Toro Mower Safety - Toro 04356 Operator's Manual

Toro Mower Safety

The following list contains safety information specific to
Toro products or other safety information that you must
know that is not included in the ANSI standards.
This product is capable of amputating hands and feet and
throwing objects. Always follow all safety instructions to
avoid serious injury or death.
Use of this product for purposes other than its intended use
could prove dangerous to user and bystanders.
Operation
• Know how to stop the engine quickly.
• Always wear substantial shoes. Do not operate the
machine while wearing sandals, tennis shoes, or
sneakers.
• Wearing safety shoes and long pants is advisable and
required by some local ordinances and insurance
regulations.
• Handle gasoline carefully. Wipe up any spills.
• Check the safety interlock switches daily for proper
operation. If a switch should fail, replace the switch
before operating the machine. After every two years,
replace all four interlock switches in the safety system,
regardless if they are working properly or not.
• Before starting the engine, sit on the seat, depress the
lift pedal, and release it to ensure the cutting units are
disengaged. Verify that the traction system is in neutral
and the parking brake is set.
• Using the machine demands attention. To prevent loss
of control:
– Do not drive close to sand traps, ditches, creeks, or
other hazards.
– Reduce speed when making sharp turns. Avoid
sudden stops and starts.
– Watch out for traffic when near or crossing roads.
Always yield the right-of-way.
– Apply the service brakes when going downhill to
keep forward speed slow and to maintain control of
the machine.
• The grass baskets must be in place during operation of
the reels or thatchers for maximum safety. Shut the
engine off before emptying the baskets.
• Raise the cutting units when driving from one work
area to another.
• Do not touch the engine, muffler, or exhaust pipe while
the engine is running or soon after it has stopped
because these areas could be hot enough to cause burns.
• Stay clear of the rotating screen at the side of the engine
to prevent direct contact with your body or clothing.
• If a cutting unit strikes a solid object or vibrates
abnormally, stop immediately, turn the engine off, wait
for all motion to stop, and inspect the machine for
damage. A damaged reel or bedknife must be repaired
or replaced before operation is continued.
• Before getting off of the seat, move the shift selector to
N neutral, depress the lift pedal to raise the cutting
units, wait for the reels to stop spinning, and release lift
pedal. Set the parking brake. Stop the engine and
remove the key from the ignition switch.
• Traverse slopes carefully. Do not start or stop suddenly
when traveling uphill or downhill.
• The operator must be skilled and trained in how to drive
on hillsides. Failure to use caution on slopes or hills
may cause loss of control and cause the vehicle to tip or
roll, possibly resulting in personal injury or death.
• If the engine stalls or loses headway and cannot make it
to the top of a slope, do not turn the machine around.
Always back slowly, straight down the slope.
• When a person or pet appears unexpectedly in or near
the mowing area, stop mowing. Careless operation,
combined with terrain angles, ricochets, or improperly
positioned guards can lead to thrown object injuries. Do
not resume mowing until the area is cleared.
• Whenever the machine is left unattended, make sure the
cutting units are fully raised and the reels are not
spinning, the key is removed from the ignition switch,
and the parking brake is set.
Maintenance and Storage
• Make sure all hydraulic line connectors are tight and all
hydraulic hoses and lines are in good condition before
applying pressure to the system.
• Keep your body and hands away from pin hole leaks or
nozzles that eject hydraulic fluid under high pressure.
Use paper or cardboard, not your hands, to search for
leaks. Hydraulic fluid escaping under pressure can have
sufficient force to penetrate the skin and cause serious
injury.
• Before disconnecting or performing any work on the
hydraulic system, all pressure in the system must be
relieved by stopping the engine and lowering the cutting
units and attachments to the ground.
• Check all fuel lines for tightness and wear on a regular
basis. Tighten or repair them as needed.
• If the engine must be running to perform a maintenance
adjustment, keep hands, feet, clothing, and any parts of
the body away from the cutting units, attachments, and
any moving parts, especially the screen at the side of the
engine. Keep everyone away.
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