Husqvarna 96727160100 Operator's Manual

8SAFETY• Always turn off blades, move the steeringcontrol lever out to the park brake position, stopengine and remove keys before dismounting.• Do not carry passengers. The machine is onlyintended for use by one person.• Disengage blades when not mowing. Shutoff engine and wait for all parts to come to acomplete stop before cleaning the machine,removing the grass catcher or unclogging thedischarge guard.• Operate the machine only in daylight or goodartificial light.• Do not operate the machine while under theinfluence of alcohol or drugs.• Watch for traffic when operating near orcrossing roadways.• Use extra care when loading or unloading themachine into a trailer or truck.• Always wear eye protection when operatingmachine.WARNING! When using the machine,approved personal protective equipment mustbe used. Personal protective equipment cannoteliminate the risk of injury but it will reduce thedegree of injury if an accident does happen.Ask your retailer for help in choosing the rightequipment.• Wear proper Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) while operating this machine, including(at a minimum) sturdy footwear, eye protection,and hearing protection. Do not mow in shortsand/or footwear with open toes.• Data indicates that operators age 60 years andabove are involved in a large percentage ofriding mower-related injuries. These operatorsmust evaluate if they can safely operate theriding mower sufficiently to protect themselvesand others from serious injury.• Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation forwheel weights or counterweights.• Keep machine free of grass, leaves or otherdebris buildup which can touch hot exhaust orengine parts and burn. Do not let the mowerdeck plow leaves or other debris that can causea buildup to occur. Clean oil or fuel spillagebefore operating or storing the machine.• Let machine cool before storage.Personal Safety Equipment• Make sure that firstaid equipment isclose at hand whenusing the machine.• Do not use themachine whenbarefoot.• Always wearprotective shoes or boots, preferably with steeltoe caps.• Always wear approved protective glasses or afull visor when assembling or driving.• Always wear gloves when handling the blades.• Do not wear loose clothing that can get caughtin moving parts.• Use ear protectors to avoid damage to hearing.Slope OperationSlopes are a major factor related to loss of controland tip-over accidents, which can result in severeinjury or death. Operation on slopes requiresmuch more caution. If you cannot back up theslope or if you feel uneasy on it, do not mow it.• Mow up and down slopes (10 degreesmaximum), not across.• Watch for holes, ruts,bumps, rocks, orother hidden objects.Uneven terraincould overturn themachine. Tall grasscan hide obstacles.• Choose a lowground speed so that you will not have to stopwhile on the slope.• Do not mow on wet grass. Tires may losetraction.• Avoid starting, stopping, or turning on a slope. Ifthe tires lose traction, disengage the blades andproceed slowly straight down the slope.• Keep movement on the slopes slow andgradual. Do notmake suddenchanges in speedor direction, whichcould causemachine to roll over.• Use extra care whileoperating machinewith grass catchersor other attachments; the stability of themachine can be effected.• Do not use on steep slopes.