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SAFE OPERATION
PRACTICES
This symbol points out important safety instructions which, if not followed, could endanger the per-
sonal safety and/or propertyof yourself and others. Read and follow all instructionsin this manual before
attemptingto operate your rider mower. Failure to complywith these instructionsmay result in personal
injury. When you see this symbol--heed its warning.
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Your rider mower was built to be operated according
to the rules for safe operation
in this
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13ANP.I=rI.
manual. As with any type of power equipment, carelessness
or error on the part of the operator
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........
can result in serious injury. If you violate any of these rules, you may cause serious injury to
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yourse f or others.
General Operation
•
Read, understand, and follow all instructionsin the
manual and on the machine before starting. Keep this
manual in a safe place for future and regular reference
and for orderingreplacement parts.
•
Only allow responsible individuals familiar with the
instructions to operate the machine. Know controls
and how to stop the machine quickly.
•
Do not put hands or feet under cutting deck or near
rotating pads.
Clear the area of objects such as rooks, toys, wire,
etc., which could be picked up and thrown by the
blade. A small object may have been overlooked 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,
bystandem and helpers at least 75 feet from the
mower while it is in operation. Always wear safety
glasses or safety goggles during operation or while
performing an adjustment or repair, to protect eyes
from foreign objects. Stop the blade(s) when crossing
gravel drives, walks or roads.
•
Be sure the area is clear of other people before
mowing. Stop machine if anyone enters the area.
Never carry passengers.
•
Disengage blade(s) before shifting into reverse and
backing up. Always look down and behind before and
while backing.
•
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.
Slow down before taming. Operate the machine
smoothly.Avoid erratic operation and excessive speed.
•
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.
Turn off blade(s) when not mowing.
•
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.
•
Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.
Do not operate the machine while under the influence
of alcohol or drugs.
•
Watch for traffic when operating near or crossing
roadways.
•
Use extra care when loading or unloading the
machine into a trailer or truck. This unit should not be
driven up or 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.
•
Never make a cutting height adjustment while engine
is running, if operator must dismount to do so.
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 pads. Never
operate a unit in bare feet, sandals, or sneakers.
•
Check overhead clearance carefully before driving
underpower lines, wires, bridges or low hanging tree
branches, before entering or leaving buildings,or in any
other situationwhere the operator may be struck or
pulled from the unit, which couldresult in serious injury.
•
Disengage all attachment clutches, thoroughly
depress the brake pedal, and shift into neutral before
attempting to start engine.
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.
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 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 in that area or
serious injury could result.
Do:
Mow up and down slopes, not across.
Remove obstacles such as rocks, limbs, etc.
Watch for holes, ruts or bumps. Uneven terrain could
overturn the machine. Tall grass can hide obstacles.
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.
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