HUSTLER TrimStar Hydro WalkBehind Operator's Manual page 10

of the handle in either direction could result in a
reaction of the tractor that can cause serious injury.
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Never operate a poorly maintained machine.
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Never attempt high speed maneuvering, especially in
crowded or congested areas.
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Never allow persons to operate this machine without
proper instruction or allow children to operate
machine. Allow only responsible adults who are
familiar with these instructions to operate this
machine.
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Never put hands or feet under any part of the machine
while it is running.
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Never carry passengers.
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Never direct discharge of material from mower deck
towards bystanders. Do not operate the mower
without either the discharge chute or the entire grass
collection system in place.
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Always disengage the blades and wait for them to stop
before crossing gravel drives, walks or roads.
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Always keep clear of the mower blades and
attachments during their operation.
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Turn off blades when not mowing.
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Slow down before turning.
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Stop the engine before removing the grass catcher or
unclogging the discharge chute. Never clear the
discharge chute with the engine running. Turn off the
engine and be sure the blades have stopped before
cleaning. Use a stick to clear a plugged discharge area.
Never use your hand!
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Do not operate the machine while under the influence
of alcohol or drugs.
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Exercise caution when loading or unloading the
machine onto a trailer or truck.
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Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side
shields when operating the mower.
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Data indicates that operators, age 60 years and above,
are involved in a large percentage of mower-related
injuries. These operators should evaluate their ability
to operate the mower safely enough to protect
themselves and others from serious injury.
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Never make sudden starts, stops, turns, or reverse
direction, especially when maneuvering on slopes.
The steering is designed for sensitive response. Rapid
movement of the H-bar handle in either direction could
result in a reaction of the unit that can cause serious
injury.
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If any attachment or additional weight is mounted on
the rear of the unit, any sudden movement of the H-bar
handle could cause the front of mower to come off of
the ground resulting in possible loss of control and
serious injury.
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The use of any other manufacturer's attachments,
including stand-up sulkies, increases the risk of
operator injury, therefore, extreme caution must be
exercised when using these devises.
▲ ▲ Clean flammable material from machine. Prevent
fires by keeping engine compartment, battery, fuel
line, fuel tank and operator's station clean of
accumulated trash, grass clippings, and other
debris. Always clean up spilled fuel and oil.
Slope Operation
Slopes are a major factor in loss-of-control and tip-over
accidents, which can result in sever injury or death. All
slopes require extra caution. If you cannot back up the
slope or if you feel uneasy on it; do not mow it.
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Use extreme caution when operating on slopes.
• Be extremely careful changing directions on a slope.
Slow down.
• Do not operate where the machine could slip or tip.
• To check a slope, attempt to back up it. If the unit
can back up the slope without the operator and drive
wheels slipping, reduce ground speed and proceed
with caution.
• Do not operate the TrimStar Hydro on slopes when
using a stand-up sulky.
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Always be sure of your footing. Keep a firm hold on
the H-Bar handle and walk - never run.
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Block or chock the machine when parked on a slope or
when trailering.
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Watch for holes, ruts or bumps. Uneven terrain could
overturn the machine. Tall grass can hide obstacles.
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Remove obstacles such as rocks, tree limbs, etc.
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Keep all movement on slopes slow and gradual. Do
not make sudden changes in speed or direction.
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Avoid starting and stopping on a slope. If tires lose
traction, disengage the blades and proceed slowly
straight down the slope.
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Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches, or embankments.
The machine could suddenly turn over if a wheel goes
over the edge of a cliff or ditch, or if an edge caves in.
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Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced traction could
cause sliding.
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The Hustler mower is capable of operating
horizontally (traverse) on moderately steep slopes.
When operating on slopes of 15 degrees or more, be
aware of any conditions that may cause the drive tires
to lose traction resulting in a possible loss of control of
the machine. An operator should not operate on a
slope until he is thoroughly familiar with the
equipment.
Do not operate the machine on slopes greater than
15 degrees.
Refer to Figure 2-1, page 2-5, when determining the
degree of slope to be mowed.
It is strongly recommended that the operator drive
the machine off of the slope, using extreme caution, if
any sign of loss of traction is detected. Wait until the
condition that caused the problem is resolved before
attempting to operate on the slope again.
Terrain conditions can affect traction resulting in
possible loss of control of the machine. Some of the
conditions to be aware of are:
1. Wet terrain
2. Depressions in the ground; i.e. holes, ruts,
washouts
3. Mounds of dirt
4. Soil type; i.e. sand, loose dirt, gravel, clay
5. Grass type, density, and height
6. Extremely dry conditions of grass
7. Tire pressure
2-2 104893 10/05