Operation
Note:Determinetheleftandrightsidesofthe
machinefromthenormaloperatingposition.
BeforeOperation
BeforeOperationSafety
GeneralSafety
•Neverallowchildrenoruntrainedpeopleto
operateorservicethemachine.Localregulations
mayrestricttheageoftheoperator.Theowner
isresponsiblefortrainingalloperatorsand
mechanics.
•Becomefamiliarwiththesafeoperationofthe
equipment,operatorcontrols,andsafetysigns.
•Shutofftheengine,removethekey,andwait
forallmovementtostopbeforeyouleavethe
operator’sposition.Allowthemachinetocool
beforeadjusting,servicing,cleaning,orstoringit.
•Knowhowtostopthemachineandshutoffthe
enginequickly.
•Checkthatoperator-presencecontrols,safety
switches,andguardsareattachedandfunctioning
properly.Donotoperatethemachineunlessthey
arefunctioningproperly.
•Beforemowing,alwaysinspectthemachineto
ensurethattheblades,bladebolts,andcutting
assembliesareingoodworkingcondition.
Replacewornordamagedbladesandboltsinsets
topreservebalance.
•Inspecttheareawhereyouwillusethemachine
andremoveallobjectsthatthemachinecould
throw.
FuelSafety
•Useextremecareinhandlingfuel.Itisammable
anditsvaporsareexplosive.
•Extinguishallcigarettes,cigars,pipes,andother
sourcesofignition.
•Useonlyanapprovedfuelcontainer.
•Donotremovethefuelcaporllthefueltank
whiletheengineisrunningorhot.
•Donotaddordrainfuelinanenclosedspace.
•Donotstorethemachineorfuelcontainerwhere
thereisanopename,spark,orpilotlight,such
asonawaterheaterorotherappliance.
•Ifyouspillfuel,donotattempttostarttheengine;
avoidcreatinganysourceofignitionuntilthefuel
vaporshavedissipated.
CheckingtheEngine-Oil
Level
Beforeyoustarttheengineandusethemachine,
checktheoillevelintheenginecrankcase;referto
CheckingtheEngine-OilLevel(page65).
CheckingtheCooling
System
Beforeyoustarttheengineandusethemachine,
checkthecoolingsystem;refertoCheckingthe
CoolingSystem(page78).
CheckingtheHydraulic
System
Beforeyoustarttheengineandusethemachine,
checkthehydraulicsystem;refertoServicingthe
HydraulicFluid(page81).
DrainingtheWater
Separator
Drainwaterorothercontaminantsfromthewater
separator;refertoDrainingWaterfromtheFuel/Water
Separator(page68).
CheckingtheRearAxleand
GearboxforLeaks
Checktherearaxleandrear-axlegearboxforleaks;
refertoCheckingtheRearAxleandGearboxfor
Leaks(page75).
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