35.
Do not operate or start machine if there
are fuel or oil leaks; repair immediately.
36.
When looking for oil leaks, never run
your hand over hydraulic hoses, lines, or
fittings. Never tighten or adjust hydraulic
hoses, lines, or fittings while the system
is under pressure. If high-pressure oil
penetrates the skin seek immediate
medical attention or gangrene and
permanent damage may result. Do not
check for hydraulic leaks with your hands,
use paper or cardboard instead. Wear
gloves and safety glasses when checking
for leaks.
37.
Do not operate machines that have been
damaged or have not been properly
maintained. If the machine has been
damaged, then have it repaired.
38.
When operating this machine in the
forward direction, do not allow the speed
control levers/pedals to return to the
neutral position on their own. Always
operate them smoothly and avoid any
sudden movements of the levers/pedals
when starting or stopping.
39.
If situations occur which are not covered
in this manual use care and good
judgement. Contact your customer
service representative for assistance.
Slope Operation
Slopes are a major factor related to loss of
control and tip-over accidents that 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 or drive on
the slope.
For your safety, use the slope gauge included
as part of this manual to measure slopes before
operating this machine on a sloped or hilly
area. If the slope is greater than 20° (35%) as
shown on the slope gauge, do not operate
this machine on that area or serious injury
could result.
Do:
1.
Mow across slopes, not up and down.
Exercise extreme caution when changing
direction on slopes.
2.
Watch for holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, or
other hidden objects. Uneven terrain
could overturn the machine. Tall grass can
hide obstacles.
3.
Use slow speed. Choose a low enough
speed so that you will not have to stop
while on the slope. Avoid starting or
stopping on a slope. If the tires are unable
to maintain traction, disengage the
blades and proceed slowly and carefully
straight down the slope.
4.
Keep all movements on the slopes
slow and gradual. Do not make sudden
changes in speed or direction. Rapid
acceleration could cause the front of
the machine to lift and rapidly flip over
backwards, which could cause serious
injury or death.
5.
Follow the manufacturer's
recommendations for wheel weights or
counterweights to improve stability.
6.
Use extra care with grass catchers or
other attachments. These can change the
stability of the machine.
Do Not:
7.
Do not turn on slopes unless necessary;
then turn slowly uphill and use extra care
while turning.
8.
Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches,
or embankments. The machine could
suddenly turn over if a wheel is over the
edge of a cliff, ditch, or if an edge caves in.
9.
Do not operate on slopes or near the
edge of water such as a lake, pond, river,
or stream where the machine could slip,
tip or roll over into the water.
10.
Do not try to stabilize the machine by
putting your foot on the ground.
11.
Use extra care while operating tractor
with grass catcher or other attachment(s).
They can affect the stability of the tractor.
Do not use grass catcher on slopes
greater than 10° (17%).
12.
Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced
traction could cause sliding and/or loss
of control.
13.
Do not tow heavy pull behind
attachments (e.g. loaded dump cart, lawn
roller, etc.) on slopes greater than 5° (9%).
When going downhill, the extra weight
tends to push the machine and may
cause loss of traction and loss of control
(e.g. machine may speed up, braking and
steering ability are reduced, attachment
may jackknife and cause machine
to overturn).
Children
1.
Tragic accidents can occur if the operator
is not alert to the presence of children.
Children are often attracted to the
machine and the mowing activity. They
do not understand the dangers. Never
assume that children will remain where
you last saw them.
a. Keep children out of the mowing area
and in watchful care of a responsible
adult other than the operator.
b. Be alert and turn machine off if a
child enters the area.
c. Always look behind and down for
small children. Use slow speed.
d. Never carry children, even with the
blade(s) shut off. They may fall off and
be seriously injured or interfere with
safe machine operation.
e. Use extreme care when approaching
blind corners, doorways, shrubs,
trees, or other objects that may block
your vision of a child who may run
into the path of the machine.
f.
To avoid back-over accidents, always
disengage blades before traveling
in reverse.
g. Keep children away from hot or
running engines. They can suffer
burns from a hot muffler.
h. Remove key when machine
is unattended to prevent
unauthorized operation.
2.
Follow all federal, state, and local
guidelines regarding the use by children
under the age of 18. Never allow children
under 16 years of age to operate this
machine. Children 16 and over should
read and understand the instructions and
safe operation practices in this manual
and on the machine and should be
trained and supervised by an adult.
Towing
1.
Do not tow heavy tow-behind
attachments (e.g. loaded dump cart, lawn
roller, etc.) on slopes greater than 5° (9%).
2.
Tow only with a machine that has a hitch
designed for towing. Do not attach towed
equipment except at the hitch point.
3.
Follow the manufacturer's
recommendation for weight limits for
towed equipment and towing on slopes.
4.
Never allow children or others in or on
towed equipment.
5.
On slopes, the weight of the towed
equipment may cause loss of traction and
loss of control.
6.
Travel slowly and allow extra distance
to stop.
7.
Make wide turns to avoid jackknifing.
Transporting Machines
1.
This machine is not intended for use
on public roads. Machines operated
on public roads must comply with
state and local ordinances, SAE J137,
and ANSI/ASABE S279 (lighting and
marking requirements).
2.
Use care when loading or unloading
machines onto trailers and trucks.
3.
Do not use SurePath Auto Steer Mode
when loading and unloading machine
onto a trailer or truck.
4.
If ramps are used, they must be full width,
stable, have an adequate capacity rating,
and be secured to the trailer or truck.
Ramp angle should not exceed 20° (35%)
and trailer or truck should be parked on
level terrain.
5.
Machines must be secured onto trailers
and trucks with straps, chains, cables,
ropes, or other means deemed adequate
for that purpose. The front and rear of
the machines must be secured to the
trailer or truck in both the lateral and
vertical directions.
Operator Protective System (OPS)
1.
This machine is equipped with an
Operator Protective System (OPS),
which includes:
a. A Roll Over Protective
Structure (ROPS) of the fixed or
folding configuration.
b. Seat belt assembly with
retractable function.
2.
ROPS are structures designed to
provide a crush-resistant space for the
operator when properly seat-belted
within the designated seating area of
the machine in the event of a machine
tip-over or rollover. Folding ROPS
shall be used in their fully upright and
locked configurations except in those
circumstances whereby they need to
be momentarily folded-down to avoid
contact with items such as tree limbs,
clothes lines, guy wires, utility poles,
buildings, etc. At other times and
conditions, ROPS shall be in their fully
upright and locked configurations.
DANGER
Damaged ROPS must be replaced prior to operator use.
3.
Seat belts shall be used and shall be
properly fastened about the operator's
waist at all times, except when the
ROPS are:
a. Not properly installed and/or not
properly secured onto the machine.
b. Damaged in such manner that
their structural integrity has
been compromised.
c. Not in their fully upright and
locked position.
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