II. 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
can not back up the slope or if you 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 alowground
speed sothat 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 slowand
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 affectthe stability of the machine.
Do no use on steep slopes.
• Do not try to stabilize the machine by put-
ting your foot on the ground.
• Do not mow near drop-offs,
ditches,
or
embankments.
The machine could sud-
denly roll over if a wheel is over the edge
or if the edge caves in.
III. CHILDREN
Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is
not alert to the presence
of children. Chil-
dren are often attracted to the machine and
the mowing activity. Never assume that chil-
dren 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.
• Never carry children, even with the blades
shutoff. They may fall offand 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.
4
Neverallowchildrentooperatethemachine.
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.
• Follow the manufacturer's
recommenda-
tion for weight
limits for towed
equipment
and towing
on slopes.
• Never
allow
children
or others
in or on
towed
equipment.
• On slopes,theweig
htofthetowed
equipment
maycause
loss oftraction
and Iossofcontrol.
• Travelslowly
and allowextradistancetostop.
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.
• 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.
• Keep the nozzle
in contact
with the rim of
the fuel
tank or container
opening
at all
times
until fueling
is complete.
Do not use
a nozzle
lock-open
device.
• If fuel is spilled
on clothing,
change
cloth-
ing immediately.
• Never
overfill
fuel tank.
Replace
gas cap
and tighten
securely.