CHILDREN
Tragicaccidentscanoccurifthe operatoris notalert tothe presence
of children.Childrenareoftenattractedto the machineandthe mowing
activity.Theydo notunderstandthedangers.Neverassumethat
childrenwill remainwhereyou lastsawthem.
• Keepchildrenout ofthe mowingareaand inwatchfulcare ofa
responsibleadultotherthantheoperator.
• Bealert andturnmachineoff ifa childentersthe area.
• Beforeandwhilebacking,lookbehindanddownfor small
children.
Nevercarrychildren,evenwiththe blade(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 attachtowedequipmentexceptatthe hitchpoint.
Followthe manufacturersrecommendationforweightlimitsfor
towedequipmentandtowingonslopes.For recommendations,
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.
Travelslowlyandallowextradistanceto stop.
Do notcoastdownhill.
SERVICE
SafeHandlingof Gasoline
Toavoidpersonalinjuryorpropertydamageuse extremecarein
handlinggasoline.Gasolineisextremelyflammableandthe vaporsare
explosive.Seriouspersonalinjurycanoccurwhengasolineis spilled
on yourselforyour clotheswhichcan ignite.Washyourskinand
changeclothesimmediately.
• Useonly anapprovedgasolinecontainer.
Neverfill containersinsidea vehicleoron a truckortrailer bed
witha plasticliner.Alwaysplacecontainerson the groundaway
fromyourvehiclebeforefilling.
Whenpractical,removegas-poweredequipmentfromthe truck
or trailerandrefueliton theground.Ifthis isnot possible,then
refuelsuchequipmentona trailerwitha portablecontainer,rather
than froma gasolinedispensernozzle.
Keepthe nozzleincontactwiththe rimof the fueltankor
containeropeningatall timesuntilfuelingiscomplete.Donot use
a nozzlelock-opendevice.
Extinguishall cigarettes,cigars,pipesandothersourcesof
ignition.
• Neverfuel machineindoors.
Neverremovegascapor addfuelwhilethe engineishotor run-
ning.Allowengineto coolatleasttwominutesbeforerefueling.
Neveroverfillfuel tank. Filltankto no morethan 1/2inchbelow
bottomof fillerneckto allowspaceforfuel expansion.
• Replacegasolinecapandtightensecurely.
• Ifgasolineis spilled,wipeitoff the engineandequipment.Move
machinetoanotherarea.Wait5 minutesbeforestartingthe
engine.
• Toreducefire hazards,keepmachinefree ofgrass,leaves,or
otherdebrisbuild-up.Cleanup oilor fuel spillageandremoveany
fuel soakeddebris.
• Neverstorethe machineor fuelcontainerinsidewherethere isan
openflame,sparkor pilotlight as ona waterheater,spaceheater,
furnace,clothesdryeror othergasappliances.
Allowa machineto coolatleastfiveminutesbeforestoring.