Slope Operation - Cub Cadet 2000 Series Owner's Manual

4. Clear the area of objects such as rocks, toys,
wire, etc. which could be picked up and thrown by
the blade. A small object may have been over¬
looked and could be accidentally thrown by the
mower in any direction and cause injury to you or
a bystander. To help avoid a thrown objects
injury, keep children, animals, bystanders and
helpers at least 75 feet from the mower while it is
in operation. Always wear safety glasses with
side shields or safety goggles during operation or
while performing an adjustment or repair, to pro¬
tect eyes from foreign objects. Stop the blade(s)
when crossing gravel drives, walks or roads.
5. Be sure the area is clear of other people before
mowing. Stop machine if anyone enters the area.
6. Never carry passengers.
7. Disengage blade(s) before shifting into reverse
and backing up. Always look down and behind
before and while backing.
8. Be aware of the mower and attachment discharge
direction and do not point it at anyone. Do not
operate the mower without either the entire grass
catcher or the chute guard in place.
9. Slow down before turning. Operate the machine
smoothly. Avoid erratic operation and excessive
speed.
10. Never leave a running machine unattended.
Always turn off blade(s), place transmission in
neutral, set park brake, stop engine and remove
key before dismounting.
18. Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close-
fitting slacks and shirts. Do not wear loose fitting
clothes or jewelry. They can be caught in moving
parts. Never operate a unit in bare feet, sandals
or sneakers.
19. Check overhead clearance carefully before driv¬
ing under power lines, wires, bridges or low hang¬
ing 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 injury.
20. Disengage all attachment clutches, thoroughly
depress the brake pedal and shift into neutral
before attempting to start engine.
21. Your mower 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. Debris may
build up on the mower deck or contact the engine
exhaust presenting a potential fire hazard.
22. Use only accessories approved for this machine
by
Cub Cadet.
Read, understand and follow all
instructions provided with the approved acces¬
sory.
II. 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.
11. Turn off blade(s) when not mowing.
12. Stop engine and wait until blade(s) comes to a
complete stop before (a) removing grass catcher
or unclogging chute, or (b) making any repairs,
adjusting or removing any grass or debris.
13. Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.
14. Do not operate the machine while under the
influence of alcohol or drugs.
For your safety, use the slope gauge included as part
of this manual to measure slopes before operating this
unit on a sloped or hilly area. If the slope is greater
than 15° as shown on the slope gauge, do not operate
this unit on that area or serious injury could result.
DO:
Mow up and down slopes, not across.
Remove obstacles such as rocks, limbs, etc.
15. Watch for traffic when operating near or crossing
roadways.
16. Use extra care when loading or unloading the
machine into a trailer or truck. This unit should
not be driven up dr down a ramp onto a trailer or
truck under power, because the unit could tip over
causing serious personal injury. The unit must be
pushed manually on a ramp to load or unload
properly.
Watch for holes, ruts or bumps. Uneven terrain could
overturn the machine. Tall grass can hide obsta¬
cles.
Use slow speed. Choose a low enough gear so that
you will not have to stop or shift while on the slope.
Always keep machine in gear when going down
slopes to take advantage of engine braking action.
Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for wheel
weights or counterweights to improve stability.
17. Never make a cutting height adjustment while the
engine is running if operator must dismount to do
so.
Use extra care with grass catchers or other attach¬
ments. These can change the stability of the
machine.
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