Operation Precautions; Operate Machine Safely; General Maintenance Precautions - HUSTLER FasTrak General Service Manual

and purpose of all controls, instruments, indicators
and labels.
Wear Protective Clothing
 Do not operate or service the equipment while wearing
sandals, tennis shoes, sneakers, shorts or any type of
loose fitting clothing. Long hair, loose clothing or jew-
elry may get tangled in moving parts. Always wear
long pants, safety glasses, ear protection and safety
shoes when operating or servicing this machine.
 Always wear adequate eye protection when servicing
the hydraulic system and battery, or when grinding
mower blades and removing accumulated debris.
 Prolonged exposure to loud noise can cause impair-
ment or loss of hearing.
• Always wear adequate ear protection, such as
earplugs, when operating this equipment as pro-
longed exposure to uncomfortable or loud noises
can cause impairment or loss of hearing.
• Do not wear radios or music headphones while
operating the machinery. Safe operation requires
your full attention.

Operation Precautions

Avoid Fire Hazards
 Clean flammable material from machine. Prevent fires by
keeping engine compartment, top of deck, exhaust area,
battery, hydraulic lines, fuel line, fuel tank and operator's
station clean of accumulated trash, grass clippings, and
other debris. Always clean up spilled fuel and oil.
Start Engine Safely
 Avoid possible injury or death from machine runaway.
 Do not start engine by shorting across starter termi-
nals.
 Before you start the engine:
• Sit on the operator's seat.
• Move control levers to the neutral/brake position.

Operate Machine Safely

 Refer to the unit's operator's manual for complete
safety information on safe machine operation.
 Always maintain a safe distance from people and pets
when mowing
 Always be aware of what is behind the machine before
backing up.
 Never leave machine unattended with ignition key in
switch, especially with children present.
 Follow daily and weekly checklists, making sure hoses
are tightly secured and bolts are tightened.
REV C
 Always keep engine and machine clean, removing
accumulated dirt, trash and other material from
machine.
 Never put hands or feet under any part of the machine
while it is running.
 Never attempt to start engine when there is a strong
odor of gasoline fumes present. Locate and correct
cause.
 Keep all safety shields and covers in place, except for
servicing.
 Do not touch hot parts of machine.

General Maintenance Precautions

 Repairs or maintenance requiring engine power should
be performed by trained maintenance personnel only.
 Never run the engine in an enclosed area unless
exhaust is vented to the outside. Exhaust gases con-
tain carbon monoxide which is an odorless and deadly
poison.
 Unless specifically required, DO NOT have the engine
running when servicing or making adjustments to the
mower.
• Park the mower on level ground
• Disengage the deck clutch.
• Place the steering control levers in the park brake
position.
• Lower the deck.
• Stop the engine.
• Remove the ignition key.
• Disconnect the negative battery cable.
• Wait for all movement to stop before adjusting,
cleaning or repairing.
• Repairs or maintenance requiring engine power
should be performed by trained maintenance per-
sonnel only.
• To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, operate
the engine in a well ventilated area only.
• Read and observe all safety warnings in this man-
ual.
 Before working on or under the deck, make certain
engine cannot be accidentally started. Shut engine off,
remove ignition switch key and disconnect negative
battery cable for maximum safety.
 Except when changing or checking belt, always keep
belt covers on mower deck for safety as well as clean-
liness.
 Use a stick or similar instrument to clean under the
mower making sure that no part of the body, especially
arms and hands are under mower.
 Keep your machine clean and remove any deposits of
trash and clippings, which can cause engine fires and
hydraulic overheating as well as excessive belt wear.
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