Operating Guide

Fuel
● Use care when handling fuel. Fuel is ammable and fuel vapors can
be explosive. Do not smoke when handling fuel. Only use an
approved fuel container. Clean up spilled fuel immediately.
● Check fuel lines, tank, cap, and ttings frequently for cracks or
leaks. Replace if necessary.
Check the Mowing Area
● Keep bystanders and pets out of the mowing area.
● Clear the area of objects such as rocks, wire, or toys, which can be
thrown by the blades. Remove low-hanging branches or other
obstacles, which can interfere with your travel path.
● Study the mowing area. Set up a safe mowing path. Do not mow
where traction or stability is doubtful.
● Slopes and terrain hazards are major factors related to loss-of-
control and tipover accidents. Operation on slopes and near terrain
hazards requires extra caution. Follow instructions in the Operating
on Slopes and Near Terrain Hazards section.
Weights and Attachments
● Some attachments require ballast weights. Follow
recommendations for wheel weights or counterweights.
● Use only accessories and attachments approved by John Deere.
● If you do not understand the instructions or have questions, contact
your dealer.
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Preventing Injuries
Protect Children
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● Children can be killed or seriously injured by riding mowers when
operators do not follow safe operating practices.
● Do not mow in reverse. Operating with the mower engaged while
backing up is discouraged.
● Never give children a ride on a mower or in a cart behind the
mower, even when the blades are o󰀨. They can fall o󰀨 and be run
over or cut by the mower blades. Children can interfere with mower
operation. Children who have been given rides in the past can
suddenly appear in the mowing area for another ride. If you are not
aware, they can be run over or backed over by the mower.
● Children are often attracted to lawn mowers and mowing activities,
especially if they have been given rides before. They do not know if
the blades are rotating or understand that they can be killed or
seriously injured even if the blades are not rotating.
● Keep children indoors and out of the mowing area when the mower
is being operated. Keep children under the watchful eye of a
responsible adult, other than the operator. If there is not a
responsible adult to ensure that children stay indoors, DO NOT
mow.
● Be alert to the presence of children or others. Turn o󰀨 the mower
blades and stop the machine if someone enters the mowing area.
● Look in the direction the machine is traveling. Before and while
backing, turn o󰀨 the mower blades and look down and behind the
machine carefully, especially for children.
● Use extreme care when approaching objects that block your view,
such as blind corners, shrubs, or trees, especially while backing.
They can hide a child.
Avoid Thrown Objects
● Clear the mowing area of all bystanders when using this machine.
Thrown objects could cause serious injury or death.
● Clear the area of objects such as rocks, wire, or toys, which can be
thrown by the blades.
● Never direct discharged material toward anyone.
● Avoid discharging material against a wall or obstruction such as a
fence or retaining wall. Material can ricochet towards the operator.
● Avoid discharging material towards a street or roadway.
● Stop the blades when crossing gravel surfaces.
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Operating on Slopes and Near Terrain Hazards
● Slopes are a major factor related to loss-of-control and tip-over
accidents, which can result in serious injury or death. Use caution
and common sense when operating on slopes.
● If you feel uneasy on a slope, do not mow or operate the machine
on it.
● Mow across slopes, not up and down.
● Watch for holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, or other hidden objects. Tall
grass can hide obstacles.
● Drive slowly so you do not have to stop while on a slope.
● Do not mow on wet grass. Tires can slip on wet grass even if the
brakes are working normally.
● Keep all movement on slopes slow and gradual. Do not make
sudden changes in speed or direction, which can cause the ride-on
mower to roll over.
● If the tires lose traction, disengage the PTO and proceed slowly and
carefully o󰀨 the slope.
● Do not shift to neutral and coast downhill.
Identify Safe Slopes
● Before using your machine, measure slopes of all mowing areas to
determine which slopes are safe for mowing with a ride-on mower.
Use good judgment and common sense when performing this
survey.
Measuring Slopes
● Suggested method 1: Lay a straight piece of sturdy lumber 1.2 m (4
ft) long on the slope and measure the angle with an angle gauge or
protractor level.
● Suggested method 2: Refer to the slope gauge provided at the end
of the manual.
Slope Limits
● Exceeding the recommended maximum slope angle increases the
risk of rollover accidents that can result in serious injury or death.
Safety
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