Preparation
•Evaluatetheterraintodeterminewhataccessoriesand
attachmentsareneededtoproperlyandsafelyperform
thejob.
Note:Onlyuseaccessoriesandattachmentsapproved
bythemanufacturer.
•Wearappropriateclothingincluding:ahardhat,safety
glasses,substantial,slip-resistantfootwear,andhearing
protection.Longhair,looseclothingorjewelrymayget
tangledinmovingparts.
•Inspecttheareawheretheequipmentisused,andremove
allobjectsthatcanbethrownbythemachine.
•Checkthatoperator'spresencecontrols,safetyswitches
andshieldsareattachedandfunctioningproperly.Donot
operateunlesstheyarefunctioningproperly.
Operation
•Lightningcancausesevereinjuryordeath.Iflightning
isseen,orthunderisheardinthearea,donotoperate
themachine;seekshelter.
•Donotrunanengineinanenclosedarea.
•Onlyoperateinwell-litareas,keepingawayfromholes
andhiddenhazards.
•Ensurethatalldrivesareinneutralandthattheparking
brakeisengagedbeforestartingengine.Onlystartthe
enginefromtheoperator’sposition.
•Makesurethatyouhavegoodfootingwhileusingthis
machine,especiallywhenbackingup.
Note:Reducedfootingcouldcauseslipping.
•Slowdownanduseextracareonhillsides.Besureto
travelsidetosideonhillsides.Turfconditionscanaffect
thestabilityofthemachine.Usecautionwhileoperating
neardrop-offs.
•Slowdownandusecautionwhenmakingturnsandwhen
changingdirectionsonslopes.
•Donotraisethemowerdeckwiththebladesrunning.
•DonotoperatethemachinewithoutthePTOshieldor
otherguardssecurelyinplace.Besureallinterlocksare
attached,adjustedproperly,andfunctioningproperly.
•Donotoperatewiththedischargedeectorraised,
removedoraltered,unlessusingagrasscatcher.
•Donotchangetheenginegovernorsettingoroverspeed
theengine.
•Stoponlevelground,disengagedrives,engagethe
parkingbrake(ifprovided),shutofftheenginebefore
leavingtheoperator'spositionforanyreason,including
emptyingthecatchersoruncloggingthechute.
•Stopequipmentandinspectthebladesafterstriking
objectsorifanabnormalvibrationoccurs.Makethe
necessaryrepairsbeforeresumingoperations.
•Keepyourhandsandfeetawayfromthecuttingunit.
•Lookbehindanddownbeforebackinguptoensurea
clearpath.
•Keeppetsandbystandersawayfromanoperating
machine.
•Slowdownandusecautionwhenmakingturnsand
crossingroadsandsidewalks.Stopthebladesifyouare
notmowing.
•Beawareofthemower-dischargedirectionanddonot
pointitatanyone.
•Donotoperatethemowerundertheinuenceofalcohol
ordrugs.
•Usecarewhenloadingorunloadingthemachineinto
orfromatrailerortruck.
•Usecarewhenapproachingblindcorners,shrubs,trees,
orotherobjectsthatmayobscurevision.
SafeHandlingofFuels
•Toavoidpersonalinjuryorpropertydamage,use
extremecareinhandlinggasoline.Gasolineisextremely
ammableandthevaporsareexplosive.
•Extinguishallcigarettes,cigars,pipes,andothersources
ofignition.
•Useonlyanapprovedfuelcontainer.
•Donotremovethefuelcaporaddfuelwiththeengine
running.
•Allowtheenginetocoolbeforefueling.
•Donotrefuelthemachineindoors.
•Donotstorethemachineorfuelcontainerwherethere
isanopename,spark,orpilotlightsuchasonawater
heateroronotherappliances.
•Donotllcontainersinsideavehicle,onatruck,orona
trailerbedwithaplasticliner.Alwaysplacecontainerson
thegroundawayfromyourvehiclebeforelling.
•Removeequipmentfromthetruckortrailerandfuelit
ontheground.Ifthisisnotpossible,thenaddfuelwith
suchequipmentasaportablecontainer,ratherthanfrom
afueldispensernozzle.
•Keepthenozzleincontactwiththerimofthefueltank
orcontaineropeningatalltimesuntilfuelingiscomplete.
•Donotuseanozzlelockopendevice.
•Iffuelisspilledonclothing,changeyourclothing
immediately.
•Donotoverllfueltank.Replacefuelcapandtighten
securely.
5