Preparation
•Evaluatetheterraintodeterminewhataccessories
andattachmentsyouneedtoproperlyandsafely
performthejob.Useonlyaccessoriesand
attachmentsapprovedbythemanufacturer.
•Wearappropriateclothing;includingsafety
glasses,longpants,substantialslip-resistant
footwear,gloves,andhearingprotection.Tieback
longhair.Donotwearjewelry.
•Inspecttheareawhereyouwillusetheequipment
andensurethatallobjectsareremovedfromthe
areabeforeuse.
•Useextracarewhenhandlingfuels.Theyare
ammableandvaporsareexplosive.
–Useonlyanapprovedcontainer.
–Donotremovethefuelcaporaddfuelwiththe
enginerunning.Allowtheenginetocoolbefore
refueling.Donotsmokenearthemachine
whentheengineisrunning.
–Donotrefuelordrainthemachineindoors.
•Checkthattheoperator'spresencecontrols,safety
switches,andshieldsareattachedandfunctioning
properly.Donotoperatethemachineunlessthey
arefunctioningproperly.
Operation
•Lightningcancausesevereinjuryordeath.If
lightningisseen,orthunderisheardinthearea,
donotoperatethemachine;seekshelter.
•Donotrunanengineinanenclosedarea.
•Operateonlyinwell-litareas,keepingawayfrom
holesandhiddenhazards.
•Ensurethatalldrivesareinneutralandthatthe
parkingbrakeisengagedbeforestartingengine.
Starttheengineonlyfromtheoperator’sposition.
•Makesurethatyouhavegoodfootingwhile
usingthismachine,especiallywhenbackingup.
Reducedfootingcouldcauseslipping.
•Slowdownanduseextracareonhillsides.Be
suretotravelsidetosideonhillsides.Turf
conditionscanaffectthestabilityofthemachine.
Usecautionwhileoperatingneardrop-offs.
•Slowdownandusecautionwhenmakingturns
andwhenchangingdirectionsonslopes.
•Donotraisethemowerdeckwiththeblades
running.
•DonotoperatethemachinewithoutthePTO
shieldorotherguardssecurelyinplace.Besure
thatallinterlocksareattached,adjustedproperly,
andfunctioningproperly.
•Donotoperatewiththedischargedeectorraised,
removedoraltered,unlessyouareusingagrass
catcher.
•Donotchangetheenginegovernorsettingor
overspeedtheengine.
•Stopthemachineonlevelground,disengagethe
drives,engagetheparkingbrake,andshutoffthe
enginebeforeleavingtheoperator'spositionfor
anyreason,includingemptyingthecatchersor
uncloggingthechute.
•Stopthemachineandinspectthebladesafter
strikingobjectsorifanabnormalvibrationoccurs.
Makethenecessaryrepairsbeforeresuming
operations.
•Keepyourhandsandfeetawayfromthecutting
unit.
•Lookbehindanddownbeforebackingupto
ensureaclearpath.
•Keeppetsandbystandersawayfromanoperating
machine.
•Slowdownandusecautionwhenmakingturns
andcrossingroadsandsidewalks.Stopthe
bladesifyouarenotmowing.
•Beawareofthemower-dischargedirectionand
donotpointitatanyone.
•Donotoperatethemachinewhiletired,ill,or
undertheinuenceofalcoholordrugs.
•Usecarewhenloadingorunloadingthemachine
intoorfromatrailerortruck.
•Usecarewhenapproachingblindcorners,shrubs,
trees,orotherobjectsthatmayobscurevision.
SafeHandlingofFuels
•Toavoidpersonalinjuryorpropertydamage,use
extremecareinhandlingfuel.Fuelisextremely
ammableandthevaporsareexplosive.
•Extinguishallcigarettes,cigars,pipes,andother
sourcesofignition.
•Useonlyanapprovedfuelcontainer.
•Donotremovethefuelcaporaddfuelwiththe
enginerunning.
•Allowtheenginetocoolbeforefueling.
•Donotfuelthemachineindoors.
•Donotstorethemachineorfuelcontainerwhere
thereisanopename,spark,orpilotlight,such
asonawaterheateroronotherappliances.
•Donotllcontainersinsideavehicle,onatruck,
oronatrailerbedwithaplasticliner.Alwaysplace
containersonthegroundawayfromyourvehicle
beforeî‚¿lling.
•Removeequipmentfromthetruckortrailerand
fuelitontheground.Ifthisisnotpossible,
thenaddfuelwithsuchequipmentasaportable
containerratherthanfromafuel-dispensernozzle.
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