DeWalt 47AKBCA Guide D'utilisation page 5

SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES, cont'd
12. Stay at least 10 feet (3 meters) from drop-offs, ditches, embankments, or the edge of
water. The tractor could suddenly turn over if a wheel is over the edge of a cliff, ditch,
or if an edge caves in.
13. A missing or damaged chute deflector can cause blade contact or thrown
object injuries.
14. Do not operate the tractor without the chute deflector or entire grass catcher in its
proper place.
15. Use extra care with grass catchers or other attachments. These can change the
stability of the tractor. Always follow the attachment manufacturer's instructions.
16. Stop the blade(s) when crossing gravel drives, walks, or roads and while not
cutting grass.
17. Watch for traffic when operating near or crossing roadways. This tractor is not
intended for use on any public roadway.
18. Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.
19. Do not operate the tractor while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
20. Slow down before turning. Operate the tractor smoothly. Avoid erratic operation and
excessive speed.
21. The muffler and engine become very hot and can cause serious burn injuries. Do not
touch. Allow the tractor to cool for five minutes before attempting any service.
22. Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated area. Engine exhaust
contains carbon monoxide, an odorless, and deadly gas. Replace gasoline cap and
tighten securely.
Children
1. Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the presence of children.
Children are often attracted to the tractor and the mowing activity. They do not
understand the dangers. Never assume that children will remain where you last
saw them.
2. Keep bystanders, children, and pets inside during operation under the watchful care
of a responsible adult other than the operator. Stop tractor if anyone enters the area.
3. Never carry children, even with the blade(s) shut off. They may fall off and be seriously
injured or interfere with safe tractor operation. Children who have been given rides in
the past could suddenly appear in the mowing area for another ride and be run over
or backed over by the tractor.
4. Be alert and turn tractor off if a child or bystander enters the area.
5. To avoid back-over accidents, always look behind and down for small children.
6. Use extreme care when approaching blind corners, doorways, shrubs, trees, or other
objects that may block vision of a child who may run into the path of the tractor.
7. Never allow children under 14 years of age to operate this tractor. Children 14 and
over should read and understand the instructions and safe operation practices in this
manual and on the tractor and should be trained and supervised by an adult.
8. Do not allow any child to joy ride on the tractor. The tractor is not a toy or a go-cart.
Warn children that the tractor can be dangerous and they must stay away from it at
all times.
9. Keep children away from hot or running engines. They can suffer burns from a
hot muffler.
10. Remove key when tractor is unattended to prevent unauthorized operation. Make
certain the key is inaccessible to small children.
Slope Operation for Lapbar Zero-Turn Tractors
1. Slopes are a major factor related to 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 mow it.
2. For safety, measure any slope before using the tractor on the sloped area. Use a slope
measuring device in addition to the slope gauge included as part of this manual to
measure slopes before operating this tractor on a sloped or hilly area. Smart phone
applications can also be utilized to measure slopes. If the slope is greater than 15°
(25%) as shown on the slope gauge or a slope measuring device, do not operate this
tractor on that area or serious injury could result.
3. Do not mow on slopes greater than 15° (25%).
4. Do not mow up or down slopes, only mow across slopes that are less than 15° (25%).
Use low speeds and avoid sudden turns.
5. Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced traction could cause sliding or a loss of control.
6. Do not operate tractor under any conditions where traction, steering, or stability is in
question. Tires could slide even if the wheels are stopped.
7. Avoid starting and stopping on slopes. Avoid making sudden changes in speed or
direction. Make turns slowly and gradually.
8. Use extra care while operating tractor with grass catcher or other attachment(s). They
can affect the stability of the tractor. Do not use grass catcher on slopes greater than
10° (17%).
9. Do not try to stabilize the tractor by putting a foot on the ground.
10. Keep all movement on the slopes slow and gradual. Do not make sudden changes in
speed or direction. Rapid acceleration could cause the front of the tractor to lift and
rapidly roll over backwards, which could cause serious injury or death.
Fire & Fuel
1. To avoid personal injury or property damage use extreme care in handling gasoline.
Gasoline is extremely flammable and the vapors are explosive. Serious personal injury
can occur when gasoline is spilled on yourself or your clothes which can ignite. Wash
skin and change clothes immediately.
2. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and other sources of ignition.
3. Use only an approved gasoline container.
4. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the engine is hot or running. Allow engine to
cool at least 5 minutes before refueling.
5. Never fuel tractor indoors.
6. Never store the tractor or fuel container inside where there is an open flame, spark,
or pilot light as on a water heater, space heater, furnace, clothes dryer, or other
gas appliances.
7. If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine and equipment. Clean up oil or fuel
spillage and remove any fuel soaked debris. Move tractor to another area. Wait 5
minutes before starting the engine.
8. To reduce fire hazards, keep tractor free of grass, leaves, or other debris build-
up. Follow the Post-Operation Tractor Care instructions in the Service and
Maintenance section.
9. The tractor is designed to cut normal residential grass of a height no more than 10"
(25 cm). Do not attempt to mow through unusually tall, dry grass (e.g., pasture) or
piles of dry leaves. Dry grass or leaves may contact the engine exhaust and/or build
up on the tractor deck presenting a potential fire hazard.
10. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more than 1/2" below bottom of filler neck to
allow space for fuel expansion.
11. Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely. Do not operate without fuel cap in place.
12. Allow tractor to cool at least 5 minutes before fueling or storing.
13. Never fill containers inside a vehicle or on a truck or trailer bed with a plastic liner.
Always place containers on the ground away from vehicle before filling.
14. When practical, remove gas-powered equipment from the truck or trailer and refuel
it on the ground. If this is not possible, then refuel such equipment on a trailer with a
portable container, rather than from a gasoline dispenser nozzle.
15. Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim of the fuel tank or container opening at all
times until fueling is complete. Do not use a nozzle lock-open device.
Hauling
1. Use properly secured full width ramps for loading and unloading tractor for transport.
2. Use extra care when loading or unloading the tractor into a trailer or truck. This tractor
should not be driven up or down ramp(s), because the tractor could tip over, causing
serious personal injury. The tractor must be pushed manually on ramp(s) to load or
unload properly.
3. Raise the deck to the highest position for loading clearance.
Towing with the Lapbar Zero-Turn Tractor
1. Do not tow a load that exceeds 250 lbs (113 kg) rolling weight and never exceed 50
lbs (22 kg) tongue weight.
2. Do not attach towed equipment except at the hitch point of the tractor.
3. Never allow children or others in or on towed equipment.
4. Do not tow on slopes greater than 5° (9%). On slopes, the weight of the towed
equipment may cause loss of traction and loss of control and/or the ability to stop.
5. Always use extra caution when towing with a tractor capable of making tight turns
(e.g. "zero-turn" ride-on tractor). Make wide turns to avoid jack-knifing.
6. Travel slowly and allow extra distance to stop.
Service
1. Keep machine in good working order. Do not use the tractor until worn or damaged
parts are replaced.
2. To avoid serious injury or death, do not modify engine in any way. Tampering with
the governor setting can lead to a runaway engine and cause it to operate at unsafe
speeds. Never tamper with factory setting of engine governor. Do not change the
engine governor settings or over-speed the engine. The governor controls the
maximum safe operating speed of the engine.
3. Tractor blades are sharp. Wrap the blade or wear gloves, and use extra caution when
servicing them.
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