Troy-Bilt 14094 - Manual (Page 5)

Safety (continued)
Keep children out of work area and
under the watchful care of another
responsible adult. Be alert and turn
unit off if children enter the area.
Before and when backing, look behind
and down for small children.
Never carry children or passengers.
They may fall off and be seriously
injured or interfere with safe machine
operation.
Slope Operation
• Slopes are a major factor in loss-of-
control 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 it, do not operate unit on
the slope.
• Always mow up and down the face of
slopes, never across. Use slow speed
on slopes and operate in a low gear
and avoid shifting on slopes.
• Do not turn on slopes unless
necessary and then, turn slowly and
gradually downhill, if possible. Do not
mow on wet grass. Reduced traction
could cause sliding.
• Do not mow near dropoffs, ditches or
embankments. Unit could suddenly
overturn if a wheel goes over the edge
of a cliff or ditch, or if an edge caves
in.
• Do not operate unit on steep slopes
where there is a risk of over-turning.
Do not mow slopes with an incline of
more than 10°.
• If the tractor is unable to continue
moving uphill, disengage the
attachment-PTO drive, check area on
ground immediately behind unit,
watch area to rear and proceed
backward slowly.
• Watch for holes, ruts, or bumps.
Uneven terrain could overturn
machine. Tall grass can hide
obstacles.
• Follow manufacturer's recommenda­
tions for wheel weights (for added
stability) when using attachments.
• Use extra care with grass catchers or
other attachments. These can change
the stability of the machine. Do not
use grass catcher on steep slopes.
• Do not try to stabilize unit by putting
your foot to ground.
• Disengage attachment (PTO) drive
when transporting tractor or when
attachments are not in use.
Maintenance
• Before performing any service,
adjustments or maintenance on unit:
a. Park the tractor on a firm and level
surface.
b. Disengage attachment/PTO drive.
c. Lower the attachments.
d. Move all control levers to neutral.
e. Apply parking brake.
f. Shut off engine. Remove ignition
key and allow engine to cool.
• Always wear sturdy footwear, long
trousers, hearing and eye protection
while doing any maintenance on this
unit.
• Do not wear loose-fitting clothing,
jewelry, scarves, ties, etc., which could
get caught in moving parts. Tie up or
restrain long hair.
• Mower blades are extremely sharp.
Use caution when servicing. Wear
gloves or wrap blades in rags. Wear
eye protection when sharpening
blades.
• Keep all safety and operation decals in
place. If these decals are damaged or
not legible, clean or replace them as
needed.
Keep children away while performing
maintenance or adjustments.
Chock wheels (place block of wood on
both side of wheels) when performing
maintenance with parking brake off. If
unit must be raised for any reason, be
certain it is securely supported.
Provide safe, adequate light in your
work area. NEVER USE AN OPEN
FLAME FOR ILLUMINATION! Use only
a portable safety light enclosed in a
wire cage for working inside or under
unit. Flot filaments from a broken light
bulb can ignite spilled fuel or oil.
Keep nuts and bolts tight, especially
blade attachment bolts (check for
proper torque specifications
frequently in this area). Keep
equipment in good condition.
Never tamper with safety devices.
Check for proper operation regularly.
Keep machine free of grass, leaves, or
other debris build-up. Clean up oil or
fuel spillage. Allow machine to cool
before storing.
Frequently check components and
replace when necessary. Use only
factory-approved replacement parts.
Parts manufactured by others may
present safety hazards even though
they may fit on unit.