CHILDREN
Tragicaccidentscanoccuriftheoperatorisnotalert to the presence
of children.Childrenareoftenattractedto themachineandthe mowing
activity.Theydo notunderstandthedangers.Neverassumethat
childrenwillremainwhereyoulastsawthem.
• Keepchildrenoutof the mowingareaand inwatchfulcare of a
responsibleadultotherthantheoperator.
• Bealertandturnmachineoff ifa childentersthearea.
• Beforeandwhilebacking,lookbehindanddownforsmall
children.
Nevercarrychildren,evenwiththeblade(s)shutoff.Theymay
fall offandbe seriouslyinjuredorinterferewithsafemachine
operation.
• Useextremecarewhenapproachingblindcorners,doorways,
shrubs,treesorotherobjectsthatmayblockyourvisionof a child
whomayrunintothe machine.
Toavoidback-overaccidents,alwaysdisengagethe cutting
blade(s)beforeshiftingintoReverse.Ifequipped,the"Reverse
CautionMode"(bladesoperatewhilemachineridesinreverse)
shouldnotbe usedwhenchildrenor othersarearound.
Keepchildrenawayfromhotor runningengines.Theycansuffer
burnsfroma hotmuffler.
• Removekeywhenmachineisunattendedtopreventunauthorized
operation.
Neverallowchildrenunder14yearsof ageto operatethis machine.
Children14andovershouldreadandunderstandthe instructionsand
safeoperationpracticesinthismanualandon the machineandshould
betrainedandsupervisedbyan adult.
TOWING
Towonlywitha machinethathasa hitchdesignedfor towing.Do
not attachtowedequipmentexceptat thehitchpoint.
Followthe manufacturersrecommendationforweightlimitsfor
towedequipmentandtowingonslopes.Forrecommendations,
call 1-800-659-5917.
Neverallowchildrenor othersinoron towedequipment.
Onslopes,theweightof thetowedequipmentmaycauselossof
tractionandlossof control.
Alwaysuseextracautionwhentowingwitha machinecapableof
makingtightturns(e.g."zero-turn"ride-onmower). Makewide
turnsto avoidjack-knifing.
Travelslowlyandallowextradistancetostop.
Do notcoastdownhill.
SERVICE
SafeHandlingof Gasoline
Toavoidpersonalinjuryorpropertydamageuseextremecarein
handlinggasoline.Gasolineisextremelyflammableandthe vaporsare
explosive.Seriouspersonalinjurycanoccurwhengasolineis spilled
on yourselforyour clotheswhichcan ignite.Washyourskinand
changeclothesimmediately.
• Useonlyanapprovedgasolinecontainer.
Neverfill containersinsidea vehicleoron a truckortrailer bed
witha plasticliner.Alwaysplacecontainerson the groundaway
fromyourvehiclebeforefilling.
Whenpractical,removegas-poweredequipmentfromthe truck
or trailerandrefueliton theground.Ifthis isnotpossible,then
refuelsuchequipmentona trailerwitha portablecontainer,rather
than froma gasolinedispensernozzle.
Keepthe nozzleincontactwiththe rimofthe fueltankor
containeropeningatall timesuntilfuelingiscomplete.Donotuse
a nozzlelock-opendevice.
Extinguishall cigarettes,cigars,pipesandothersourcesof
ignition.
• Neverfuel machineindoors.
Neverremovegascapor addfuelwhilethe engineis hotor run-
ning.Allowengineto coolatleasttwominutesbeforerefueling.
Neveroverfillfuel tank. Filltanktono morethan 1/2inchbelow
bottomoffillerneckto allowspaceforfuelexpansion.
• Replacegasolinecap andtightensecurely.
• Ifgasolineis spilled,wipeitoff the engineandequipment.Move
machinetoanotherarea.Wait5 minutesbeforestartingthe
engine.
• Toreducefirehazards,keepmachinefreeof grass,leaves,or
otherdebrisbuild-up.Cleanup oilor fuel spillageandremoveany
fuel soakeddebris.
• Neverstorethemachineor fuelcontainerinsidewherethere isan
openflame,sparkor pilotlightas ona waterheater,spaceheater,
furnace,clothesdryeror othergasappliances.
Allowa machineto coolatleastfiveminutesbeforestoring.