Operation
Note:Determinetheleftandrightsidesofthe
machinefromthenormaloperatingposition.
BeforeOperation
BeforeOperationSafety
GeneralSafety
•Donotallowchildrenoruntrainedpeopleto
operateorservicethemachine.Localregulations
mayrestricttheageoftheoperator.Theowner
isresponsiblefortrainingalloperatorsand
mechanics.
•Inspecttheareawhereyouwillusethemachine,
andremoveallobjectsthatcouldinterferewith
theoperationofthemachineorthatthemachine
couldthrow.
•Becomefamiliarwiththesafeoperationofthe
equipment,operatorcontrols,andsafetysigns.
•Checkthatoperator-presencecontrols,safety
switches,andguardsareattachedandworking
properly.Donotoperatethemachineunlessthey
arefunctioningproperly.
•Shutofftheengine,removethekey,andwait
forallmovingpartstostopbeforeleavingthe
operator’sposition.Allowthemachinetocool
beforeservicing,adjusting,fueling,cleaning,or
storingit.
•Beforemowing,inspectthemachinetoensure
thatthecuttingassembliesareworkingproperly.
•Evaluatetheterraintodeterminetheappropriate
equipmentandanyattachmentsoraccessories
requiredtooperatethemachineproperlyand
safely.
•Wearappropriateclothing,includingeye
protection;longpants;substantial,slip-resistant
footwear;andhearingprotection.Tiebacklong
hairanddonotwearlooseclothingorloose
jewelry.
•Donotcarrypassengersonthemachine.
•Keepbystandersandpetsawayfromthemachine
duringoperation.Shutoffthemachineand
attachment(s)ifanyoneentersthearea.
•Donotoperatethemachineunlessallguardsand
safetydevices,suchasthedeectorsandthe
entiregrasscatcher,areinplaceandfunctioning
properly.Replacewornordeterioratedpartswhen
necessary.
FuelSafety
•Fuelisextremelyammableandhighlyexplosive.
Aî‚¿reorexplosionfromfuelcanburnyouand
othersandcandamageproperty.
–Topreventastaticchargefromignitingthefuel,
placethecontainerand/ormachinedirectlyon
thegroundbeforeî‚¿lling,notinavehicleoron
anobject.
–Fillthefueltankoutdoorsonlevelground,in
anopenarea,andwhentheengineiscold.
Wipeupanyfuelthatspills.
–Donothandlefuelwhensmokingoraroundan
openameorsparks.
–Donotremovethefuelcaporaddfueltothe
tankwhiletheengineisrunningorhot.
–Ifyouspillfuel,donotattempttostartthe
engine.Avoidcreatingasourceofignitionuntil
thefuelvaporshavedissipated.
–Storefuelinanapprovedcontainerandkeep
itoutofthereachofchildren.
•Fuelisharmfulorfatalifswallowed.Long-term
exposuretovaporscancauseseriousinjuryand
illness.
–Avoidprolongedbreathingofvapors.
–Keepyourhandsandfaceawayfromthe
nozzleandthefuel-tankopening.
–Keepfuelawayfromyoureyesandskin.
•Donotstorethemachineorfuelcontainerwhere
thereisanopename,spark,orpilotlight,such
asonawaterheateroronotherappliances.
•Donotllcontainersinsideavehicleoronatruck
ortrailerbedwithaplasticliner.Alwaysplace
containersonthegroundandawayfromyour
vehiclebeforeî‚¿lling.
•Removetheequipmentfromthetruckortrailer
andrefuelitwhileitisontheground.Ifthisisnot
possible,thenrefuelfromaportablecontainer
ratherthanfromafuel-dispensernozzle.
•Donotoperatethemachinewithouttheentire
exhaustsysteminplaceandinproperworking
condition.
•Keepthefuel-dispensernozzleincontactwith
therimofthefueltankorcontaineropeningat
alltimesuntilfuelingiscomplete.Donotusea
nozzlelock-opendevice.
•Ifyouspillfuelonyourclothing,changeyour
clothingimmediately.
•Donotoverllthefueltank.Replacethefuelcap
andtightenitsecurely.
•Cleangrassanddebrisfromthecuttingunit,
mufer,drives,grasscatcher,andengine
compartmenttohelppreventî‚¿res.Cleanupoilor
fuelspills.
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