Poulan P54ZX Owner Manual - Page 10

SAFETY • Sparking can occur when working with the battery and the heavy cables of the starter circuit. This can cause battery explosion, fire or eye injury. Sparking will not occur after the grounding cable (normally negative, black) is removed from the battery. • Disconnect the grounding cable from the battery first and reconnect it last. • Do not make a bridge short circuit across the starter relay to run the starter. • Be very careful when handling battery acid. Acid on skin can cause serious corrosive burns. If you spill battery acid on your skin, rinse immediately with water. • Acid in the eyes can cause blindness, contact a doctor immediately. • Be careful when servicing the battery. Explosive gases form in the battery. Do not perform maintenance on the battery when smoking or near open flames or sparks. The battery can explode and cause serious injury or damage. • The machine is tested and approved only with the equipment originally provided or recommended by the manufacturer. Only use approved repair parts for the machine. • The mulch blades must only be used in familiar areas when higher quality mowing is desired. • Regularly clean the deck and the underside of the deck. Avoid spraying engine and electrical components with water. Transport • The machine is heavy and can cause serious crushing injuries. Be extra cautious when it is loaded on or unloaded from a vehicle or trailer. • Use full width ramps for loading machine into a trailer or truck. • Use an approved trailer to transport the machine. • Do not operate this machine on public roadways. • Do not tow trailers, etc. with this mower. They may jackknife or overturn, causing damage to the mower and possible serious injury to the operator. 10 • Turn off the fuel supply. • Fasten the machine down with approved devices such as bands, chains or straps. Both front and rear tie down straps must be used and directed down and out from the machine. • Check and abide by local traffic regulations before transporting the machine on roads. • Do not tow this machine, it may cause damage to the drive system. • Load the unit onto truck or trailer by driving up ramps of suitable strength using a slow speed. Do not lift! The machine is not intended to be lifted by hand. • When loading or unloading this machine, do not use more than the maximum recommended operation angle of 10 degrees. Towing If machine is equipped with a tow hitch, use much more caution when towing. Do not let children or others in or on towed equipment. WARNING! Use extreme caution when loading the machine into a truck or trailer using ramps. There is the possibility of serious injury or death if the machine falls off the ramps. IMPORTANT INFORMATION The park brake is not sufficient to lock the machine in place during transport. Ensure that the machine is well fastened to the transport vehicle. Always reverse the machine onto the transport vehicle to avoid tipping it over. Make wide turns to avoid jack-knifing. Travel slowly and leave more distance to stop. Do not tow on sloped ground. The weight of the towed equipment may cause loss of traction and loss of control. Follow the manufacturer's recommendation for weight limits for towed equipment. Do not tow near ditches, canals, and other hazards. Spark Arrestor This mower is equipped with an internal combustion engine and must not be used on or near unimproved forested, bush covered or grassy lands unless the engine's system is equipped with a spark arrestor meeting applicable local or state laws. Federal laws apply on federal lands. If a spark arrestor is used, it must be maintained in effective working order by the operator. A spark arrestor for the muffler is available through your authorized PoulanPro dealer.