MTD 13AP625K730 - Slope and Towing Safety

Operation
This symbol points
out important safety
instructionswhich, if
notfollowed, could
endangerthe personal
i safety and/or property
of yourself and others.
Read andfollow all
=nstructionsin this man-
ualbefore attempting to
I operate this machine.
I Failureto comply with
i these instructions may
i result in personal injury.
When you see this
symbol.
HEED ITS WARNING
Your
Responsibility
Restrictthe use
of this power machine
to personswho read,
understand
and followthe warn=ngs
and instructions
in this manual
Slopesare a majorfactorrelatedtolossof controland
tip-overaccidentswhichcan resultin severeinjuryor
death.All slopesrequireextracaution.If youcannot
backuptheslopeor ifyoufeel uneasyonit, do notmow
it.
Foryoursafety,usetheslopegaugeincludedas partof
thismanualto measureslopesbeforeoperatingthisunit
ona slopedor hillyarea.Iftheslopeisgreaterthan15
degreesasshownon theslopegauge,do notoperate
thisunit onthatareaor seriousinjurycouldresult.
DO:
1. Mowupanddownslopes,notacross.Exercise
extremecautionwhenchangingdirectiononslopes.
2. Watchforholes,ruts,bumps,rocks,orother hidden
objects.Uneventerraincouldoverturnthe machine.
Tallgrasscanhideobstacles.
3. Useslowspeed.Choosea lowenoughspeed
settingsothatyouwill not haveto stopor shift while
onthe slope.Tiresmaylosetractiononslopeseven
thoughthebrakesarefunctioningproperly.Always
keepmachineingearwhengoingdownslopesto
takeadvantageof enginebrakingaction.
4. Followthemanufacturer'srecommendationsfor
wheelweightsorcounterweightsto improvestability.
5. Useextracare withgrasscatchersorotherat-
tachments.Thesecanchangethestabilityof the
machine.
6. Keepall movementon theslopesslowand gradual.
Donotmakesuddenchangesin speedor direction.
Rapidengagementor brakingcouldcausethefront
ofthemachineto liftand rapidlyflip overbackwards
whichcouldcauseseriousinjury.
7. Avoidstartingor stoppingon a slope.If tireslose
traction,disengagetheblade(s)andproceedslowly
straightdowntheslope.
Do Not:
1. Donotturn on slopesunlessnecessary;then,turn
slowlyandgraduallydownhill,if possible.
2. Donotmowneardrop-offs,ditchesor embankments.
Themowercouldsuddenlyturnoverif awheel is over
theedgeofa cliff,ditch,or if an edgecavesin.
3. Donottry tostabilizethemachinebyputtingyourfoot
onthe ground.
4. Donotusea grasscatcheronsteepslopes.
5. Donotmowonwetgrass.Reducedtractioncould
causesliding.
6. Donotshifttoneutralandcoastdownhill.Over-speed-
ingmaycausetheoperatorto losecontrolofthe
machineresultingin seriousinjuryordeath.
7. Donottow heavypullbehindattachments(e.g.loaded
dumpcart,lawnroller,etc.)on slopesgreaterthan
5 degrees.Whengoingdownhill,theextraweight
tendsto pushthetractorandmaycauseyou to loose
control.(e.g.tractormayspeedup, brakingandsteer-
ingabilityarereduced,attachmentmayjack-knifeand
causetractortooverturn).
Towing:
1. Towonlywitha machinethathasa hitchdesignedfor
towing.Donotattachtowedequipmentexceptatthe
hitchpoint.
2. Followthemanufacturersrecommendationforweight
limitsfortowedequipmentandtowingon slopes.
3. Neverallowchildrenor othersin oron towedequip-
ment.
4. Onslopes,the weightof the towedequipmentmay
causelossof tractionandlossof control.
5. Travelslowlyandallowextradistancetostop.
6. Donotshifttoneutralandcoastdownhill.
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