Slope Operation - Craftsman 247.25001 Operator's Manual

• Mufflerand engine becomehotand can causea burn.Do not
touch.
• Checkoverheadclearancescarefullybeforedrivingunderlow
hangingtree branches,wires,door openingsetc., wherethe
operatormay be struckor pulledfrom the machine,which could
result in seriousinjury.
• Disengageall attachmentclutches,set the parkingbraketo the
'on' positionand movethe RH and LHdrivecontrolleversto the
neutralpositionbeforeattemptingto startthe engine.
Yourmachineisdesignedto cut normalresidential g rass of a
heightno morethan 10".Do not attemptto mowthroughunusually
tall, dry grass (e.g.,pasture)or piles of dry leaves.Dry grass or
leavesmaycontactthe engineexhaustand/or build up on the
mowerdeck presenting a potentialfire hazard.
• Use onlyaccessoriesand attachmentsapprovedfor this machine
by the machinemanufacturer. R ead,understandand followall
instructionsprovidedwith the approvedaccessoryor attachment.
Data indicatesthat operators,age 60 years and above,are
involvedin a largepercentageof riding mower-related injuries.
Theseoperatorsshouldevaluatetheirability to operatethe riding
mowersafelyenoughto protectthemselvesand othersfrom
seriousinjury.
• If situationsoccurwhich are not coveredin this manual,usecare
and goodjudgment.Contactthe CraftsmanHelpLine at 1-800-
659-5917 for assistance.
SLOPE OPERATION
Slopesare a majorfactorrelatedto loss of controland tip-over
accidentswhichcan result in severeinjuryor death.All slopes require
extra caution.If youcannot back up the slopeor if youfeel uneasyon
it, do not mowit.
Foryoursafety,use the slopegaugeincludedas part of this manual
to measureslopesbeforeoperatingthis machineon a slopedor hilly
area. If the slopeis greaterthan15 degreesas shownon the slope
gauge,do not operatethis machineon that area or seriousinjurycould
result.
Do:
o
Mowacrossslopes,not up and down. Exerciseextremecaution
whenchangingdirectionon slopes.
Watchfor holes,ruts,bumps,rocks,or other hiddenobjects.
Uneventerraincouldoverturnthe machine.Tallgrass can hide
obstacles.
Useslow speed.Choosea lowenoughspeedso that youwill not
haveto stop whileon the slope.Avoidstartingor stoppingon a
slope. If the tires are unableto maintaintraction,disengagethe
bladesand proceedslowlyand carefullystraightdownthe slope.
Followthe manufacturer's recommendations for wheelweightsor
counterweights to improvestability.
Useextra carewith grass catchersor otherattachments.These
can changethe stabilityof the machine.
• Keepall movementon the slopes slowand gradual.Do not
make suddenchangesin speedor direction.Rapidacceleration
or deceleration couldcause the frontof the machineto lift and
rapidlyrollover backwards,whichcouldcause seriousinjury.
Do Not:
• Donot turnon slopesunlessnecessary;thenturn slowlyuphill
and useextra carewhileturning.
• Donot mow neardrop-offs,ditchesor embankments. T he mower
could suddenlyturnover if a wheelis overthe edgeof a cliff,
ditch,or if an edge cavesin.
• Donot try to stabilizethe machineby puttingyourfoot on the
ground.
• Donot usea grass catcheron steepslopes.
• Donot mowon wet grass.Reducedtractioncouldcausesliding.
• Donot tow heavypull behindattachments(e.g. loadeddumpcart,
lawn roller,etc.)on slopesgreaterthan5 degrees.Whengoing
down hill,the extraweighttends to pushthe riding mowerand
may causeyou to loosecontrol(e.g. ridingmowermay speed
up, brakingand steeringabilityare reduced,attachmentmay
jack-knifeand cause riding mowerto overturn).
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