Operator's Manual

Safety
Improperlyusingormaintainingthemachinecanresult
ininjury.Toreducethepotentialforinjury,complywith
thesesafetyinstructionsandalwayspayattentiontothe
safetyalertsymbol,whichmeans Caution , W ar ning ,or
Danger —personalsafetyinstruction.Failuretocomply
withtheinstructionmayresultinpersonalinjuryor
death.
SafeOperatingPractices
Training
•ReadtheOperator’sManualandothertrainingmaterial.If
theoperator(s)ormechanic(s)cannotreadorunderstand
theinformation,itistheowner’sresponsibilitytoexplain
thismaterialtothem.
•Becomefamiliarwiththesafeoperationoftheequipment,
operatorcontrols,andsafetysigns.
•Alloperatorsandmechanicsshouldbetrained.The
ownerisresponsiblefortrainingtheusers.
•Neverletchildrenoruntrainedpeopleoperateorservice
theequipment.Localregulationsmayrestricttheageof
theoperator.
•Theowner/usercanpreventandisresponsiblefor
accidentsorinjuriesoccurringtopeopleordamageto
property.
Preparation
•Evaluatetheterraintodeterminewhataccessoriesand
attachmentsareneededtoproperlyandsafelyperform
thejob.Onlyuseaccessoriesandattachmentsapproved
bythemanufacturer.
•Wearappropriateclothingincludingsafetyglassesand
hearingprotection.Longhair,looseclothing,orjewelry
maygettangledinmovingparts.
•Inspecttheareawheretheequipmentistobeusedand
removeallobjectssuchasrocks,toys,andwirewhichcan
becontactedbythemachine.
•Useextracarewhenhandlinggasolineandotherfuels.
Theyareammableandvaporsareexplosive.
–Useonlyanapprovedcontainer.
–Neverremovethegascaporaddfuelwiththeengine
running.
–Allowtheenginetocoolbeforerefueling.
–Donotsmoke.
–Neverrefuelordrainthemachineindoors.
•Checkthattheoperatorpresencecontrols,safetyswitches,
andshieldsareattachedandfunctioningproperly.Donot
operateunlesstheyarefunctioningproperly.
Operation
•Neverrunanengineinanenclosedarea.
•Onlyoperateingoodlight,keepingawayfromholesand
hiddenhazards.
•Besurealldrivesareinneutralbeforestartingengine.
Starttheengineonlyfromtheoperator’sposition.
•Neveroperatewithouttheshields,covers,orotherguards
securelyinplace.Besureallinterlocksarefunctioning
properly.
•Donotchangetheenginegovernorsettingoroverspeed
theengine.
•Stopthemachine,stoptheengine,waitforallmoving
partstostop,andraisethebladesbeforeleavingthe
operator’spositionforanyreason.
•Stopthemachineandinspectthebladesafterstrikingan
objectorifanabnormalvibrationoccurs.Makenecessary
repairsbeforeresumingoperation.
•Keephandsandfeetawayfromthebladearea.
•Nevercarrypassengersandkeeppetsandbystanders
away.
•Bealert,slowdown,andusecautionwhenmakingturns.
Lookbehindandtothesidebeforechangingdirections.
•Slowdownandusecautionwhencrossingroadsand
sidewalks.
•Donotoperatethemachineundertheinuenceof
alcoholordrugs.
•Lightningcancausesevereinjuryordeath.Iflightning
isseenorthunderisheardinthearea,donotoperate
themachine;seekshelter.
•Useextremecarewhenloadingorunloadingthemachine
intoatrailerortruck.
•Usecarewhenapproachingblindcorners,shrubs,trees,
orotherobjectsthatmayobscurevision.
•Alwaysbeawareofobstaclesthatmaybeinthearea
ofoperation.Planyourpathtoavoidcontactwithany
obstaclebyyouorthemachine.
SlopeOperation
•Donotoperateneardrop-offs,ditches,steepbanks,or
water.Wheelsdroppingoveredgescancauserollovers,
whichmayresultinseriousinjuryordeath.
•Donotoperateonslopeswhengrassiswet.Slippery
conditionsreducetractionandcouldcauseslidingand
lossofcontrol.
•Donotmakesuddenturnsorrapidspeedchanges.
•Reducespeedanduseextremecautiononslopes.
•Removeormarkobstaclessuchasrocks,treelimbs,and
otherobjectsfromtheoperatingarea.Tallgrasscanhide
obstacles.
•Watchforditches,holes,rocks,dips,andrisesthatchange
theoperatingangle,asroughterraincouldoverturnthe
machine.
•Alwaysavoidsuddenstartingorstoppingonaslope.If
thetireslosetraction,disengagethebladesandproceed
slowlyofftheslope.
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