Safety
7
RD 54/60/72 (Rev. 1/12/2007)
Keep children out of the operating area and
under the watchful care of a responsible adult
other than the operator.
Do not carry children, even with the blade(s)
shut off. Children could fall off and be seriously
injured or interfere with safe machine operation.
Children who have been given rides in the past
could suddenly appear in the mowing area for
another ride and be run over or backed over by the
machine.
TRANSPORTATION
Use additional caution and reduce speed when
under adverse surface conditions, turning, or on
inclines.
Do not operate PTO during transport.
A minimum 20% of tractor and equipment
weight must be on the tractor front wheels when
attachments are in transport position. Without this
weight, tractor could tip over, causing personal
injury or death. The weight may be attained with
front wheel weights, ballast in tires or front tractor
weights. Weigh the tractor and equipment. Do not
estimate.
Do not operate or transport on steep slopes.
Refer to tractor manual for proper ballasting and
slope recommendations.
Do not operate or transport equipment while
under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Always comply with all state and local lighting
and marking requirements. Turn on flashing warn-
ing lights whenever traveling on a public roadway.
Never allow riders on power unit or attachment.
Never exceed 25 mph (40 kph) during transport.
MAINTENANCE
Before working underneath, carefully read Oper-
ator’s Manual instructions, disconnect driveline,
raise mower, securely block up all corners with
jackstands, and check stability. Secure blocking
prevents equipment from dropping due to hydrau-
lic leak down, hydraulic s yst em f ailu re s, or
mechanical component failures.
Do not modify or alter or permit anyone else to
modify or alter the equipment or any of its compo-
nents in any way.
Always wear relatively tight and belted clothing
to avoid entanglement in moving parts. Wear
sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and protective
equipment for eyes, hair, hands, hearing, and head;
and respirator or filter mask where appropriate.
Make sure attachment is properly secured,
adjusted, and in good operating condition.
Keep all persons away from operator control
area while performing adjustments, service, or
maintenance.
Make certain all movement of equipment com-
ponents has stopped before approaching for ser-
vice.
Never go underneath equipment (lowered to the
ground or raised) unless it is properly blocked and
secured. Never place any part of the body under-
neath equipment or between moveable parts even
when the engine has been turned off. Hydraulic
system leak down, hydraulic system failures,
mechanical failures, or movement of control levers
can cause equipment to drop or rotate unexpect-
edly and cause severe injury or death. Follow Oper-
ator's Manual instructions for working underneath
and blocking requirements or have work done by a
qualified dealer.
Frequently check blades. They should be sharp,
free of nicks and cracks, and securely fastened.
Do not handle blades with bare hands. Careless
or improper handling may result in serious injury.
Your dealer can supply genuine replacement
blades. Substitute blades may not meet original
equipment specifications and may be dangerous.
Tighten all bolts, nuts, and screws to torque
chart specifications. Check that all cotter pins are
installed securely to ensure equipment is in a safe
condition before putting unit into service.
Keep machine in good working order. Replace
worn or damaged parts.
Make sure all safety decals are installed.
Replace if damaged. (See Safety Decals section for
location.)
Make sure shields and guards are properly
installed and in good condition. Replace if dam-
aged.
Wear gloves when installing belt. Be careful to
prevent fingers from being caught between belt
and pulley.
Use care when installing or removing belt from
spring-loaded idler. Springs store energy when
extended and, if released suddenly, can cause per-
sonal injury.
SAFETY RULES
ATTENTION! BECOME ALERT! YOUR SAFETY IS INVOLVED!
(Rev. 12/17/2020)