Toro 72200 Operator's Manual

4• Watch for traffic when operating near or crossingroadways.• Use extra care when loading or unloading the machineinto a trailer or truck.• Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with sideshields when operating mower.• Data indicates that operators, age 60 years and above,are involved in a large percentage of ridingmower–related injuries. These operators shouldevaluate their ability to operate the riding mowersafely enough to protect themselves and others fromserious injury.• Always follow the recommendations for wheel weightsor counterweights.Slope OperationSlopes are a major factor related to loss-of-control andtip-over accidents, which can result in severe injury ordeath. All slopes require extra caution. If you cannot backup the slope or if you feel uneasy on it, do not mow it.• Mow up and down slopes, not across.• Watch for holes, ruts, bumps, rocks or other hiddenobstacles. Uneven terrain could overturn the machine.Tall grass can hide obstacles.• Choose a low ground speed so you will not have tostop or shift while on a slope.• Do not mow on wet grass. Tires may lose traction.• Always keep the machine in gear when going downslopes. Do not shift to neutral and coast downhill.• Avoid starting, stopping or turning on a slope. If tireslose traction, disengage the blades and proceed slowlystraight down the slope.• Keep all movement on slopes slow and gradual. Donot make sudden changes in speed or direction, whichcould cause the machine to roll over.• Use extra care while operating mower with grasscatchers or other attachments; they can affect thestability of the machine. Do not use on steep slopes.• Do not try to stabilize the machine by putting yourfoot on the ground.• Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches, or embankments.The machine could suddenly turn over if a wheel goesover the edge of a cliff or ditch, or if an edge caves in.ChildrenTragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert tothe presence of children. Children are often attracted tothe machine and the mowing activity. Never assume thatchildren will remain where you last saw them.• Keep children out of the mowing area and under thewatchful care of a responsible adult, not the operator.• Be alert and turn the machine off if children enter thearea.• Before and while backing or changing direction, lookbehind, down, and side–to–side for small children.• Never carry children, even with the blades off. Theymay fall off and be seriously injured or interfere withsafe machine operation.• Children who have been given rides in the past maysuddenly appear in the mowing area for another rideand be run over or backed over by the mower.• Never allow children to operate the machine.• Use extra care when approaching blind corners,shrubs, trees, or other objects that may block yourview of a child.Towing• Tow only with a machine that has a hitch designed fortowing. Do not attached towed equipment except atthe hitch point.• This product has a limited towing capacity for smallattachments, such as leaf sweepers, rollers or carts.The combined weight of the attachment and loadshould not exceed the weight of the tractor. Use ofthese types of attachments should be limited to flatground.• Never allow children or others in or on towedequipment.• On slopes, the weight of towed equipment may cause aloss of traction and control.• Travel slowly and allow extra distance to stop.ServiceTo avoid personal injury or property damage, use extremecare in handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremelyflammable and the vapors are explosive.• Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and othersources of ignition.• Use only an approved gasoline container.• Never remove the gas cap or add fuel when theengine is running. Allow the engine to cool beforerefueling.• Never refuel the machine indoors.• Never store the machine or fuel container wherethere is an open flame, spark, or pilot light such asa water heater or other appliances.