SAFETY 6. Remove the key. • Stay alert to the presence of children. Never assume that children will remain where you last saw them. Turn the machine off if a child enters the work area. 7. Wait for engine and all moving parts to stop before you leave the operator’s seat. 8. Close fuel shut-off valve, if your machine is equipped. • Use extreme care when approaching blind corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects that may block your view of a child. 9. Disconnect the negative battery cable or remove the spark plug wire(s) (for gasoline engines) before servicing the machine.
Avoid Tipping Rotating Blades are Dangerous • 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 or if you feel uneasy on it, do not mow it. HELP PREVENT SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENTS: • Rotating blades can cut off arms and legs, and throw objects. Failure to observe safety instructions could result in serious injury or death. • 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.
• Keep hands, feet and clothing away from mower deck when engine is running. • Be alert at all times, drive forward and in reverse carefully. People, especially children can move quickly into the mowing area before you know it. • Choose a low ground speed so you will not have to stop or shift while on a slope. • Do not mow or operate machine on wet grass. Tires may lose traction. Tires may lose traction on slopes even though the brakes are functioning properly. • Before backing up, stop mower blades or attachments and look down and behind the machine carefully, especially for children. • Do not mow in reverse. • Always keep the machine in gear when going down slopes.
Do not shift to neutral and coast downhill. • Shut off blades when you are not mowing. • Avoid starting, stopping or turning on a slope. If the tires lose traction, disengage the blades and proceed slowly, straight down the slope. • Park machine safely before leaving the operator’s station for any reason including emptying the grasscatchers or unplugging the chute. • Keep all movement on slopes slow and gradual. Do not make sudden changes in speed or direction, which could cause the machine to roll over. • The mower blades should stop in approximately five seconds when the mower is disengaged.
If you believe that your blades may not be stopping in that period of time, take your machine to your authorized dealer where they can safely check and service your machine. • Use extra care while operating machine with grasscatchers or other attachments, they can affect stability of the machine. Do not use on steep slopes. Protect Children • Do not try to stabilize the machine by putting your foot on the ground. • Death or serious injury can occur when young children associate having fun with a lawn mowing machine simply because someone has given them a ride on a machine. • Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches, embankments, or bodies of water.
The machine could suddenly roll over if a wheel goes over the edge or the edge caves in. Leave a safety area between the machine and any hazard. • Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for wheel weights or counterweights for added stability when operating on slopes or using front or rear mounted attachments. Remove weights when not required. • Children are attracted to lawn mowing machines and mowing activities. They don’t understand the dangers of rotating blades or the fact that the operator is unaware of their presence. Keep Riders Off • Only allow the operator on the machine. Keep riders off.
• 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. • Riders on the machine or attachment may be struck by foreign objects or thrown off the machine causing serious injury. • Tragic accidents with children can occur if the operator is not alert to the presence of children, especially when a child approaches a machine from behind. Before and while backing up, stop mower blades and look down and behind the machine carefully, especially for children. • Riders obstruct the operator’s view resulting in the machine being operated in an unsafe manner.
• Never carry children on a machine or attachment, even with the blades off. Do not tow children in a cart or trailer. They can fall off and be seriously injured or interfere with safe machine operation. Towing Loads Safely • Stopping distance increases with speed and weight of towed load. Travel slowly and allow extra time and distance to stop. • Never use the machine as a recreational vehicle or to entertain children. • Total towed weight must not exceed combined weight of pulling machine, ballast and operator. Use counterweights or wheel weights as described in the attachment or pulling machine operator’s manual. • Never allow children or an untrained person operate the machine.
Instruct all operators not to give children a ride on the machine or in an attachment. • Keep children indoors, out of the mowing area, and in the watchful eye of a responsible adult, other than the operator, when a mower is being operated. • Excessive towed load can cause loss of traction and loss of control on slopes. Reduce towed weight when operating on slopes. • Never allow children or others in or on towed equipment. Safety - 7