Toro 30839 Operator's Manual page 31

General Tips for Model 30826
DANGER
The slope angle at which the machine will tip is
dependent on many factors. Among these are:
mowing conditions such as wet of undulating
turf, speed (especially in turns), tire pressure, and
operator experience.
At side hill angles of 15 degrees or less, the risk of
a rollover is low. As the slope angle increases to
a recommended maximum limit of 20 degrees,
the risk of a rollover increases to a moderate level.
Do not exceed a 20 degree side hill slope angle
because the risk of a rollover and serious injury or
death is very high.
To determine which hills or slopes you may safely
operate on, a site survey of the mowing area must
be done. When performing this site survey, always
use common sense and take into consideration the
turf condition and the rollover risk. To determine
which hills or slopes may be safely operated on,
use the inclinometer provided with each machine.
To perform a site survey, lay a 4 ft 2x4 (1.25 meter
plank) on the slope surface and measure the angle
of the slope. The 2x4 will average the slope but
will not take into consideration dips or holes which
can cause a sudden change in side hill angle. The
maximum side hill angle should not be greater
than 20 degrees.
Always wear your seat belt.
• Practice operating the machine and become
thoroughly familiar with it.
• Start the engine and run it at half idle until it warms
up. Push the throttle lever all the way forward, lift
the cutting units, disengage the parking brake, press
the forward traction pedal, and carefully drive to
an open area.
• Practice moving forward and reverse, and starting
and stopping the machine. To stop, take your foot
off of the traction pedal and let it return to neutral
or press down on the reverse pedal to stop. Going
down a hill, you may need to use the reverse pedal
to stop.
• When driving on slopes, drive slowly to maintain
steering control and avoid turns to prevent rollovers.
• When possible, mow up and down hills rather than
across them. Have the cutting units lowered when
going down a hill to maintain steering control. Do
not attempt to turn on a hill.
• Practice driving around obstacles with the cutting
units up and down. Be careful when driving
between narrow objects so you do not damage the
machine or cutting units.
• On the Sidewinder unit, get a feel for the reach of
the cutting units so you do not hang them up or
damage them in any way.
• Do not shift the units from side to side, unless the
cutting units are down and the machine is moving,
or the cutting units are up in the transport position.
Shifting the cutting units when they are down and
the machine is not moving may cause turf damage.
• Always drive slowly in rough areas.
• If a person appears in or near the operating area,
stop the machine, and do not start it again until the
area is cleared. The machine is designed for one
person. Never let anyone else ride on the machine
with you. This is extremely dangerous and could
result in serious injury.
• Accidents can happen to anyone. The most
common causes are excessive speed, sudden turns,
terrain (not knowing which slopes and hills can
be mowed safely), not stopping the engine before
leaving the operator's seat, and drugs which impair
your alertness. Cold capsules or prescription drugs
may cause drowsiness, as can alcohol and other
drugs. Stay alert and stay safe. Failure to do so
could result in serious injury.
• The Sidewinder offers up to a maximum of 13
inches (33 cm) of overhang, allowing you to trim
closer to the edge of sand traps and other obstacles,
while at the same time keeping the tractor tires as
far away from the edge of traps or water hazards
as possible.
• If an obstacle is in the way, shift the cutting units
to easily mow around it.
• When transporting the machine from one work
area to another, raise the cutting units to the fully
up position, move the mow/transport slide to the
left to transport, and place the throttle in the Fast
position.
Mowing Techniques
• To begin cutting, engage the cutting units, then
approach the mowing area slowly. Once the front
cutting units are over the mowing area, lower the
cutting units.
• To achieve the professional straight-line cut and
striping that is desirable for some applications, find
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