General Operation; Slope Operation - MTD 660 Series Owner's Manual

IMP0RTA N
THIS SYMBOL POINTS OUT iMPORTANTSAFETY R STRUCTIONSWHICH, IF NOT FOLLOWED,COULD ENDANGERTHE PERSONAL_m L
,_ SAFETY ANDiOR PROPERTY OF YOURSELFAND (_THERS.READ AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONSIN THiS MANUAL BEFORE
ATTEMPTINGTO OPERATE YOUR UNIT.WHEN YOU:;ELTHiS SYMBOL-- _lb HEEDITS WARNING.
Your lawn mower was built to be operated accordingto the rules for safe operation in this manual. As with ]
_b DANGER:
any type of power eguipmmt, oarelessnessor error on the part of the operatorcan result in injury, This lawn
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mower is capable of amput_ting handsand feel and throwing objects. Failureto observe the following salety
instructions couldresult in _erious injury or death,
A_I. GENERAL OPERATION
t. _ _d_d follow all instructions in the nanual and
on the machine before starting. Keepthis manuai in a sate place
for future and regular reference and for ordering eplacement
parts.
2 OnLyallow responsible individuals familiar with the nstructions
to operate the machine. Know controls and how to stop the
machine quickly.
3 Do not put hands or feet under cutting deck or rrar rotating
parts ,_
4 Clear the area of objects such as rocks, toys, wire etc. which
could be picked up and throv_nby the blade. A sinai object may
have been overlooked and could be accidentally th own by the
mower in any direction and cause miury to you or _ bystanden
To heIp avoid a thrown objects injury, keep children bystanders
and helpers at least 75 feet from tile mower while L1 is in opera-
tion Always wear safety glasses or safety goggles _uring oper-
ation or while performing an adjustment or repai, to protect
eyes from foreign objects Stop Pie btade(s) wh_,n crossing
gravel drives, walks or roads.
5 Be sure the area is clear of other people before m]wing. Stop
machine if anyo_le enters the area,
6. Never carry passengers.
7. Oisengage blade(s) before shifting into reverse and backing up.
Always look down and behind before and while bac dng.
8 Be aware of tile mower and attachment discharge [ irection and
do not point it at anyone Do not operate the mc_er without
edher the entire grass catcher or the chute guard in piece.
9 Slow down before turning. Operate the machin_ smoothly.
Avoid erratic operation and excessive speed,
t0. 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.
11. Turn off blade(s) when not mowing
t2. Stop engine and waLt until blade(s) comes to a c( replete stop
before (a) removing grass catcher or unclogging :hute,or (b)
making any repairs, adjusting or removing any gra! s or debris.
13. Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.
14. Do not operate the machine while under the infiuen e of alcohol
or drugs
15. Watch for traffic wilen operating near or crossing r ladways.
16. Use extra care when loading or unIoading the m; chine into a
trailer or truck. This unit should not be driven u _ or down a
ramp onto a trailer or truck under power, becauset _eunit could
tip over, causing serious personaI injury, The L/it must be
pushed manually on a ramp to load or unload prop mly.
17. Never make a cutting height adjustment while engi le is running
it operator must dismount to do so
,&
18 Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close- itting slacks
and shirts Do not wear loose fitting clothes or jew_Iry. They can
be caught in moving parts. Never operate a unit in bare feet,
sandals, or sneakers.
19. Check overheadclearance carefully before driving under power
lines, wires, bridges or low hanging tree branches, oefore enter-
ing or leaving buiIdings, or in any other situatirn where the
operator may be struck or pulled from the unit, which could
result in serious injury.
20. Disengage a!l attachment clutches, thoroughly depress the
brake pedal, and shift into neutral before attempting to start
engum.
21. Your mower is designed to cut normal residentiaI grass of a
height no more than 10" Do not attempt to mow through
unusually tail 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.
II. SLOPEOPERATION
Slopes are a major factor relatedto loss of control and tip-over acci-
dents 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 150 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.
Watch for holes, ruts or bumps, Uneven terrain could overturn the
machine. Tall grasscan hide obstacles.
Use slow speed, Choose a low enough gear so that you wilt 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.
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 engagementor braking
could cause the front of the machine to lift and rapidly flip over
backwards which could cause serious injury.
Avoid starting or stopping on a slope, if tires lose traction, disen-
gage the blade(s) and proceed slowly slraight down the slope.
DO NOT:
Do notturn on slopes unless necessary;then. turn slowly and grad-
ualty downhill, if possible,
Do not mow near dmp-offs, ditches or embankments.The mower
could suddenIy turn over if a wheel is over the edge of a cliff or
ditch, or if an edge caves in,
Do net mow on wet grass. Reduced traction could cause sliding.
Oo not try to stabilize the machine by putting your foot on the
ground.
Do not use grass catcher on steep slopes.
III. CHILDREN
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, Never assume that chiIdren wig remain where you
last saw them.
1. Keep children out of the mowing area and in watchful care of an
adult other than the operator.
2. Be alert and turn machine off if chiIdren enter the area,
3 Before and when backing, look behind and down for small
chgdmn
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