Craftsman 536.270320 Operation Manual - Page 4

SAFETY

RULES

Safe

Operation

Practices

for

Ride-on

Mowers

The safety symbol _

is used to identify safety information

about hazards that can result in personal injury. A signal word (DAN-

GER, WARNING,

or CAUTION)

is used with the alert symbol to indicate the likelihood

and the potential severity

of injury. In

addition, a hazard symbol

may be used to represent

the type of hazard.

DANGER

indicates a hazard which,

if not avoided,

will

result

in death

or serious

injury.

WARNING

indicates

a hazard which, if not avoided,

could

result

in death

or serious

injury.

CAUTION

indicates

a hazard which,

if not avoided, might

result

in minor

or moderate

injury.

CAUTION

when used without the alert symbol,

indicates a situation

that could

result

in damage

to the engine.

WARNING:

This cutting machine is capable of amputating

hands and feet and throwing

objects. Failure to observe

the

following

safety

instructions

could result in serious injury or death.

I.

General

operation

1.

Read,

understand

and

follow

all instructions

in the

Instruction

Book,

on the machine,

the

engine

and

with

any attachments

be-

fore

starting.

2.

Only

allow

responsible

adults,

who

are familiar

with

the

instruc-

tions,

to

operate

the

machine.

3.

Clear

the

area

of objects

such

as rocks,

toys,

wire,

etc.,

which

could

be

picked

up and

thrown

by the

blade.

4.

Be sure

the

area

is clear

of other

people

before

mowing.

Stop

the

machine

if anyone

enters

the

area.

5.

Never

carry

passengers.

6.

Turn

off power

to the

blades

or any attachments

before

backing

up.

Do not

mow

in reverse

unless

absolutely

necessary.

Always

look

down

and

behind

before

and

while

backing.

7.

Be aware

of the

mower

discharge

direction

and

do

not

point

it

at anyone.

Do

not

operate

the

mower

without

either

the

entire

grass

bagger

or the

mower

guard

in place.

8.

Slow

down

before

turning.

9.

Never

leave

a machine

unattended

with

the engine

running.

Al-

ways

turn

off the

blade(s),

set the

parking

brake,

stop

the

en-

gine

and

remove

the

key

before

dismounting.

10.

Turn

off power

to attachment(s)

when

transporting

or not in use.

Turn

off the

blade(s)

when

not

mowing.

11.

Stop

the

engine

before

removing

the

grass

bagger

or unclog-

ging

the

chute.

12.

Mow

only

in daylight

or good

artificial

light.

13.

Do

not operate

the

machine

while

under

the

influence

of alcohol

or drugs

or when

very

tired.

14.

Watch

for traffic

when

operating

near

or crossing

roadways.

15.

Use

extra

caution

when

loading

or unloading

the

machine

into

a trailer

or truck.

16.

Disengage

all attachment

clutches

and

shift

into Neutral

before

attempting

to start

the

engine.

17.

Always

wear

goggles,

safety

glasses,

or an

eye

shield

when

you

operate

the

unit

to protect

your

eyes

from

foreign

objects

that

can

be thrown

from

the

unit.

Always

wear

eye

protection

when

you

make

an

adjustment

or repair

to the

machine.

18.

Use

care

when

pulling

loads

or using

heavy

equipment.

a.

Use

only

approved

drawbar

hitch

points.

b.

Limit

loads

to those

you

can

safely

control.

c.

Do

not turn

sharply.

Use

care

when

backing.

d.

Use

counterweights

or wheel

weights

when

suggested

in the

Instruction

Book.

MS-3620MA

19.

Do

not operate

this

machine

if you

are taking

drugs

or other me-

dication

which

can

cause

drowsiness

or affect

your

ability

to op-

erate

this

machine.

20.

Do

not use this

machine

if you are mentally

or physically

unable

to operate

this

machine

safely.

21.

Data

indicates

that

operators,

age

60

years

and

above,

are

in-

volved

in a large

percentage

of

riding

mower

related

injuries.

These

operators

should

evaluate

their

ability

to operate

a riding

mower

safely

enough

to

protect

themselves

and

others

from

serious

injury.

II.

Slope

operation

Slopes

and

rough

terrain

are major

factors

related

to loss-of-con-

trol

and

tip-over

accidents,

which

can

result

in severe

injury

or

death.

ALL

slopes

require

extra

caution.

If you

cannot

back

up the

slope

or if you

feel

uneasy

on

the

slope,

do

not

mow

it. See

the

"Slope

Guide"

in the

back

of this

book

to check

for safe

operation.

DO

1.

Mow

up and

down

slopes,

not across.

2.

Remove

obstacles

such

as rocks,

limbs,

etc...

3.

Watch

for holes,

ruts

or bumps.

Uneven

terrain

could

overturn

the

machine.

Taft grass

can

hide

obstacles.

4.

Follow

the

manufacturer's

recommendations

for wheel

weights

or counterweights

to

improve

stability.

5.

Use

extra

care

with

grass

baggers

or other

attachments,

they

can

change

the

stability

of the

machine.

6.

Keep

all movement

on

the

slopes

slow

and

gradual.

Do

not

make

sudden

changes

in speed

or direction.

7.

Avoid

starting

or stopping

on a slope.

If tires

lose

traction,

turn

off the

blades

and

proceed

slowly

straight

down

the

slope.

DO

NOT

1.

Do

not

turn

on slopes

unless

absolutely

necessary,

then

only

turn

slowly

and

gradually

downhill,

if possible.

2.

Do

not

mow

drop-offs,

ditches

or embankments.

A wheel

over

the

edge

or an edge

caving

in could

cause

a sudden

overturn

and

an

injury

or death.

3.

Do

not

mow

on wet

grass.

Reduced

traction

could

cause

slid-

ing.

4.

Do

not

try to stabilize

the

machine

by putting

your

foot

on

the

ground.

5.

Do

not

use

a grass

bagger

or other

rear

mounted

accessories

on steep

slopes

(greater

than

10 degrees).

Craftsman 536.270320 Operation Manual - Page 4

Safety, Rules - attachments

Page 4 highlights