MTD 769-01645A Lawn Mower User Manual


 
Thissymbolpoints
outimportantsafety
instructionswhich,if
notfollowed,could
endangerthepersonal
i safetyand/orproperty
ofyourselfandothers.
Readandfollowall
instructionsinthisman-
ualbeforeattemptingto
I operatethismachine.
I Failuretocomplywith
theseinstructionsmay
i resultin personalinjury.
Whenyouseethis
symbol.
i HEED ITSWARNING
Your
i Responsibility
Restrictthe use
of this power machine
to personswho read,
understand
and followthe warnings
and instructions
in this manual
Slope Operation:
Slopesare a majorfactorrelatedto lossofcontroland
tip-overaccidentswhichcanresultin severeinjuryor
death.All slopesrequireextracaution.If youcannot
backuptheslopeor ifyoufeel uneasyonit, do notmow
it.
Foryoursafety,usethe slopegaugeincludedaspartof
thismanualto measureslopesbeforeoperatingthisunit
ona slopedor hillyarea.Ifthe slopeisgreaterthan 15
degreesas shownon theslopegauge,do notoperate
thisunitonthatareaor seriousinjurycouldresult.
DO:
1. Mowupanddownslopes,notacross.Exercise
extremecautionwhenchangingdirectiononslopes.
2. Watchfor holes,ruts,bumps,rocks,orotherhidden
objects.Uneventerraincouldoverturnthe machine.
Tallgrasscanhideobstacles.
3. Useslowspeed.Choosea lowenoughspeed
settingsothatyouwill nothaveto stopor shiftwhile
ontheslope.Tiresmaylosetractiononslopeseven
thoughthe brakesarefunctioningproperly.Always
keepmachineingearwhengoingdownslopesto
takeadvantageof enginebrakingaction.
4. Followthemanufacturer'srecommendationsfor
wheelweightsorcounterweightstoimprovestability.
5. Useextracare withgrasscatchersorotherat-
tachments.Thesecanchangethestabilityof the
machine.
6. Keepall movementon the slopesslowand gradual.
Donot makesuddenchangesin speedor direction.
Rapidengagementor brakingcouldcausethefront
ofthe machineto liftand rapidlyflip overbackwards
whichcouldcauseseriousinjury.
7. Avoidstartingor stoppingon a slope.If tireslose
traction,disengagetheblade(s)andproceedslowly
straightdowntheslope.
Do Not:
1. Donotturn on slopesunlessnecessary;then,turn
slowlyandgraduallydownhill,ifpossible.
2. Donot mowneardrop-offs,ditchesor embankments.
Themowercouldsuddenlyturnoverif awheel isover
theedgeof a cliff,ditch,or if an edgecavesin.
3. Donottry tostabilizethemachineby puttingyourfoot
ontheground.
4. Donot usea grasscatcheronsteepslopes.
5. Donot mowonwetgrass.Reducedtractioncould
causesliding.
6. Donot shifttoneutralandcoastdownhill.Over-speed-
ingmaycausetheoperatortolosecontrolof the
machineresultingin seriousinjuryordeath.
7. Donottowheavypullbehindattachments(e.g.loaded
dumpcart,lawnroller,etc.)on slopesgreaterthan
5 degrees.Whengoingdown hill,theextraweight
tendsto pushthe tractorandmaycauseyoutoloose
control.(e.g.tractormayspeedup, brakingandsteer-
ingabilityarereduced,attachmentmayjack-knifeand
causetractortooverturn).
Towing:
1. Towonlywitha machinethathasa hitchdesignedfor
towing.Donotattachtowedequipmentexceptat the
hitchpoint.
2. Followthemanufacturersrecommendationforweight
limitsfortowedequipmentandtowingon slopes.
3. Neverallowchildrenor othersin oron towedequip-
ment.
4. Onslopes,the weightof thetowedequipmentmay
causelossoftractionandlossof control.
5. Travelslowlyandallowextradistanceto stop.
6. Donot shifttoneutralandcoastdownhill.
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