Slope Operation

Safety

collection system or mulch kit in place and working properly.

DANGER

There are rotating blades in the blower and under the mower deck. Blade contact can cause serious operator or bystander injury or even death.

•Do Not reach into blower unless rotation indicator has stopped. Disengage PTO, stop engine, remove key, wait for all moving parts to stop. engage parking brake.

•Never operate mower unless discharge deflector, entire grass collection system, or mulch kit is installed.

•Stop engine, wait for all moving parts to stop, remove key and engage parking brake:

–Before checking, cleaning or working on the mower.

–After striking a foreign object or abnormal vibration occurs (inspect the mower for damage and make repairs before restarting and operating the mower).

–Before clearing blockages.

–Whenever you leave the mower.

WARNING

Hands, feet, hair, clothing, or accessories can become entangled in rotating parts. Contact with the rotating parts can cause traumatic amputation or severe lacerations.

•Do Not operate the machine without guards, shields, and safety devices in place and working properly.

•Keep hands, feet, hair, jewelry, or clothing away from rotating parts.

•Stop the blades, slow down, and use caution when crossing surfaces other than grass and when transporting the mower to and from the area to be mowed.

•Be aware of the mower discharge path and direct discharge away from others.

Use Extreme caution when mowing and/or turning on slopes as loss of traction and/or tip-over could occur. The operator is responsible for safe operation on slopes.

DANGER

Operating on wet grass or steep slopes can cause sliding and loss of control. Wheels dropping over edges, ditches, steep banks, or water can cause rollovers, which may result in serious injury, death or drowning.

•Do Not mow slopes when grass is wet.

•Do Not mow near drop-offs or near water.

•Do Not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees.

•Reduce speed and use extreme caution on slopes.

•Avoid sudden turns or rapid speed changes.

•Keep the roll bar in the raised and locked position and use seat belt.

•See inside the back cover to determine the approximate slope angle of the area to be mowed.

•Use a walk behind mower and/or a hand trimmer near drop-offs, ditches, steep banks or water. (Figure 3).