Slope Operation - Exmark QSS708GEM42200 Operator's Manual

Safety
safely enough to protect themselves and others
from serious injury.
• Always follow the recommendations for wheel
weights or counterweights.
• Lightning can cause severe injury or death. If
lightning is seen or thunder is heard in the area,
Do Not operate the machine; seek shelter.

Slope Operation

Slopes are a major factor related to loss of control
and tip-over accidents, which can result in severe
injury or death. Operation on all slopes requires extra
caution. If you cannot back up the slope or if you feel
uneasy on it, Do Not mow it.
• Do Not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees.
• Watch for ditches, holes, rocks, dips, and rises that
change the operating angle, as rough terrain could
overturn the machine.
• Choose a low ground speed so you will not have
to stop while operating on a slope.
• Do Not mow slopes when grass is wet. Slippery
conditions reduce traction and could cause sliding
and loss of control.
• Reduce speed and use extreme caution on slopes.
• Do Not make sudden turns or rapid speed
changes.
• Remove or mark obstacles such as rocks, tree
limbs, etc. from the mowing area. Tall grass can
hide obstacles.
• Avoid sudden starts when mowing uphill because
the mower may tip backwards.
• Be aware that operating on wet grass, across steep
slopes or downhill may cause the mower to lose
traction. Loss of traction to the drive wheels may
result in sliding and a loss of braking and steering.
• Always avoid sudden starting or stopping on a
slope. If tires lose traction, disengage the blades
and proceed slowly off the slope.
• Use extreme care with grass collection systems or
other attachments. These can change the stability
of the machine and cause loss of control.
• Do Not try to stabilize the machine by putting
your foot on the ground.
• Do Not mow near drop-offs, ditches, steep banks
or water. Wheels dropping over edges can cause
rollovers, which may result in serious injury, death
or drowning.
• Use a walk behind mower and/or a hand trimmer
on slopes greater than 15 degrees, near drop-offs,
ditches, steep banks or water.
Children
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 carry children, even with the blades off.
They may fall off and be seriously injured or
interfere with safe machine operation.
• Children who have been given rides in the past
may suddenly appear in the mowing area for
another ride and be run over or backed over by
the mower.
• Never allow children to operate the machine.
• Use extra care when approaching blind corners,
shrubs, trees, the end of a fence or other objects
that may obscure vision.
Towing Safety
• Do not attach towed equipment except at the
hitch point.
• Follow the attachment manufacturer's
recommendation for weight limits for towed
equipment and towing on slopes. Towed weight
must not exceed the weight of the machine,
operator, and ballast. Use counterweights or
wheel weights as described in the attachment, or
in the pulling machine Operator's Manual.
• Never allow children or others in or on towed
equipment.
• On slopes, the weight of the towed equipment
may cause loss of traction, increased risk of
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