CHILDREN
Tragicaccidentscanoccurifthe operatoris notalert to the presence
ofchildren.Childrenareoftenattractedto themachineandthe mowing
activity.Theydo notunderstandthedangers.Neverassumethat
childrenwillremainwhereyoulastsawthem.
• Keepchildrenoutofthe mowingareaand inwatchfulcare of a
responsibleadultotherthanthe operator.
• Bealert andturnmachineoff ifa childentersthe area.
• Beforeandwhilebacking,lookbehindanddownforsmall
children.
Nevercarrychildren,evenwiththeblade(s)shutoff.Theymay
falloffandbe seriouslyinjuredorinterferewithsafemachine
operation.
• Useextremecarewhenapproachingblindcorners,doorways,
shrubs,treesorotherobjectsthatmayblockyourvisionof a child
whomayrunintothe machine.
Toavoidback-overaccidents,alwaysdisengagethecutting
blade(s)beforeshiftingintoReverse.Ifequipped,the"Reverse
CautionMode"(bladesoperatewhilemachineridesinreverse)
shouldnotbe usedwhenchildrenor othersarearound.
Keepchildrenawayfromhotor runningengines.Theycansuffer
burnsfroma hotmuffler.
• Removekeywhenmachineisunattendedto preventunauthorized
operation.
Neverallowchildrenunder14yearsofagetooperatethis machine.
Children14andovershouldreadandunderstandthe instructionsand
safeoperationpracticesinthismanualandon the machineandshould
betrainedandsupervisedbyan adult.
TOWING
Towonlywitha machinethathasa hitchdesignedfor towing.Do
notattachtowedequipmentexceptatthe hitchpoint.
Followthemanufacturersrecommendationforweightlimitsfor
towedequipmentandtowingonslopes.For recommendations,
call1-800-659-5917.
Neverallowchildrenor othersinoron towedequipment.
Onslopes,theweightof thetowedequipmentmaycauselossof
tractionandlossofcontrol.
Alwaysuseextracautionwhentowingwitha machinecapableof
makingtightturns(e.g."zero-turn"ride-onmower). Makewide
turnstoavoidjack-knifing.
Travelslowlyandallowextradistanceto stop.
Donotcoastdownhill.
SERVICE
SafeHandlingof Gasoline
Toavoidpersonalinjuryorpropertydamageuseextremecarein
handlinggasoline.Gasolineisextremelyflammableandthe vaporsare
explosive.Seriouspersonalinjurycanoccurwhengasolineis spilled
on yourselforyour clotheswhichcan ignite.Washyourskinand
changeclothesimmediately.
• Useonlyanapprovedgasolinecontainer.
Neverfill containersinsidea vehicleoron a truckortrailerbed
witha plasticliner.Alwaysplacecontainerson the groundaway
fromyourvehiclebeforefilling.
Whenpractical,removegas-poweredequipmentfromthe truck
or trailerandrefueliton theground.Ifthis isnotpossible,then
refuelsuchequipmentona trailerwitha portablecontainer,rather
thanfroma gasolinedispensernozzle.
Keepthenozzleincontactwiththe rim of thefueltankor
containeropeningat all timesuntilfuelingiscomplete.Donotuse
a nozzlelock-opendevice.
Extinguishall cigarettes,cigars,pipesandothersourcesof
ignition.
• Neverfuelmachineindoors.
Neverremovegascap or addfuelwhilethe engineis hotor run-
ning.Allowengineto coolatleasttwominutesbeforerefueling.
Neveroverfill fuel tank. Filltankto no morethan1/2inchbelow
bottomoffiller neckto allowspaceforfuel expansion.
• Replacegasolinecapandtightensecurely.
• Ifgasolineisspilled,wipeitoff theengineandequipment.Move
machineto anotherarea.Wait5 minutesbeforestartingthe
engine.
• Toreducefirehazards,keepmachinefreeof grass,leaves,or
otherdebrisbuild-up.Cleanup oilor fuel spillageandremoveany
fuelsoakeddebris.
• Neverstorethemachineor fuelcontainerinsidewherethereisan
openflame,sparkor pilotlight asona waterheater,spaceheater,
furnace,clothesdryeror othergasappliances.
Allowa machineto coolat leastfiveminutesbeforestoring.