Operation
Note:Determinetheleftandrightsidesofthe
machinefromthenormaloperatingposition.
BeforeOperation
BeforeOperationSafety
GeneralSafety
•Neverallowchildrenoruntrainedpeopleto
operateorservicethemachine.Localregulations
mayrestricttheageoftheoperator.Theowner
isresponsiblefortrainingalloperatorsand
mechanics.
•Becomefamiliarwiththesafeoperationofthe
equipment,operatorcontrols,andsafetysigns.
•Knowhowtostopthemachineandshutoffthe
enginequickly.
•Checkthatoperator-presencecontrols,safety
switches,andshieldsareattachedandfunctioning
properly.Donotoperatethemachineunlessthey
arefunctioningproperly.
•Beforemowing,alwaysinspectthemachineto
ensurethattheblades,bladebolts,andcutting
assembliesareingoodworkingcondition.
Replacewornordamagedbladesandboltsinsets
topreservebalance.
•Inspecttheareawhereyouwillusethemachine
andremoveallobjectsthatthemachinecould
throw.
FuelSafety
•Useextremecareinhandlingfuel.Itisammable
anditsvaporsareexplosive.
•Extinguishallcigarettes,cigars,pipes,andother
sourcesofignition.
•Useonlyanapprovedfuelcontainer.
•Neverremovethefuelcaporllthefueltankwhile
theengineisrunningorhot.
•Neverrefuelthemachineinanenclosedspace.
•Neverstorethemachineorfuelcontainerwhere
thereisanopename,spark,orpilotlight,such
asonawaterheaterorotherappliance.
•Ifyouspillfuel,donotattempttostarttheengine;
avoidcreatinganysourceofignitionuntilthefuel
vaporshavedissipated.
CheckingtheEngine-Oil
Level
Beforeyoustarttheengineandusethemachine,
checktheoillevelintheenginecrankcase;referto
CheckingtheEngine-OilLevel(page58).
CheckingtheCooling
System
Beforeyoustarttheengineandusethemachine,
checkthecoolingsystem;refertoCheckingthe
CoolingSystem(page70).
CheckingtheHydraulic
System
Beforeyoustarttheengineandusethemachine,
checkthehydraulicsystem;refertoCheckingthe
HydraulicLinesandHoses(page76).
DrainingtheWater
Separator
Drainwaterorothercontaminantsfromthewater
separator;refertoDrainingWaterfromtheFuel/Water
Separator(page61).
CheckingtheRearAxleand
GearboxforLeaks
Checktherearaxleandrear-axlegearboxforleaks;
refertoCheckingtheRearAxleandGearboxfor
Leaks(page68).
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