•Turnoffthebladeswhennotmowing.Shutoffthe
engine,waitforallpartstocometoacompletestop,and
removethekeybeforecleaningthemachine,removing
thegrasscatcheroruncloggingthedischargechute.
•Operatethemachineonlyindaylightorgoodarticial
light.
•Donotoperatethemachinewhiletired,ill,orunderthe
inuenceofalcoholordrugs.
•Watchfortrafcwhenoperatingnearorcrossing
roadways.
•Useextracarewhenloadingorunloadingthemachine
intoatrailerortruck.
•Wearappropriateclothingincludingeyeprotectionand
substantial,slip-resistantshoes.Tiebacklonghair.Do
notwearjewelry.
•Alwaysfollowtherecommendationsforanyapplication
ofcounterweights.
•Lightningcancausesevereinjuryordeath.Iflightning
isseenorthunderisheardinthearea,donotoperate
themachine;seekshelter.
SlopeOperation
Slopesareamajorfactorrelatedtolossofcontroland
tip-overaccidents,whichcanresultinsevereinjuryordeath.
Operationonallslopesrequiresextracaution.Ifyoucannot
backuptheslopeorifyoufeeluneasyonit,donotmowit.
•Donotmowslopesgreaterthan15degrees.
•Watchforditches,holes,rocks,dips,andrisesthatchange
theoperatingangle,asroughterraincouldoverturnthe
machine.
•Choosealowgroundspeedsothatyouwillnothaveto
stopwhileoperatingonaslope.
•Donotmowslopeswhengrassiswet.Slippery
conditionsreducetractionandcouldcauseslidingand
lossofcontrol.
•Alwayskeepthedrivewheelsengagedwhengoingdown
slopes.
•Reducespeedanduseextremecautiononslopes.
•Donotmakesuddenturnsorrapidspeedchanges.
•Removeormarkobstaclessuchasrocks,treelimbs,etc.
fromthemowingarea.Tallgrasscanhideobstacles.
•Avoidsuddenstartswhenmowinguphillbecausethe
mowermaytipbackward.
•Beawarethatlossoftractionmayoccurgoingdownhill.
Weighttransfertothefrontwheelsmaycausedrive
wheelstoslipandcauselossofbrakingandsteering.
•Alwaysavoidsuddenstartingorstoppingonaslope.If
thetireslosetraction,stopthemachine,disengagethe
bladesandproceedslowlydowntheslope.
•Useextremecarewithgrasscatchersorotherattachments.
Thesecanchangethestabilityofthemachineandcause
lossofcontrol.
•Donottrytostabilizethemachinebyputtingyourfoot
ontheground.
•Donotmowneardrop-offs,ditches,steepbanks,or
water.Wheelsdroppingoveredgescancauserollovers,
whichmayresultinseriousinjury,deathordrowning.
•Useawalkbehindmowerand/orahandtrimmernear
drop-offs,ditches,steepbanks,orwater.
Children
Tragicaccidentscanoccuriftheoperatorisnotalerttothe
presenceofchildren.Childrenareoftenattractedtothe
machineandthemowingactivity.Neverassumethatchildren
willremainwhereyoulastsawthem.
•Keepchildrenoutofthemowingareaandunderthe
watchfulcareofanotherresponsibleadult,notthe
operator.
•Bealertandturnthemachineoffifchildrenenterthe
area.
•Beforeandwhilebackingorchangingdirection,look
behind,down,andside-to-sideforsmallchildren.
•Nevercarrychildrenonthemachine,evenwiththe
bladesoff.Childrenmayfalloffandbeseriouslyinjured
orinterferewiththesafeoperationofthemachine.
•Childrenwhohavebeengivenridesinthepastmay
suddenlyappearinthemowingareaforanotherrideand
berunoverorbackedoverbythemower.
•Neverallowchildrentooperatethemachine.
•Useextracarewhenapproachingblindcorners,shrubs,
trees,theendofafence,orotherobjectsthatmay
obscurevision.
TowingSafety
•Donotattachtowedequipmentexceptatthehitchpoint.
•Followtheattachmentmanufacturer'srecommendation
forweightlimitsfortowedequipmentandtowingon
slopes.Towedweightmustnotexceedtheweightofthe
machine,operator,andballast.Usecounterweightsor
wheelweightsasdescribedintheattachment,orinthe
towingmachine’sOperator’sManual.
•Neverallowchildrenorothersinorontowedequipment.
•Onslopes,theweightofthetowedequipmentmaycause
lossoftraction,increasedriskofrollover,andlossof
control.Reducethetowedweightandslowdown.
•Thestoppingdistanceincreaseswiththeweightofthe
towedload.Travelslowlyandallowextradistancetostop.
•Makewideturnstokeeptheattachmentclearofthe
machine.
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