduce speed and load when operating on rough
terrain, uneven ground, and near curbs, holes, and
other sudden changes in terrain. Loads may shift,
causing the machine to become unstable.
WARNING
Sudden changes in terrain may cause abrupt
steering wheel movement, possibly resulting
in hand and arm injuries.
Reduce speed when operating on rough
terrain or near curbs.
Slope Safety
•
Slopes are a major factor related to loss of control
and rollover accidents, which can result in severe
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