Cub Cadet Z-Force Pro Operator's Manual page 3

9. Always wear appropriate clothing and personal protective
equipment (e.g. safety glasses, long pants, gloves, hearing
protection , safety shoes, hard hat) when operating or maintaining
this machine. Long hair, loose fitting clothing or jewelry may
get entangled in moving parts. Follow all federal, state and local
guidelines regarding the use of personal protective equipment.
10. Be aware of the mower and attachment discharge direction and
do not point it at anyone. Do not operate the mower without the
discharge cover or entire grass catcher in its proper place.
11. Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts or under the cutting
deck. Contact with the blade(s) can amputate hands and feet.
12. A missing or damaged discharge cover can cause blade contact or
thrown object injuries.
13. Stop the blade(s) when crossing gravel drives, walks, or roads and
while not cutting grass.
14. Watch for traffic when operating near or crossing roadways. This
machine is not intended for use on any public roadway.
15. Do not operate the machine while under the influence of alcohol
or drugs.
16. Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.
17. Never carry passengers.
18. Back up slowly. Always look down and behind before and while
backing to avoid a back-over accident.
19. Slow down before turning. Operate the machine smoothly. Avoid
erratic operation and excessive speed. Be aware of your direction
of travel to avoid accidents.
20. Disengage blade(s), set parking brake, stop engine and wait until
the blade(s) come to a complete stop before removing grass
catcher, emptying grass, unclogging chute, removing any grass or
debris, or making any adjustments.
21. Never leave a running machine unattended. Always stop on level
ground, turn off blade(s), place drive speed control pedals in
neutral, set parking brake, stop engine and remove key before
leaving the operator position.
22. Use extra care when loading or unloading the machine on a
trailer or truck. The machine should not be driven on unstable,
unsecured or inadequate ramps because the machine could tip
over causing serious personal injury.
23. Check overhead clearances carefully before driving under low
hanging tree branches, wires, door openings etc., where the
operator and/or ROPS may be struck which could result in serious
injury and/or machine tip over.
24. Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a burn. Do not
touch.
25. Disengage the blades, set the parking brake to the 'ON' position
and make sure the speed control pedals are in the neutral
position before attempting to start the engine. Only start the
engine from the operator's position.
26. Do not attempt to mow unusually tall, dry grass (e.g., pasture) or
piles of dry leaves. Dry grass or leaves may contact the engine
exhaust and/or build up on the mower deck presenting a potential
fire hazard.
27. Do not stop or park the machine over dry leaves, grass, debris or
other combustible material.
28. Never attempt to operate the machine without the mowing deck
attached; the machine could tip over.
29. Keep the machine and especially the engine exhaust system and
hydraulic components clean and free of grease, grass and leaves
to reduce the potential for overheating and fire.
30. Allow the machine to cool at least 5 minutes before storing.
31. Use only accessories and attachments approved for this machine
by the machine manufacturer. Read, understand and follow all
instructions provided with the approved accessory or attachment.
32. Data indicates that operators, age 60 years and above, are involved
in a large percentage of riding mower-related injuries. Operators
should evaluate their ability to operate this machine safely enough
to protect themselves and others from serious injury.
33. Do not operate or start machine if there is fuel or oil leaks; repair
immediately.
34. When looking for oil leaks, never run your hand over hydraulic
hoses, lines or fittings. Never tighten or adjust hydraulic hoses,
lines or fittings while the system is under pressure. If high-
pressure oil penetrates the skin seek immediate medical attention
or gangrene and permanent damage may result. Do not check for
hydraulic leaks with your hands, use paper or cardboard instead.
Wear gloves and safety glasses when checking for leaks.
35. Do not operate machines that have been damaged or have not
been properly maintained. If the machine has been damaged,
then have it repaired.
36. When operating this machine in the forward direction, do not
allow the speed control pedals to return to the neutral position on
their own. Always operate them smoothly and avoid any sudden
movements of the pedals when starting or stopping.
37. If situations occur which are not covered in this manual use
care and good judgement. Contact your customer service
representative for assistance.
Slope Operation
Slopes are a major factor related to loss of control and tip-over accidents
that can result in severe 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
or drive on the slope.
For your safety, use the slope gauge included as part of this manual to
measure slopes before operating this machine on a sloped or hilly area. If the
slope is greater than 20 degrees/35 percent as shown on the slope gauge, do
not operate this machine on that area or serious injury could result.
Do:
1. Mow across slopes, not up and down. Exercise extreme caution
when changing direction on slopes.
2. Watch for holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, or other hidden objects. Uneven
terrain could overturn the machine. Tall grass can hide obstacles.
3. Use slow speed. Choose a low enough speed so that you will not
have to stop while on the slope. Avoid starting or stopping on a
slope. If the tires are unable to maintain traction, disengage the
blades and proceed slowly and carefully straight down the slope.
4. Keep all movements on the slopes slow and gradual. Do not
make sudden changes in speed or direction. Rapid acceleration
could cause the front of the machine to lift and rapidly flip over
backwards, which could cause serious injury or death.
5. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for wheel weights or
counterweights to improve stability.
6. Use extra care with grass catchers or other attachments. These can
change the stability of the machine.
Do Not:
1. Do not turn on slopes unless necessary; then turn slowly uphill
and use extra care while turning.
2. Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embankments. The
machine could suddenly turn over if a wheel is over the edge of a
cliff, ditch, or if an edge caves in.
3. Do not operate on slopes or near the edge of water such as a lake,
pond, river or stream where the machine could slip, tip or roll-over
into the water.
4. Do not try to stabilize the machine by putting your foot on the
ground.
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ection mportant
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