il. SLOPE OPERATION
Slopes are a major factor related
to loss of
control and tip-over accidents,
which can
result in severe injury or death°
Operation
on all slopes requires extra caution°
If you
cannot back up the slope orifyou feel uneasy
on it, do not mow it.
•
Mow up and down slopes,
not across.
•
Watch for holes, ruts, bumps,
rocks, or
other
hidden objects.
Uneven
terrain
could overturn the machine.
Tall grass
can hide obstacles.
,
Choose
a low ground speed so that you
will not have to stop or shift while on the
slope.
,
Do not mow on wet grass. Tires may lose
traction.
Always
keep the machine
in gear when
going down slopes. Do not shift to neutral
and coast downhill.
,
Avoid starting,
stopping,
or turning on a
slope, ifthetires
Iosetraction,
disengage
the blades
and proceed
slowly straight
down the slope.
,
Keep all movement
on the slopes slow
and
gradual.
Do not
make
sudden
changes
in speed
or direction,
which
could cause the machine
to roll over.
-
Use extra care while operating
machine
with grass catchers or other attachments;
they can affect the stability
of the ma-
chine_ Do no use on steep slopes.
•
Do not
try to stabilize
the machine
by
putting your foot on the ground.
,
Do
not
mow
near
drop-offs,
ditches,
or embankments.
The machine
could
suddenly
roll over if a wheel is over the
edge or if the edge caves
in.
ill. CHILDREN
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'.
Never
assume
that children
will remain
where
you last
saw them.
•
Keep children out of the mowing area
and in the watchful care of a responsible
adult other than the operator.
•
Be alert and turn machine
off if a child
enters the area.
•
Before
and while
backing,
look behind
and down for small children.
4
•
Never
carry
children,
even
with the
blades
shut off.
They may fal! off and
be seriously
injured or interfere with safe
machine
operation.
Children
who have
been given rides in the past may suddenly
appear
in the mowing
area for another
ride and be run over or backed
over by
the machine°
•
Never allow children
to operate
the ma-
chine.
,
Use extra care when approaching
blind
corners,
shrubs,
trees, or other objects
that may block your view of a child.
IV. TOWING
°
Tow only with a machine that has a hitch
designed for towing_ Do not attach towed
equipment except at the hitch point_
°
Followthe manufacturer's recommenda-
tionfor weight limitsfor towed equipment
and towing on slopes,
•
Never allow children or others in or on
towed equipment.
•
On slopes, theweightofthetowed equip-
ment may cause lossof traction and loss
of control.
-
Travel slowly and allow extra distance to
stop_
V. SERVICE
SAFE HANDLING
OF GASOLINE
To avoid personal
injury or property'
dam-
age, use extreme care in handling gasoline.
Gasoline
is extremely
flammable
and the
vapors are explosive.
•
Extinguish all cigarettes,
cigars,
pipes,
and other sources
of ignition.
•
Use only approved
gasoline
container.
o
Never remove
gas cap or add fuel with
the engine running. Allow engine to cool
before
refueling.
•
Never fuel the machine
indoors.
•
Never store the machine or fuel container
where there is an open flame,
spark, or
pilot light such as on a water heater
or
other appliances.
•
Never fill containers
inside a vehicle
or
on a truck or trailer bed with plastic liner.
Always
place containers
on the ground
away from your vehicle
when filling.
°
Remove
gas-powered
equipment
from
the truck
or trailer
and refuel
it on the
ground.
If this is not possible,
then refuel
such equipment
with a portable container,
rather
than
from a gasoline
dispenser
nozzle.