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• Do not operate the machine while ill, tired, or
under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Operate the machine only in good visibility and
appropriate weather conditions. Do Not operate
the machine when there is the risk of lightning.
• Keep away from holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, and
other hidden hazards. Use care when approaching
blind corners, shrubs, trees, tall grass or other
objects that may hide obstacles or obscure vision.
Uneven terrain could overturn the machine or
cause the operator to lose their balance or footing.
• Start the engine with your feet well away from
the blades.
• Do Not operate the machine without all safety
shields, guards, switches, and other devices in
place and in proper working condition.
• Keep your hands and feet away from the moving
parts. Keep clear of the discharge opening.
• Do Not mow with the discharge deflector
raised, removed, or altered unless there is a
grass-collection system or mulch kit in place and
working properly.
• Never raise the deck with blades running.
• Be aware of the mower discharge path and direct
discharge away from others. Avoid discharging
material against a wall or obstruction as the
material may ricochet back toward the operator.
Stop the blades, slow down, and use caution
when crossing surfaces other than grass and when
transporting the mower to and from the area to
be mowed.
• Be alert, slow down and use caution when
making turns. Do Not mow in reverse unless it
is absolutely necessary. Always look down and
behind you before moving the machine in reverse.
• Park the machine on level ground. Stop engine,
wait for all moving parts to stop, and remove key.
– Before checking, cleaning or working on the
mower.
– After striking a foreign object or abnormal
vibration occurs (inspect the mower for
damage and make repairs before restarting
and operating the mower).
– Before clearing blockages.
– Whenever you leave the mower. Do Not leave
a running machine unattended.
• Stop engine, wait for all moving parts to stop:
– Before refueling.
– Before dumping the grass catcher.
– Before making height adjustments.
• Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not
alert to the presence of children. Children are
often attracted to the machine and the mowing
activity. Never assume that children will remain
where you last saw them.
– Keep children out of the mowing area and
under the watchful care of another responsible
adult, not the operator.
– Be alert and turn the machine off if children
enter the area.
– Before and while backing or changing
direction, look behind, down, and side-to-side
for small children.
– Never allow children to operate the machine.
– Do Not carry children, even with the blades
shut off. Children could fall off and be
seriously injured or interfere with the safe
operation of the machine. Children that have
been given rides in the past could suddenly
appear in the working area for another ride and
be run over or backed over by the machine.
Slope Safety
• Slopes are a major factor related to loss of control
and rollover accidents, which can result in severe
injury or death. The operator is responsible for
safe slope operation. Operating the machine on
any slope requires extra caution. Before using the
machine on a slope, the operator must:
– Review and understand the slope instructions
in the manual and on the machine.
– Evaluate the site conditions of the day to
determine if the slope is safe for machine
operation. Use common sense and good
judgment when performing this evaluation.
Changes in the terrain, such as moisture, can
quickly affect the operation of the machine
on a slope.
• Operate across slopes, never up and down. Avoid
operation on excessively steep or wet slopes. Poor
footing could cause a slip and fall accident.
• Identify hazards at the base of the slope. Do
Not operate the machine near drop offs, ditches,
embankments, water or other hazards. The
17
Operation
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