MTD 134-618-000 Owner's Manual page 3

^ WARNING
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To reduce the potential for any injury, comply with the following safety instructions. Failure to comply
with the instructions may result in personal injury.
SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES FOR RIDING VEHICLES
1. Read this owner's manual carefully in its en¬
tirety before attempting to assemble or
operate this unit. Keep this manual in a safe
place for future and regular reference and for
ordering replacement parts.
2. This unit is a precision piece of power equip¬
ment, not a plaything. Therefore exercise ex¬
treme caution at all times.
3. Know the controls and how to stop quickly—
READ THIS OWNER'S MANUAL.
4. Do not allow children to operate vehicle. Do
not allow adults to operate it without proper
instruction. Only persons well acquainted
with these rules of safe operation should be
allowed to use your mower.
5. No one should operate this unit while intox¬
icated or while taking medication that impairs
the senses or reactions.
6. Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and
close-fitting slacks and shirts to avoid en¬
tanglement in the moving parts. Never operate
a unit in bare feet, sandals, or sneakers.
7. To prevent injury, do not carry passengers or
give rides. Keep children, pets and by¬
standers out of the area while mowing. Only
the operator should ride on the unit and only
ride in the seat.
8. Check overhead clearance carefully before
driving under power lines, guy wires, bridges
or low hanging tree branches, before entering
or leaving buildings, or in any other situation
where the operator may be struck or pulled
from the unit, which could result in serious in¬
jury.
9. To maintain control of the unit and reduce the
possibility of upset or collision, operate the
tractor smoothly. Avoid erratic operation and
excessive speed.
10. Keep the area of operation clear of all per¬
sons, particularly small children and pets.
Stop engine when they are in the vicinity of
your mower. Although the area of operation
should be completely cleared of foreign ob¬
jects, a small object may have been over¬
looked and could be accidently thrown by the
mower in any direction and cause injury.
11. Clear work area of objects which might be
picked up and thrown by the mower in any
direction and cause injury.
12. Stop the blade(s) when crossing gravel drives,
walks or roads.
13. Disengage all attachment clutches and shift
into neutral before attempting to start engine.
14. Disengage power to attachment(s) and stop
engine before leaving operating position.
15. Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating
parts. Keep clear of the discharge opening at
all times as the rotating blade(s) can cause in¬
jury.
16. Disengage power to attachment(s) and stop
engine before making any repairs or ad¬
justments. Disconnect the spark plug wire
and keep the wire away from the plug to pre¬
vent accidental starting.
17. Before attempting to unclog the mower or
discharge chute, stop the engine. The mower
biade(s) may continue to rotate for a few
seconds after the engine is shut off.
Therefore, be sure the biade(s) have stopped
completely. Disconnect the spark plug wire
and keep the wire away from the plug to pre¬
vent accidental starting.
18. Disengage power to attachment(s) when
transporting or not in use.
19. Take all possible precautions when leaving
vehicle unattended such as disengaging
power-take-off, lowering attachments, shift¬
ing into neutral, setting parking brake, stop¬
ping engine and removing key.
20. Do not stop or start suddenly when going
uphill or downhill. Mow up and down face of
steep slopes; never across the face. Use ex¬
treme caution if it is necessary to drive the
tractor up an incline or back the tractor down
an incline because the front of the tractor
could lift and rapidly flip over backward which
could cause serious injury.
21. Reduce speed on slopes and in sharp turns to
prevent tipping or loss of control. Always
keep the tractor in gear when going down
steep hills to take advantage of engine brak¬
ing action.
22. Stay alert for holes in terrain and other hidden
hazards.
23. Use care when pulling loads or using heavy
equipment.
A. Use only approved drawbar hitch points.
B. Limit loads to those you can safely control.
C. Do not turn sharply. Use care when back¬
ing.
D. Use counterweight(s) or wheel weights
when suggested in owner's manual.
24. Watch out for traffic when crossing or near
roadways.
25. When using any attachments, never direct dis¬
charge of material toward bystanders nor
allow anyone near vehicle while in operation.
26. Handle gasoline with care. It is highly flam¬
mable.
A. Use approved gasoline container.
B. Never remove cap or add gasoline to a run¬
ning or hot engine or fill fuel tank indoors.
Wipe up spilled gasoline.
C. Open doors if engine is run in garage. Ex¬
haust fumes are dangerous. Do not run
engine indoors.
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