Cub Cadet PRO Z 972S KW Operation Manual - Page 3

24. Check overhead clearances carefully before driving under low hanging tree branches, wires, door openings etc., where the operator and/or ROPS may be struck which could result in serious injury and/or machine tip over. 25. Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a burn. Do not touch. 26. Disengage the blades, set the parking brake to the 'on' position and make sure the speed control lever are in the neutral position before attempting to start the engine. Only start the engine from the operator's position. 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 60 years and above, are involved in a large percentage of riding 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 is 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, then have it repaired. 37. When operating this machine in the forward direction, do not allow the speed 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. 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 20 degrees 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. 4. Keep all movements on the 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. Do not use a grass catcher on slopes steeper than 20 degrees. 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 degrees. 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). Children 1. Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the presence of children. Children are often attracted to the machine and the mowing activity. They do not understand the dangers. Never assume that children will remain where you last saw them. a. Keep children out of the mowing area and in watchful care of a responsible adult other than the operator. b. Be alert and turn machine off if a child enters the area. c. Always look behind and down for small children. Use slow speed. d. Never carry children, even with the blade(s) shut off. They may fall off and be seriously injured or interfere with safe machine operation. e. Use extreme care when approaching blind corners, doorways, shrubs, trees or other objects that may block your vision of a child who may run into the path of the machine. f. To avoid back-over accidents, always disengage blades before traveling in reverse. g. Keep children away from hot or running engines. They can suffer burns from a hot muffler. h. Remove key when machine is unattended to prevent unauthorized operation. 2. Never allow children under 16 years of age to operate this machine. Children 16 and over should read and understand the instructions and safe operation practices in this manual and on the machine and should be trained and supervised by an adult. Section 2 - Important Safe Operation Practices 3