• Turn off blades when not mowing.
• Stop engine before removing grass
catcher or unclogging chute.
•Mow only in daylight or good artificial
light.
•Do not operate the machine while under
the influence of alcohol or drugs.
o-Watch for traffic when operating near or
crossing roadways.
•Use extra care when loading or unload-
ing the machine into a trailer or track.
SLOPE OPERATION
Slopes are a major factor related to loss-
of-control and tipover accidents, which
can result in severe injury or death. All
slopes require extra caution. If you cannot
back up the slope or if you feel uneasy on
it, do not mow it.
DO:
•Mow up and down slopes, not across.
•Remove obstacles such as rocks, tree
limbs, etc.
•Watch for holes, ruts, or bumps. Uneven
terrain could overturn the machine. Tall
gross can hide obstacles.
•Use slow speed. Choose a low gear so
that you will not have to stop or shift
while on the slope.
•Follow the manufacturer's recommen-
datioos for wheel weights or counter-
we_hts to improve stability.
•Use extra care with grass catchers or
other attachments, These can change
the stability of the machine.
•Keep all movement on the slopes slow
and gradual. Do not make sudden
changes in speed or direction.
•Avo'KLstartingor stopping on a slope, if
flms lose traction, disengage the blades
and proceed slowly straight down the
slope.
DO NOT:
•Do nottum on slopes unless necessary,
and then, turn slowly and gradually
downhill, it possible.
•Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches, or
embankments. The mower could sud-
denly tum over if a wheel is over the
edge of acliff or ditch, or if an edge
caves in.
•Do g_ mow on wet grass. Reduced
traction could cause sliding.
•Do nottrytostabilizethe machine by
pottingyourfootc_ntheground.
•Do notusegrasscatcheronsteep
slopes.
CHILDREN
Tragicaccidentscan occurif theoperator
isnotalertto'thepresenceofchildren.
Childrenare oftenattreotedtothe
machineandthemowingactivity.Never
assumethatchildrenwillremainwhere
you lest sew them.
•Keepchildrenoutofthe mowingarea
and underthewatchfulcare ofanother
responsibleadult.
•Be alertandturnmachine offif children
enterthearea.
•Beforeandwhenbacking,lookbehind
and downforsmallchiktren.
•Nevercarrychildren.They mayfalloff
and beseriouslyinjuredorinterferewith
safe machineoperation.
•Neverallowchildrentooperatethe
machine.
•Useextracarewhenapproachingblind
comers,shrubs,trees, orotherobjects
thatmayobscurevision.
SERVICE
•Useextracarein handlinggasolineand
otherfuels.They areflammableand
vaporsareexplosive.
Useonlyan approvedcontainer.
Never removegascapor addfuel
with theenginerunning.Allowen-
ginetocoolbeforerefueling.Do not
smoke.
Never refuelthemachineindoors.
Neverstorethe machineorfuel
container insidewherethereisan
openflame,suchas a waterheater.
•Nevermn a machineinsidea closed
area.
i sep nutsand bolts,especiallyblade
attachmentbolts,tightand keepequip
mentin goodcondition.
Never tamperwithsafetydevices.
Checktheirproperoperationreguledy.
Keepmachinefreeofgrass,leaves,or
otherdebdsbuild-up.Cleanoilor fuel
spillage.Allowmachinetocoolbefore
storing.
•Stop andinspectthe equipmentifyou
strike an object.Repair,if necessary,
beforerestarting.
