Toro 07264 Operator's Manual page 6

igniting explosive materials. Never operate
the vehicle in or near an area where there is
dust or fumes in the air which are explosive.
– If you are ever unsure about safe operation,
stop work and ask your supervisor.
• Do not touch the engine or muffler while the
engine is running or soon after it has stopped.
These areas may be hot enough to cause burns.
• If the machine ever vibrates abnormally, stop
immediately, wait for all motion to stop, and
inspect the vehicle for damage. Repair all
damage before commencing operation.
• Before getting off of the seat:
1. Stop the movement of the machine.
2. Set the parking brake.
3. Turn the ignition key to Off.
4. Remove the ignition key.
Note: If the vehicle is on an incline, block
the wheels after getting off of the vehicle.
Braking
• Slow down before you approach an obstacle.
This gives you extra time to stop or turn away.
Hitting an obstacle can damage the vehicle and
its contents. More important, it can injure you
and your passenger.
• Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) has a major
impact on your ability to stop and/or turn.
Heavy loads and attachments make a vehicle
harder to stop or turn. The heavier the load,
the longer it takes to stop.
• Decrease the vehicle speed if the cargo box has
been removed and there is no attachment on
the vehicle. The braking characteristics change
and fast stops may cause the rear wheels to lock
up, which may affect the control of the vehicle.
• Turf and pavement are much more slippery
when they are wet. It can take 2 to 4 times
as long to stop on wet surfaces as on dry
surfaces. If you drive through standing water
deep enough to get the brakes wet, they will
not work well until they are dry. After driving
through water, you should test the brakes to
make sure they work properly. If they do not,
drive slowly while putting light pressure on the
brake pedal. This will dry the brakes out.
Operating on Hills
Operating the vehicle on a hill may cause
tipping or rolling of the vehicle, or the engine
may stall and you could lose headway on the
hill. This could result in personal injury.
• Do not accelerate quickly or slam on
the brakes when backing down a hill,
especially with a load.
• If the engine stalls or you lose headway
on a hill, slowly back straight down the
hill. Never attempt to turn the vehicle
around.
• Operate the vehicle slowly on a hill and
use caution.
• Avoid turning on a hill.
• Reduce your load and the speed of the
vehicle.
• Avoid stopping on hills, especially with
a load.
These extra cautions need to be taken when
operating the vehicle on a hill:
• Slow down before starting up or down a hill.
• If the engine stalls or you begin to lose headway
while climbing a hill, gradually apply the brakes
and slowly back straight down the hill.
• Turning while traveling up or down hills can
be dangerous. If you have to turn while on a
hill, do it slowly and cautiously. Never make
sharp or fast turns.
• Heavy loads affect stability. Reduce the weight
of the load and your speed when operating on
hills or if the load has a high center of gravity.
Secure the load to prevent it from shifting and
take extra care when hauling loads that shift
easily (liquid, rock, sand, etc.).
• Avoid stopping on hills, especially with a load.
Stopping while going down a hill will take
longer than stopping on level ground. If the
vehicle must be stopped, avoid sudden speed
changes, which may initiate tipping or rolling
of the vehicle. Do not slam on the brakes
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