Safety
Improperuseormaintenancebytheoperatoror
ownercanresultininjury.Toreducethepotential
forinjury,complywiththesesafetyinstructions
andalwayspayattentiontothesafety-alert
symbol(Figure2),whichmeansCaution,Warning,
orDanger—personalsafetyinstruction.Failureto
complywiththeinstructionmayresultinpersonal
injuryordeath.
SafeOperatingPractices
Thisproductiscapableofamputatinghandsandfeet.
Alwaysfollowallsafetyinstructionstoavoidserious
injuryordeath.
WARNING
Engineexhaustcontainscarbonmonoxide,
anodorlesspoisonthatisfatalifinhaled.
Donotruntheengineindoorsorinan
enclosedarea.
Training
•ReadtheOperator'sManualandothertraining
material.Iftheoperator(s)ormechanic(s)cannot
readEnglish,itistheowner'sresponsibilityto
explainthismaterialtothem.
•Becomefamiliarwiththesafeoperationofthe
equipment,operatorcontrols,andsafetysigns.
•Alloperatorsandmechanicsshouldbetrained.
Theownerisresponsiblefortrainingtheusers.
•Neverletchildrenoruntrainedpeopleoperateor
servicetheequipment.Localregulationsmay
restricttheageoftheoperator.
•Theowner/usercanpreventandisresponsible
foraccidentsorinjuriesoccurringtohimselfor
herself,otherpeopleorproperty.
Preparation
•Beforeusingthemachine,havetheareamarked
forundergroundutilitiesanddonotusethe
machineinmarkedareas.
•Evaluatetheterraintodeterminewhataccessories
andattachmentsyouneedtoproperlyand
safelyperformthejob.Useonlytheaccessories
andattachmentsthatareapprovedbythe
manufacturer.
•Wearappropriateclothingincludinggloves,eye
protection,longpants,substantialslip-resistant
footwear,andhearingprotection.Tiebacklong
hairanddonotwearlooseclothingorloose
jewelry.
•Inspecttheareawhereyouwillusetheequipment
andremoveallobjects,suchasrocks,toys,and
wire,thatthemachinecouldthrow.
•Checkthattheoperator'spresencecontrols,safety
switches,andshieldsareattachedandfunctioning
properly.Donotoperatethemachineunlessthey
arefunctioningproperly.
FuelSafety
•Useextracarewhenhandlingfuel.Itisammable
anditsvaporsareexplosive.
•Extinguishallcigarettes,cigars,pipes,andother
sourcesofignition.
•Useonlyanapprovedfuelcontainer.
•Donotremovethefuelcaporllthefueltank
whiletheengineisrunningorhot.
•Donotaddordrainfuelinanenclosedspace.
•Donotstorethemachineorfuelcontainerwhere
thereisanopename,spark,orpilotlight,such
asonawaterheaterorotherappliance.
•Ifyouspillfuel,donotattempttostarttheengine;
avoidcreatinganysourceofignitionuntilthefuel
vaporshavedissipated.
Operation
•Useyourfullattentionwhileoperatingthe
machine.Donotengageinanyactivitythat
causesdistractions;otherwise,injuryorproperty
damagemayoccur.
•Neverrunanengineinanenclosedarea.
•Operatethemachineonlyingoodlight,keeping
awayfromholesandhiddenhazards.
•Ensurethatallthedrivesareinneutralandthe
parkingbrakeisengaged(ifapplicable)before
startingtheengine.Starttheengineonlyfromthe
operator'sposition.
•Slowdownanduseextracareonhillsides.
Ensuretotravelintherecommendeddirectionon
hillsides.Turfconditionscanaffectthestabilityof
themachine.
•Slowdownandusecautionwhenmakingturns,
crossingroadsandsidewalks,andwhenchanging
directionsonslopes.
•Neveroperatethemachinewithouttheguards
securelyinplace.Ensurethatalltheinterlocksare
attached,adjusted,andfunctioningproperly.
•Donotchangetheengine-governorsettingor
overspeedtheengine.
•Parkthemachineonalevelsurface,lowerthe
hydrauliclift,disengagethehydraulics,engagethe
parkingbrake(ifapplicable),shutofftheengine,
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