Operator's Manual
Safety
Note:Theadditionofattachmentsmadebyother
manufacturersthatdonotmeetAmericanNationalStandards
Institutecerticationwillcausenoncomplianceofthis
machine.
Improperuseormaintenancebytheoperatororownercan
resultininjury.Toreducethepotentialforinjury,comply
withthesesafetyinstructionsandalwayspayattentiontothe
safetyalertsymbol,whichmeansCAUTION,WARNING,
orDANGER-“personalsafetyinstruction."Failuretocomply
withtheinstructionmayresultinpersonalinjuryordeath.
SafeOperatingPractices
ThefollowinginstructionsarefromANSIstandard
B71.4-2004.
Training
•ReadtheOperator'sManualandothertrainingmaterial.If
theoperator(s)ormechanic(s)cannotreadEnglishitis
theowner'sresponsibilitytoexplainthismaterialtothem.
•Becomefamiliarwiththesafeoperationoftheequipment,
operatorcontrols,andsafetysigns.
•Alloperatorsandmechanicsshouldbetrained.The
ownerisresponsiblefortrainingtheusers.
•Neverletchildrenoruntrainedpeopleoperateorservice
theequipment.Localregulationsmayrestricttheageof
theoperator.
•Theowner/usercanpreventandisresponsiblefor
accidentsorinjuriesoccurringtohimselforherself,other
peopleorproperty.
Preparation
•Evaluatetheterraintodeterminewhataccessoriesand
attachmentsareneededtoproperlyandsafelyperform
thejob.Onlyuseaccessoriesandattachmentsapproved
bythemanufacturer.
•Wearappropriateclothingincludinghardhat,safety
glassesandhearingprotection.Longhair,looseclothing
orjewelrymaygettangledinmovingparts.
•Inspecttheareawheretheequipmentistobeusedand
removeallobjectssuchasrocks,toysandwirewhichcan
bethrownbythemachine.
•Useextracarewhenhandlinggasolineandotherfuels.
Theyareammableandvaporsareexplosive.
–Useonlyanapprovedcontainer
–Neverremovegascaporaddfuelwithengine
running.Allowenginetocoolbeforerefueling.Do
notsmoke.
–Neverrefuelordrainthemachineindoors.
•Checkthatoperator'spresencecontrols,safetyswitches
andshieldsareattachedandfunctioningproperly.Donot
operateunlesstheyarefunctioningproperly.
Operation
•Lightningcancausesevereinjuryordeath.Iflightning
isseenorthunderisheardinthearea,donotoperate
themachine;seekshelter.
•Neverrunanengineinanenclosedarea.
•Onlyoperateingoodlight,keepingawayfromholesand
hiddenhazards.
•Besurealldrivesareinneutralandparkingbrakeis
engagedbeforestartingengine.Onlystartenginefrom
theoperator'sposition.
•Besureofyourfootingwhileusingthismachine,
especiallywhenbackingup.Walk,don'trun.Never
operateonwetgrass.Reducedfootingcouldcause
slipping.
•Slowdownanduseextracareonhillsides.Besureto
travelsidetosideonhillsides.Turfconditionscanaffect
themachine'sstability.Usecautionwhileoperatingnear
drop-offs.
•Slowdownandusecautionwhenmakingturnsandwhen
changingdirectionsonslopes.
•Neverraisedeckwiththebladesrunning.
•NeveroperatewiththePTOshield,orotherguardsnot
securelyinplace.Besureallinterlocksareattached,
adjustedproperly,andfunctioningproperly.
•Neveroperatewiththedischargedeectorraised,
removedoraltered,unlessusingagrasscatcher.
•Donotchangetheenginegovernorsettingoroverspeed
theengine.
•Stoponlevelground,disengagedrives,engageparking
brake,shutoffenginebeforeleavingtheoperator's
positionforanyreasonincludingemptyingthecatchers
oruncloggingthechute.
•Stopequipmentandinspectbladesafterstrikingobjects
orifanabnormalvibrationoccurs.Makenecessary
repairsbeforeresumingoperations.
•Keephandsandfeetawayfromthecuttingunit.
•Lookbehindanddownbeforebackinguptobesureof
aclearpath.
•Keeppetsandbystandersaway.
•Slowdownandusecautionwhenmakingturnsand
crossingroadsandsidewalks.Stopbladesifnotmowing.
•Beawareofthemowerdischargedirectionanddonot
pointitatanyone.
•Donotoperatethemowerundertheinuenceofalcohol
ordrugs.
•Usecarewhenloadingorunloadingthemachineinto
orfromatrailerortruck.
•Usecarewhenapproachingblindcorners,shrubs,trees,
orotherobjectsthatmayobscurevision.
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