PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN DURING WORK 2.4.6 WORKING ON SLOPES q Operations on slopes and on river or lake banks with damp ground may result in the tipping over or slipping of the machine. q Do not work with the bucket downward with respect to the tractor. q On hills, banks or slopes, keep the bucket very close to the ground (20–30 cm from the ground) and in case of emergency quickly lower it to the ground to help the machine stop. q Do not change direction and avoid travelling obliquely when working on slopes. It is advisable to go down or up to a flat place to perform these operations. q Do not travel on wet grass or thick layers of leaves:
if the machine moves obliquely in these conditions, it may slip. INCORRECT q Before working on a slope, always check the efficiency of the brakes, engage a low gear and the four-wheel drive. q Do not travel down slopes in neutral; you may lose control of the machine and cause serious injuries and even death. q Avoid disengaging the gearshift with the push button positioned on the loader control lever. q When travelling down a slope, engage a low gear, so that the braking action of the engine is used to hold the machine, with no need to overload the brakes. Avoid disengaging the gearshift with the push button positioned on the gearshift control lever.
CORRECT q When the fuel level indicator reaches the red reserve area during work on a slope, immediately provide for refuelling; due to the inclination of the machine, the engine may suck in air and suddenly stop, which represents a grave risk for the safety of the operator and of the persons standing before the machine. q If the engine should stop all of a sudden, immediately lower the bucket to the ground, brake and apply the parking brake. 45