Thismanualidentiespotentialhazardsandhassafety
messagesidentiedbythesafetyalertsymbol(Figure2),
whichsignalsahazardthatmaycauseseriousinjury
ordeathifyoudonotfollowtherecommended
precautions.
Figure2
1.Safetyalertsymbol
Thismanualuses2wordstohighlightinformation.
Importantcallsattentiontospecialmechanical
informationandNoteemphasizesgeneralinformation
worthyofspecialattention.
Formodelswithstatedenginehorsepower,thegross
horsepoweroftheenginewaslaboratoryratedbythe
enginemanufacturerinaccordancewithSAEJ1349.
Asconguredtomeetsafety,emission,andoperating
requirements,theactualenginehorsepoweronthisclass
machinewillbesignicantlylower.
Safety
Thiscuttingmachinecanamputatehandsandfeet
andthrowobjects.Failuretoobservethefollowing
safetyinstructionscouldresultinseriousinjuryor
death.
GeneralOperation
•Read,understand,andfollowallinstructionsonthe
machineandinthemanual(s)beforestarting.
•Donotputhandsorfeetnearorunderthemachine.
•Onlyallowresponsibleadults,whoarefamiliarwith
theinstructions,tooperatethismachine.
•Keepinmindthattheoperatororuserisresponsible
foraccidentsorhazardsoccurringtootherpeopleor
theirproperty.
•Cleartheareaofobjectssuchasrocks,wire,toys,etc.,
whichcouldbethrownbythebladeorcuttingline.
Staybehindthehandlewhentheengineisrunning.
•Besuretheareaisclearofbystandersbefore
operating.Stopmachineifanyoneentersthearea.
•Donotoperatemachinebarefootedorwhilewearing
sandals.Alwayswearsubstantialfootwearandlong
pants.
•Donotpullmachinebackwardunlessabsolutely
necessary.Alwayslookdownandbehindbeforeand
whilemovingbackward.
•Neverdirectdischargedmaterialtowardanyone.
Avoiddischargingmaterialagainstawallor
obstruction.Materialmayricochetbacktowardthe
operator.
•Stoptheengineofthemachinewhencrossing
surfacesotherthangrass,andwhentransportingthe
machinetoandfromtheareatobecut.
•Stoptheblade(s)ifthemachinehastobetiltedfor
transportationwhencrossingsurfacesotherthan
grass,andwhentransportingthemachinetoand
fromtheareatobemowed.
•Donotoperatemachinewithoutthesafetyprotective
devicesinplaceandworking.
•Neverleavearunningmachineunattended.
•Stoptheengine,waituntilthebladecomestoa
completestop,anddisconnectthesparkplugwire
beforecleaningoruncloggingthemachine.
•Operatemachineonlyindaylightorgoodarticial
light.
•Donotoperatemachinewhileundertheinuence
ofalcoholordrugs.
•Neveroperatemachineinwetgrass.Alwaysbesure
ofyourfooting;walk;neverrun.
•Ifthemachineshouldstarttovibrateabnormally,
stoptheengineandcheckforthecauseimmediately.
Vibrationisgenerallyawarningoftrouble.
•Alwaysweareyeprotectionwhenoperatingmachine.
•Seemanufacturer'sinstructionsforproperoperation
andinstallationofaccessories.Onlyuseaccessories
approvedbythemanufacturer.
SlopeOperation
Slopesareamajorfactorrelatedtoslipandfallaccidents,
whichcanresultinsevereinjury.Operationonallslopes
requireextracaution.Ifyoufeeluneasyonaslope,do
notmowit.
•Mowacrossthefaceofslopes;neverupanddown.
Exerciseextremecautionwhenchangingdirection
onslopes.
•Watchforholes,ruts,bumps,rocks,orotherhidden
objects.Uneventerraincouldcauseaslipandfall
accident.Tallgrasscanhideobstacles.
•Donotmowonwetgrassorexcessivelysteepslopes.
Poorfootingcouldcauseaslipandfallaccident.
•Donotmowneardrop-offs,ditches,or
embankments.Youcouldloseyourfootingor
balance.
•Whenusingthemachine,alwayskeepbothhandson
thehandlebar.
2