Cub Cadet PRO Z 772 L Operation Manual - Page 3

SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES 27. Do not attempt to mow unusually tall, dry grass (e.g., pasture) or piles of dry leaves. Dry grass or leaves may contact the engine exhaust and/or build up on the mower deck presenting a potential fire hazard. 28.Do not stop or park the machine over dry leaves, grass, debris, or other combustible material. 29.Never attempt to operate the machine without the mowing deck attached; the machine could tip over. 30.Keep the machine and especially the engine exhaust system and hydraulic components clean and free of grease, grass, and leaves to reduce the potential for overheating and fire. 31. Allow the machine to cool at least 5 minutes before storing. 32.Use only accessories and attachments approved for this machine by the machine manufacturer. Read, understand, and follow all instructions provided with the approved accessory or attachment. 33.Data indicates that operators, age 65 years and above, are involved in a large percentage of mower-related injuries. Operators should evaluate their ability to operate this machine safely enough to protect themselves and others from serious injury. 34.Do not operate or start machine if there are fuel or oil leaks; repair immediately. 35.When looking for oil leaks, never run your hand over hydraulic hoses, lines, or fittings. Never tighten or adjust hydraulic hoses, lines, or fittings while the system is under pressure. If high-pressure oil penetrates the skin seek immediate medical attention or gangrene and permanent damage may result. Do not check for hydraulic leaks with your hands, use paper or cardboard instead. Wear gloves and safety glasses when checking for leaks. 36.Do not operate machines that have been damaged or have not been properly maintained. If the machine has been damaged, have it repaired. 37. When operating this machine in the forward direction, do not allow the drive control levers to return to the neutral position on their own. Always operate them smoothly and avoid any sudden movements of the levers when starting or stopping. 38.If situations occur which are not covered in this manual use care and good judgement. Contact your customer service representative for assistance. 4. Keep all movements on slopes slow and gradual. Do not make sudden changes in speed or direction. Rapid acceleration could cause the front of the machine to lift and rapidly flip over backwards, which could cause serious injury or death. 5. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for wheel weights or counterweights to improve stability. 6. Use extra care with grass catchers or other attachments. These can change the stability of the machine. Do Not: 1. Do not turn on slopes unless necessary; then turn slowly uphill and use extra care while turning. 2. Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches, or embankments. The machine could suddenly turn over if a wheel is over the edge of a cliff, ditch, or if an edge caves in. 3. Do not operate on slopes or near the edge of water such as a lake, pond, river, or stream where the machine could slip, tip, or roll-over into the water. 4. Do not try to stabilize the machine by putting your foot on the ground. 5. Use extra care while operating mower with grass catcher or other attachment(s). They can affect the stability of the mower. Do not use grass catcher on slopes greater than 10° (17%). 6. Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced traction could cause sliding and/or loss of control. 7. Do not tow heavy pull behind attachments (e.g. loaded dump cart, lawn roller, etc.) on slopes greater than 5° (9%). When going downhill, the extra weight tends to push the machine and may cause loss of traction and loss of control (e.g. machine may speed up, braking and steering ability are reduced, attachment may jack-knife and cause machine to overturn). SLOPE GAUGE (BACK COVER) WARNING Slopes are a major factor related to slip and fall accidents which can result in severe injury or death. All slopes require extra caution. If you feel uneasy on the slope, do not mow it. Do not mow on slopes greater than 15° (26%). Do not mow up and down slopes, only mow across slopes. SLOPE OPERATION Slopes are a major factor related to loss of control and tip-over accidents that 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 it, do not mow it or drive on the slope. For your safety, use the slope gauge included as part of this manual to measure slopes before operating this machine on a sloped or hilly area. If the slope is greater than 15° (26%) as shown on the slope gauge, do not operate this machine on that area or serious injury could result. Do: 1. Mow across slopes, not up and down. Exercise extreme caution when changing direction on slopes. 2. Watch for holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, or other hidden objects. Uneven terrain could overturn the machine. Tall grass can hide obstacles. 3. Use slow speed. Choose a low enough speed so that you will not have to stop while on the slope. Avoid starting or stopping on a slope. If the tires are unable to maintain traction, disengage the blades and proceed slowly and carefully straight down the slope. USE THE SLOPE GAUGE ON THE BACK COVER AS SHOWN TO DETERMINE IF A SLOPE IS TOO STEEP FOR SAFE OPERATION! To check the slope, proceed as follows: 1. Open manual to the back cover and fold along the dashed line. 2. Locate a vertical object on or behind the slope (e.g., a pole, building, fence, tree, etc.). 3. Align either side of the slope gauge with the object. 4. Adjust gauge up or down until the left corner touches the slope. 5. If there is a gap below the gauge, the slope is too steep for safe operation. 3