Operator's Manual

Safety
Note:Theadditionofattachmentsmadeby
othermanufacturersthatdonotmeetAmerican
NationalStandardsInstitutecerticationwillcause
noncomplianceofthismachine.
Improperlyusingormaintainingthemachinecan
resultininjury.Toreducethepotentialforinjury,
complywiththesesafetyinstructionsandalways
payattentiontothesafetyalertsymbol,which
meansCaution,Warning,orDanger—personal
safetyinstruction.Failuretocomplywiththe
instructionmayresultinpersonalinjuryordeath.
Thisproductiscapableofamputatinghandsand
feetandofthrowingobjects.Alwaysfollowallsafety
instructionstoavoidseriousinjuryordeath.
SafeOperatingPractices
ThefollowinginstructionsareadaptedfromANSI
B71.4-2012.
Training
•ReadtheOperator'sManualandothertraining
material.Iftheoperator(s)ormechanic(s)cannot
readorunderstandtheinformationitistheowner's
responsibilitytoexplainthismaterialtothem.
•Becomefamiliarwiththesafeoperationofthe
equipment,operatorcontrols,andsafetysigns.
•Alloperatorsandmechanicsshouldbetrained.
Theownerisresponsiblefortrainingtheusers.
•Neverletchildrenoruntrainedpeopleoperateor
servicetheequipment.Localregulationsmay
restricttheageoftheoperator.
•Theowner/usercanpreventandisresponsible
foraccidentsorinjuriesoccurringtopeopleor
damagetoproperty.
Preparation
•Evaluatetheterraintodeterminewhataccessories
andattachmentsareneededtoproperlyand
safelyperformthejob.Useonlyaccessoriesand
attachmentsapprovedbythemanufacturer.
•Wearappropriateclothingincludinghardhat,
substantial,slip-resistantfootwear,safetyglasses,
andhearingprotection.Longhair,looseclothing,
orjewelrymaygettangledinmovingparts.
•Inspecttheareawheretheequipmentistobe
usedandremoveallobjectssuchasrocks,toys,
andwire,whichcanbethrownbythemachine.
•Checkthatoperator'spresencecontrols,safety
switches,andshieldsareattachedandfunctioning
properly.Donotoperateunlesstheyare
functioningproperly.
Operation
•Lightningcancausesevereinjuryordeath.If
lightningisseenorthunderisheardinthearea,do
notoperatethemachine;seekshelter.
•Neverrunanengineinanenclosedarea.
•Operatethemachineonlyingoodlight,keeping
awayfromholesandhiddenhazards.
•Besurethatalldrivesareinneutralandthe
parkingbrakeisengagedbeforestartingthe
engine.Starttheengineonlyfromtheoperator's
position.
•Besureofyourfootingwhileusingthismachine,
especiallywhenbackingup.Walk;donotrun.
Neveroperateonwetgrass.Reducedfooting
couldcauseslipping.
•Slowdownanduseextracareonhillsides.Be
suretotravelsidetosideonhillsides.Turf
conditionscanaffectthestabilityofthemachine.
Usecautionwhileoperatingneardrop-offs.
•Slowdownandusecautionwhenmakingturns
andwhenchangingdirectiononslopes.
•Neverraisethedeckwiththebladesrunning.
•NeveroperatewiththePTOshieldorotherguards
notsecurelyinplace.Besureallinterlocksare
attached,adjustedproperly,andfunctioning
properly.
•Neveroperatewiththedischargedeectorraised,
removedoraltered,unlessyouareusingagrass
catcher.
•Donotchangetheenginegovernorsettingor
overspeedtheengine.
•Stoponlevelground,disengagedrives,engage
theparkingbrake(ifprovided),andshutoffthe
enginebeforeleavingtheoperator'spositionfor
anyreason,includingemptyingthecatchersor
uncloggingthechute.
•Stoptheequipmentandinspecttheblades
afterstrikingobjectsorifanabnormalvibration
occurs.Makenecessaryrepairsbeforeresuming
operation.
•Keephandsandfeetawayfromthecuttingunit.
•Lookbehindanddownbeforebackinguptobe
sureofaclearpath.
•Nevercarrypassengersonthemachine.
•Keeppetsandbystandersaway.
•Slowdownandusecautionwhenmakingturns
andcrossingroadsandsidewalks.Stopthe
bladesifyouarenotmowing.
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