Safety
Operation
WARNING
Operating engine parts, especially the muffler, become extremely hot. Severe burns can occur on contact and debris, such as leaves, grass, brush, etc. can catch fire.
•Allow engine parts, especially the muffler, to cool before touching.
•Remove accumulated debris from muffler and engine area.
•Install and maintain in working order a spark arrester before using equipment on
WARNING
Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, which is an odorless deadly poison that can kill you.
Do Not run engine indoors or in a small confined area where dangerous carbon monoxide fumes can collect.
•Operate only in daylight or good artificial light, keeping away from holes and hidden hazards.
•Be sure all drives are in neutral and parking brake is engaged before starting engine.
•Never raise deck with blades running.
•Never operate the mower with damaged guards, shields, or covers. Always have safety shields, guards, switches and other devices in place and in proper working condition.
•Never mow with the discharge deflector raised, removed or altered unless there is a grass collection system or mulch kit in place and working properly.
•Do Not change the engine governor setting or overspeed the engine.
•Park machine on level ground. 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.
•Stop engine, wait for all moving parts to stop, and engage parking brake:
–Before refueling.
–Before dumping the grass catcher.
–Before making height adjustments.
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.
•DO NOT operate the mower when people, especially children, or pets are in the area.
•Be alert, slow down and use caution when making turns. Look behind and to the side before changing directions.
•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.
•Do Not operate the mower under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
•Use extreme care when loading or unloading the machine into a trailer or truck.
•Use care when approaching blind corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects that may obscure vision.
Slope Operation
Use Extreme caution when mowing and/or turning on slopes as loss of traction and/or
7