Operator's Manual

Safety
ThismachinehasbeendesignedinaccordancewithANSI
B71.4-2012.
Hazardcontrolandaccidentpreventionaredependent
upontheawareness,concern,andpropertraining
ofthepersonnelinvolvedintheoperation,transport,
maintenance,andstorageofthemachine.Improper
useormaintenanceofthemachinecanresultininjury
ordeath.Toreducethepotentialforinjuryordeath,
complywiththefollowingsafetyinstructions.
BeforeOperating
•Readandunderstandthecontentsofthismanualbefore
startingandoperatingthemachine.Becomefamiliarwith
allcontrolsandknowhowtostopquickly.
•Neverallowchildrentooperatethemachine.Donot
allowadultstooperatethemachinewithoutproper
instruction.Onlytrainedoperators,skilledinslope
operationandwhohavereadthismanualshouldoperate
thismachine.
•Neveroperatemachinewhenundertheinuenceof
drugsoralcohol.
•Removealldebrisorotherobjectsthatmightbepicked
upandthrownbycutterblades.Keepallbystandersaway
fromtheoperatingarea.
•Keepallshieldsandsafetydevicesinplace.Ifashield,
safetydevice,ordecalisdefectiveordamaged,repairor
replaceitbeforeoperatingmachine.Also,tightenany
loosenuts,bolts,andscrewstoinsuremachineisinsafe
operatingcondition.
•Donotwearloosettingclothingbecauseitcould
getcaughtinmovingparts.Alwayswearlongpants
andsubstantial,slip-resistantfootwear.Wearingsafety
glasses,substantialsafetyshoes,andahelmetisadvisable
andrequiredbysomelocalordinancesandinsurance
regulations.
•Besureinterlockswitchesareadjustedcorrectlysoengine
cannotbestartedunlesstractionpedalisreleased-neutral
position-andPTOswitchisindisengagedposition.
•Fillfueltankbeforestartingtheengine.Avoidspillingany
fuel.Sincefuelisammable,handleitcarefully.
–Useanapprovedfuelcontainer.
–Donotllfueltankwhenengineishotorrunning.
–Donotsmokewhilehandlingfuel.
–Fillfueltankoutdoorsanduptoabout25mm(1
inch)fromthetopofthetank,notthellerneck.
–Wipeupanyspilledfuel.
WhileOperating
•Sitontheseatwhenstartingtheengineandoperating
themachine.
•Beforestartingtheengine:
–Engageparkingbrake.
–MakesuretractionpedalisinneutralandPTOisin
disengageposition.
–Afterengineisstarted,releaseparkingbrakeandkeep
footofftractionpedal.Machinemustnotmove.If
movementisevident,theneutralreturnmechanism
isadjustedincorrectly.Shutengineoffandadjust
untilmachinedoesnotmovewhentractionpedalis
released.
•Donotruntheengineinaconnedareawithout
adequateventilation.Exhaustfumesarehazardousand
couldpossiblybedeadly.
•Maximumseatingcapacityisoneperson.Therefore,
nevercarrypassengers.
•Checkcarefullyforoverheadclearancesbeforedriving
underanyobjects.
•Thegrassdeectororcompleteblowerassemblymust
alwaysbeinstalledoncuttingunit.
•Operatormustbeskilledandtrainedinhowtodriveon
hillsides.Failuretousecautiononslopesorhillsmay
causelossofcontrolandvehicletotiporroll,possibly
resultinginpersonalinjuryordeath.
•Traverseslopescarefully.Donotstartorstopsuddenly
whentraversingslopesorwhentravelinguphillor
downhill.
•Ifenginestallsormachinelosesheadwayandcannot
makeittothetopofaslope,donotturnmachinearound.
Alwaysbackslowlystraightdowntheslope.
•Usingthemachinedemandstheoperator'scomplete
attention.Topreventlossofcontrol:
–Operateonlyindaylightorwhenthereisgood
articiallight.
–Driveslowly.
–Avoidsuddenstartsandstops.
–Lookbehindmachinebeforebackingup.
–Watchforholesorotherhiddenhazards.
–Donotdriveclosetoasandtrap,ditch,creek,or
hazard.
–Reducespeedwhenmakingsharpturnsandwhen
turningonahillside.
–Thecuttingdeckmustbeloweredwhengoingdown
slopesforsteeringcontrol.
•Thegrassdeectormustalwaysbeinstalledandinthe
lowestpositiononthecuttingunitwhenblowerassembly
isremoved.Thisproductisdesignedtodriveobjects
intothegroundwheretheyloseenergyquicklyingrassy
areas.However,don'ttakeaninjuryrisk!Whenperson
orpetappearsunexpectedlyinornearthemowingarea,
stopmowing.Carelessoperation,combinedwithterrain
angles,ricochets,orimproperlypositionedguards,can
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