•Usecarewhenloadingorunloadingthemachine
intoatrailerortruck.
•Usecarewhenapproachingblindcorners,shrubs,
trees,orotherobjectsthatmayobscurevision.
•Ensurethattheareaisclearofotherpeoplebefore
operatingthemachine.Stopthemachineifanyone
entersthearea.
•Neverleavearunningmachineunattended.Always
lowertheboom,stoptheengine,settheparking
brake,andremovethekeybeforeleaving.
•Neverjerkthecontrols;useasteadymotion.
•Watchfortrafcwhenoperatingnearorcrossing
roadways.
•Donottouchpartswhichmaybehotfrom
operation.Allowthemtocoolbeforeattemptingto
maintain,adjust,orservice.
•Ensurethatyouoperatethemachineinareaswhere
therearenoobstaclesincloseproximitytothe
operator.Failuretomaintainadequatedistancefrom
trees,walls,andotherbarriersmayresultininjury
asthemachinebacksupduringoperationifthe
operatorisnotattentivetothesurroundings.Only
operatetheunitinareaswherethereissufcient
clearancefortheoperatortosafelymaneuverthe
product.
•Beforedigging,havetheareamarkedfor
undergroundutilities,anddonotdiginmarkedareas.
•Locatethepinchpointareasmarkedonthemachine
andkeephandsandfeetawayfromtheseareas.
SlopeOperation
Slopesareamajorfactorrelatedtoloss-of-controland
tip-overaccidents,whichcanresultinsevereinjuryor
death.Allslopesrequireextracaution.
•Donotoperatethemachineonhillsidesorslopes
exceedingtheanglesrecommendedinthefollowing
table.
ModelFrontFacing
Uphill
RearFacing
Uphill
SideFacing
Uphill
22970
15°14°19°
22971
13°14°19°
Note:SeealsotheSlopeChart,page7.
•Operateupanddownslopeswiththefrontend
ofthemachineuphill.
•Removeobstaclessuchasrocks,treelimbs,etc.
fromtheworkarea.Watchforholes,ruts,orbumps,
asuneventerraincouldoverturnthemachine.Tall
grasscanhideobstacles.
•UseonlyToro-approvedaccessories.Accessoriescan
changethestabilityandtheoperatingcharacteristics
ofthemachine.Warrantymaybevoidedifusedwith
unapprovedaccessories.
•Keepallmovementsonslopesslowandgradual.Do
notmakesuddenchangesinspeedordirection.
•Avoidstartingorstoppingonaslope.Ifthemachine
losestraction,proceedslowly,straightdownthe
slope.
•Avoidturningonslopes.Ifyoumustturn,turn
slowlyandkeeptheheavyendofthemachineuphill.
•Donotoperateneardrop-offs,ditches,or
embankments.Themachinecouldsuddenlyturn
overifatrackgoesovertheedgeofaclifforditch,
orifanedgecavesin.
•Donotoperateonwetgrass.Reducedtractioncould
causesliding.
•Donotparkthemachineonahillsideorslope
withoutloweringtheboomtotheground,setting
theparkingbrake,andchockingthetracks.
MaintenanceandStorage
•Disengagethetrencherhydraulics,lowertheboom,
settheparkingbrake,stoptheengine,andremove
thekey.Waitforallmovementtostopbefore
adjusting,cleaning,orrepairing.
•Cleandebrisfromthechain,diggingteeth,boom,
trencherhead,drives,mufers,andenginetohelp
preventres.Cleanupoilorfuelspillage.
•Lettheenginecoolbeforestoringanddonotstore
nearame.
•Donotstorefuelnearamesordrainindoors.
•Parkthemachineonlevelground.Neverallow
untrainedpersonneltoservicethemachine.
•Usejackstandstosupportcomponentswhen
required.
•Carefullyreleasepressurefromcomponentswith
storedenergy.
•Disconnectthebattery(model22971only)or
removethesparkplugwiresbeforemakingany
repairs.Disconnectthenegativeterminalrst
andthepositivelast.Reconnectpositiverstand
negativelast.
•Keephandsandfeetawayfrommovingparts.If
possible,donotmakeadjustmentswiththeengine
running.
5