Operator's Manual

Preparation
Besuretoestablishyourownspecialproceduresand
workrulesforunusualoperatingconditions(e.g.,
slopestoosteepforoperation).Surveythecomplete
mowingsitetodeterminewhichhillscanbesafely
operatedon.Whenperformingthissitesurvey,always
usecommonsenseandtakeintoconsiderationtheturf
conditionandtherolloverrisk.Todeterminewhichhills
orslopesmaybesafelyoperatedon,usetheinclinometer
providedwitheachmachine.Toperformasitesurvey,
followtheprocedureoutlinedintheOperationsection
ofthethismanual.Themaximumsidehillangleis
detailedontheslopedecalafxedneartheangle
indicator.
Training
Theoperatormustbeskilledandtrainedinhowtodrive
onhillsides.Failuretousecautiononslopesorhills
maycausethevehicletotiporroll,possiblyresulting
inpersonalinjuryordeath.
Operation
•Knowhowtostopthemachineandenginequickly.
•Donotoperatethemachinewhilewearingtennis
shoesorsneakers.
•Wearingsafetyshoesandlongpantsisadvisableand
requiredbysomelocalordinancesandinsurance
regulations.
•Keephands,feet,andclothingawayfrommoving
partsandthemowerdischargearea.
•Fillthefueltankuntillevelis1/2inch(12mm)
belowthebottomofthellerneck.Donotoverll.
•Checkthesafetyinterlockswitchesdailyforproper
operation.Ifaswitchshouldfail,replacetheswitch
beforeoperatingthemachine.
•Whenstartingtheengine,engagetheparkingbrake,
putthetractionpedalinneutral,anddisengage
thebladedrive.Aftertheenginestarts,releasethe
parkingbrakeandkeepyourfootoffofthetraction
pedal.Themachinemustnotmove.Ifmovement
isevident,refertotheMaintenancesectionofthis
manualtoadjustthetractiondrive.
•Useextremecautionwhenoperatingclosetosand
traps,ditches,creeks,steephillsides,orotherhazards.
•Reducespeedwhenmakingsharpturns.
•Donotturnonhills.
•Donotoperateonasidehillthatistoosteep.A
rollovermayoccurbeforelosingtraction.
•Theslopeangleatwhichthemachinewilltipis
dependentonmanyfactors.Amongtheseare
mowingconditionssuchaswetorundulating
terrain,speed(especiallyinturns),positionofthe
cuttingunits(withtheSidewinder),tirepressure,
andoperatorexperience.Atsidehillanglesof15
degreesorless,theriskofarolloverislow.Asthe
slopeangleincreasestoarecommendedmaximum
limitof20degrees,theriskofarolloverincreasesto
amoderatelevel.Donotexceeda20degreeside
hillslopeanglebecausetheriskofarolloverand
seriousinjuryordeathisveryhigh.
•Forsteeringcontrol,lowerthecuttingunitswhen
goingdownslopes.
•Avoidsuddenstopsandstarts.
•Usethereversepedalforbraking.
•Watchfortrafcwhennearorcrossingroads.
Alwaysyieldtheright-of-way.
•Raisethecuttingunitswhendrivingfromonework
areatoanother.
•Donottouchtheengine,mufer,exhaustpipe,or
hydraulictankwhiletheengineisrunningorsoon
afterithasstoppedbecausetheseareascouldbehot
enoughtocauseburns.
•Thismachineisnotdesignedorequippedfor
on-roaduseandisaslow-movingvehicle.Ifyou
mustcrossortravelonapublicroad,youshould
beawareofandcomplywithlocalregulations,such
asrequiredlights,slowmovingvehiclesigns,and
reectors.
MaintenanceandStorage
•Beforeservicingormakingadjustments,stopthe
engineandremovetheignitionkey.
•Ensurethattheentiremachineisproperlymaintained
andingoodoperatingcondition.Frequentlycheck
allnuts,bolts,screws,andhydraulicttings.
•Makesureallhydrauliclineconnectorsaretightand
allhydraulichosesandlinesareingoodcondition
beforeapplyingpressuretothesystem.
•Keepyourbodyandhandsawayfrompinhole
leaksornozzlesthatejecthydraulicuidunderhigh
pressure.Usepaperorcardboard,notyourhands,
tosearchforleaks.Hydraulicuidescapingunder
pressurecanhavesufcientforcetopenetratethe
skinandcauseseriousinjury.Ifuidisinjectedinto
theskinitmustbesurgicallyremovedwithinafew
hoursbyadoctorfamiliarwiththisformofinjury
organgrenemayresult.
•Beforedisconnectingorperforminganyworkon
thehydraulicsystem,allpressureinthesystemmust
berelievedbystoppingtheengineandloweringthe
cuttingunitstotheground.
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