–Evaluatethesiteconditionsofthedayto
determineiftheslopeissafeformachine
operation.Usecommonsenseandgood
judgmentwhenperformingthisevaluation.
Changesintheterrain,suchasmoisture,can
quicklyaffecttheoperationofthemachineon
aslope.
•Operateacrossslopes,neverupanddown.Avoid
operationonexcessivelysteeporwetslopes.
Poorfootingcouldcauseaslip-and-fallaccident.
•Identifyhazardsatthebaseoftheslope.Do
notoperatethemachineneardrop-offs,ditches,
embankments,water,orotherhazards.The
machinecouldsuddenlyrolloverifawheelgoes
overtheedgeortheedgecollapses.Keepasafe
distancebetweenthemachineandanyhazard.
Useahandheldtooltooperateintheseareas.
•Avoidstarting,stopping,orturningthemachineon
slopes.Avoidmakingsuddenchangesinspeedor
direction;turnslowlyandgradually.
•Donotoperateamachineunderanyconditions
wheretraction,steering,orstabilityisinquestion.
Beawarethatoperatingthemachineonwetgrass,
acrossslopes,ordownhillmaycausethemachine
tolosetraction.Lossoftractiontothedrivemay
resultinslidingandalossofbrakingandsteering.
Themachinecanslideevenifyoustopthedrive.
•Removeormarkobstaclessuchasditches,holes,
ruts,bumps,rocks,orotherhiddenhazards.Tall
grasscanhideobstacles.Uneventerraincould
overturnthemachine.
•Ifyoulosecontrolofthemachine,stepawayfrom
thedirectionoftravelofthemachine.
•Alwayskeepthemachineingearwhengoing
downslopes.Donotcoastdownhill(applicable
onlytogear-driveunits).
StartingtheEngine
Note:Forillustrationsanddescriptionsofthecontrols
referencedinthissection,refertoControls(page12).
Note:Ensurethatthespark-plugwireisinstalledon
thesparkplug.
1.Ensurethatthetractionandreeldriveleversare
intheDISENGAGEDposition.
Note:Theenginewillnotstartifthetraction
leverisintheENGAGEDposition.
2.Ensurethatthefuel-shutoffvalveisopen.
3.MovetheOn/OffswitchtotheONposition.
4.MovethethrottlecontroltotheFASTposition.
5.Movethechokeleverhalfwaybetweenthe
CHOKEandRUNpositionswhenstartingacold
engine.
Note:Thechokemaynotberequiredwhen
startingawarmengine.
6.Pulltherecoil-starthandleoutuntilpositive
engagementresults,thenpullitvigorouslyto
starttheengine.
Important:Donotpulltherecoilropetoits
limitorletgoofthestarterhandlewhenthe
ropeispulledout;theropemaybreakorthe
recoilassemblymaybedamaged.
7.MovethechokelevertotheRUNpositionasthe
enginewarmsup.
ShuttingOfftheEngine
1.Movethetractionandreeldrivecontrolstothe
DISENGAGEDposition.
2.MovethethrottlecontroltotheSLOWposition.
3.MovetheOn/OffswitchtotheOFFposition.
4.Closethefuel-shutoffvalvebeforeyoustoreor
transportthemachine
ReleasingtheTransmission
Ifthemachinebecomesdisabledwiththemotorbrake
on,youcandisengagethedrumfromthetransmission
toallowthemachinetobemaneuvered.
1.Ontherightrearcornerofthemachine,locate
thetractionengage/disengagelevernexttothe
drivehousingdrum(Figure30).
g032413
Figure30
1.Traction
engage/disengage
lever-engaged
2.Traction
engage/disengage
lever-disengaged
2.Rotatetheleverrearwardtodisengagethe
transmissionfromthedrum.
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