Operator's Manual

Safety
Note:Theadditionofattachmentsmadebyother
manufacturersthatdonotmeetAmericanNationalStandards
Institutecerticationwillcausenoncomplianceofthis
machine.
Improperuseormaintenancebytheoperatororownercan
resultininjury.Toreducethepotentialforinjury,comply
withthesesafetyinstructionsandalwayspayattentionto
thesafetyalertsymbol,whichmeansCAUTION,
WARNING,orDANGER-“personalsafetyinstruction."
Failuretocomplywiththeinstructionmayresultinpersonal
injuryordeath.
SafeOperatingPractices
ThefollowinginstructionsarefromANSIstandard
B71.4-2012.
Training
•ReadtheOperator'sManualandothertrainingmaterial.
Iftheoperator(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.
•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.
•Neveroperatewiththedischargedeectorraised,
removedoraltered,unlessusingagrasscatcher.
•Donotchangetheenginegovernorsettingoroverspeed
theengine.
•Stoponlevelground,disengagedrives,engageparking
brake(ifprovided),shutoffenginebeforeleavingthe
operator'spositionforanyreasonincludingemptyingthe
catchersoruncloggingthechute.
•Stopequipmentandinspectbladesafterstrikingobjects
orifanabnormalvibrationoccurs.Makenecessary
repairsbeforeresumingoperations.
•Keephandsandfeetawayfromthecuttingunit.
•Lookbehindanddownbeforebackinguptobesureof
aclearpath.
•Keeppetsandbystandersaway.
•Slowdownandusecautionwhenmakingturnsand
crossingroadsandsidewalks.Stopbladesifnotmowing.
•Beawareofthemowerdischargedirectionanddonot
pointitatanyone.
•Donotoperatethemowerundertheinuenceofalcohol
ordrugs.
•Usecarewhenloadingorunloadingthemachineinto
orfromatrailerortruck.
•Usecarewhenapproachingblindcorners,shrubs,trees,
orotherobjectsthatmayobscurevision.
•Lightningcancausesevereinjuryordeath.Iflightning
isseenorthunderisheardinthearea,donotoperate
themachine;seekshelter.
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