Craftsman 247.20400 series Operator's Manual page 3

• Disengage all attachment clutches, set the parking brake to the 'ON'
position.
• Your machine is designed to cut normal residential grass of a height no more
than 10". Do not attempt to mow through 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.
• 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.
• Data indicates that operators, age 60 years and above, are involved in a
large percentage of riding mower-related injuries. These operators should
evaluate their ability to operate the riding mower safely enough to protect
themselves and others from serious injury.
• If situations occur which are not covered in this manual, use care and good
judgment. Contact your customer service representative for assistance.
Slope Operation
Slopes are a major factor related to loss of control and tip-over
accidents which 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.
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 15 degrees as shown on the slope gauge, do
not operate this machine on that area or serious injury could result.
Do:
• Mow across slopes, not up and down. Exercise extreme caution when
changing direction on slopes.
• Watch for holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, or other hidden objects. Uneven terrain
could overturn the machine. Tall grass can hide obstacles.
• 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.
• Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for wheel weights or
counterweights to improve stability.
• Use extra care with grass catchers or other attachments. These can change
the stability of the machine.
• Keep all movement on the slopes slow and gradual. Do not make sudden
changes in speed or direction. Rapid acceleration or deceleration could cause
the front of the machine to lift and rapidly flip over backwards, which could
cause serious injury.
Do Not:
• Do not turn on slopes unless necessary; then turn slowly uphill and use extra
care while turning.
• Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embankments. The mower could
suddenly turn over if a wheel is over the edge of a cliff, ditch, or if an edge
caves in.
• Do not try to stabilize the machine by putting your foot on the ground.
• Do not use a grass catcher on steep slopes.
• Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced traction could cause sliding.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
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Children
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Towing
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Do not tow heavy pull behind attachments (e.g. loaded dump cart, lawn
roller, etc.) on slopes greater than 5 degrees. When going down hill, the
extra weight tends to push the tractor and may cause you to lose control
(e.g. tractor may speed up, braking and steering ability are reduced,
attachment may jack-knife and cause tractor to overturn).
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. They do not understand the dangers. Never assume that children
will remain where you last saw them.
a. Keep children out of the mowing area and in watchful
care of a responsible adult other than the operator.
b. Be alert and turn machine off if a child enters the area.
c. To avoid back-over accidents, always look behind and
down for small children.
d. Never carry children, even with the blade(s) shut off. They
may fall off and be seriously injured or interfere with safe
machine operation.
e. Use extreme care when approaching blind corners,
doorways, shrubs, trees or other objects that may block
your vision of a child who may run into the path of the
machine.
f. Keep children away from hot or running engines. They
can suffer burns from a hot muffler.
g. Remove key when machine is unattended to
prevent unauthorized operation.
Never allow children under 14 years of age to operate this machine. Children
14 and over should read and understand the instructions and safe operation
practices in this manual and on the machine and should be trained and
supervised by an adult.
Tow only with a machine that has a hitch designed for towing. Do not attach
towed equipment except at the hitch point.
Follow the manufacturers recommendation for weight limits for towed
equipment and towing on slopes.
Never allow children or others in or on towed equipment.
On slopes, the weight of the towed equipment may cause loss of traction and
loss of control.
The maximum weight on the hitch is 50 lbs. and the maximum towed load
is 250 lbs.
Never allow passengers on the towed equipment.
Loss of traction can occur on slopes, 5° (9 %) maximum grade.
Travel slowly and allow extra distance to stop.
Use caution during turns to avoid jack-knifing.
Use extra caution when operating in reverse.
Do not modify or repair the hitch, replace the hitch if damaged.
Travel slowly and allow extra distance to stop.
Do not shift to neutral and coast downhill.