Operator's Manual

Safety
Note:Theadditionofattachmentsmadebyother
manufacturersthatdonotmeetAmericanNationalStandards
Institutecerticationwillcausenoncomplianceofthis
machine.
Improperlyusingormaintainingthemachinecanresult
ininjury.Toreducethepotentialforinjury,complywith
thesesafetyinstructionsandalwayspayattentiontothe
safetyalertsymbol,whichmeans Caution, W ar ning , or
Danger —personalsafetyinstruction.Failuretocomply
withtheinstructionmayresultinpersonalinjuryor
death.
Thisproductiscapableofamputatinghandsandfeetand
throwingobjects.Alwaysfollowallsafetyinstructionsto
avoidseriousinjuryordeath.
SafeOperatingPractices
ThefollowinginstructionsareadaptedfromANSI
B71.4-2012.
Training
•ReadtheOperator'sManualandothertrainingmaterial.If
theoperator(s)ormechanic(s)cannotreadorunderstand
theinformationitistheowner'sresponsibilitytoexplain
thismaterialtothem.
•Becomefamiliarwiththesafeoperationoftheequipment,
operatorcontrols,andsafetysigns.
•Alloperatorsandmechanicsshouldbetrained.The
ownerisresponsiblefortrainingtheusers.
•Neverletchildrenoruntrainedpeopleoperateorservice
theequipment.Localregulationsmayrestricttheageof
theoperator.
•Theowner/usercanpreventandisresponsiblefor
accidentsorinjuriesoccurringtopeopleordamageto
property.
Preparation
•Evaluatetheterraintodeterminewhataccessoriesand
attachmentsareneededtoproperlyandsafelyperform
thejob.Onlyuseaccessoriesandattachmentsapproved
bythemanufacturer.
•Wearappropriateclothingincludinghardhat,safety
glasses,andhearingprotection.Longhair,looseclothing,
orjewelrymaygettangledinmovingparts.
•Inspecttheareawheretheequipmentistobeusedand
removeallobjectssuchasrocks,toys,andwirewhichcan
bethrownbythemachine.
•Checkthatoperator'spresencecontrols,safetyswitches,
andshieldsareattachedandfunctioningproperly.Donot
operateunlesstheyarefunctioningproperly.
Operation
•Lightningcancausesevereinjuryordeath.Iflightning
isseenorthunderisheardinthearea,donotoperate
themachine;seekshelter.
•Neverrunanengineinanenclosedarea.
•Onlyoperateingoodlight,keepingawayfromholesand
hiddenhazards.
•Besurealldrivesareinneutralandparkingbrakeis
engagedbeforestartingtheengine.Onlystarttheengine
fromtheoperator'sposition.
•Besureofyourfootingwhileusingthismachine,
especiallywhenbackingup.Walk;donotrun.Never
operateonwetgrass.Reducedfootingcouldcause
slipping.
•Slowdownanduseextracareonhillsides.Besureto
travelsidetosideonhillsides.Turfconditionscanaffect
thestabilityofthemachine.Usecautionwhileoperating
neardrop-offs.
•Slowdownandusecautionwhenmakingturnsandwhen
changingdirectionsonslopes.
•Neverraisedeckwiththebladesrunning.
•NeveroperatewiththePTOshieldorotherguardsnot
securelyinplace.Besureallinterlocksareattached,
adjustedproperly,andfunctioningproperly.
•Neveroperatewiththedischargedeectorraised,
removedoraltered,unlessusingagrasscatcher.
•Donotchangetheenginegovernorsettingoroverspeed
theengine.
•Stoponlevelground,disengagedrives,engagethe
parkingbrake(ifprovided),andshutofftheenginebefore
leavingtheoperator'spositionforanyreason,including
emptyingthecatchersoruncloggingthechute.
•Stopequipmentandinspectbladesafterstrikingobjects
orifanabnormalvibrationoccurs.Makenecessary
repairsbeforeresumingoperations.
•Keephandsandfeetawayfromthecuttingunit.
•Lookbehindanddownbeforebackinguptobesureof
aclearpath.
•Nevercarrypassengersonthemachine.
•Keeppetsandbystandersaway.
•Slowdownandusecautionwhenmakingturnsand
crossingroadsandsidewalks.Stopbladesifnotmowing.
•Beawareofthemowerdischargedirectionanddonot
pointitatanyone.
•Donotoperatethemowerundertheinuenceofalcohol
ordrugs.
•Usecarewhenloadingorunloadingthemachineinto
orfromatrailerortruck.
•Usecarewhenapproachingblindcorners,shrubs,trees,
orotherobjectsthatmayobscurevision.
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