Ryobi RYRM8003 Manuel D'utilisation page 3

 Replace blade if it is bent, cracked, or damaged in any way.
An unbalanced blade causes vibration that could damage
the motor drive unit or cause personal injury. Sharpen a
dull blade equally at each end to maintain the balance.
Clean the blade thoroughly and check its balance by
supporting it horizontally on a thin nail through its center
hole. The nail should be in a horizontal position. If either
end of the blade rotates downward, remove some metal
from the heavy lower end until the blade is balanced. It
is balanced when neither end drops.
 The side discharge chute is a spring-loaded guard that
covers the side discharge opening on the mower deck and
deflects grass clippings and debris away from the operator.
Always ensure that the motor is off and the blades have
stopped moving before inspecting, moving, cleaning, or
performing maintenance on the side discharge chute.
 Always use safety protective devices. Do not operate
the mower without the side discharge chute in place and
working properly.
 Never interfere with the intended function of a safety de-
vice or reduce the protection provided by a safety device.
Check their proper operation regularly.
 Never tamper with safety devices. Check for proper op-
eration regularly.
 Follow manufacturer's instructions for proper operation
and installation of accessories. Only use accessories ap-
proved by the manufacturer. The use of other accessories
may increase the risk of injury.
 Clear the work area before each use. Remove all objects
such as rocks, sticks, metal, wire, bones, toys, fallen tree
limbs, tree nuts, or other objects which can be thrown by
the blade.
 Objects struck by the lawn mower blades can cause
severe injuries to persons. The lawn should always be
carefully examined and cleared of all objects prior to each
mowing.
 If the lawn mower strikes a foreign object, follow these
steps:
• Stop the lawn mower, set the parking brake, wait until
the blades come to a complete stop, and then remove
start key.
• Thoroughly inspect the mower for any damage.
• Replace the blade if it is damaged in any way. Repair
any damage before restarting and continuing to oper-
ate the mower.
 Slopes are a major factor related to loss of control and
tip-over accidents, which can result in severe injury or
death. Operation on all slopes requires extra caution. If
you cannot back up the slope or if you feel uneasy on it,
do not mow it. Do not reverse down a slope. Never use
on steep slopes greater than 15°.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
• Never attempt to ride on a steep slope or mow a slope
that is greater than 15°. To determine the angle of your
slope, use the Slope Guide at the back
of this manual.
• Mow up and down slopes, not across.
• Watch for holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, or
other hidden objects. Uneven terrain
could overturn the machine. Tall grass can hide ob-
stacles.
• Use a slow speed so you will not have to stop suddenly
or accidentally accelerate while on a slope.
• Do not mow on wet grass. Tires may lose traction and
you may lose control.
• Always keep the joystick in the forward position when
going down slopes. Do not move to neutral and coast
downhill, which may cause you to lose control of the
mower.
• Avoid starting, stopping, or turning on a slope. If the
tires lose traction, disengage the blades and proceed
slowly straight down the slope.
• Keep all movement on slopes slow and gradual. Do
not make sudden changes in speed or direction, which
could cause the machine to roll over.
• Do not try to stabilize the machine by putting your foot
on the ground.
• Stay at least two mowing widths (7 feet) away from any
ditches, drop-offs, or water. Front caster wheels can
rotate when mower is stopped, even with the brake
applied, and cause the mower to go over the edge or
into the water and result in death or serious personal
injury.
 Never direct discharged material toward anyone. Plan
your mowing pattern to avoid discharge of material to-
ward bystanders, roads, sidewalks, windows, cars, and
the like. Also, avoid discharging material against a wall
or obstruction, which may cause the material to ricochet
back toward the operator.
 Stop the blade when crossing gravel surfaces to avoid
discharging gravel and rocks and drive the mower slowly
and carefully to avoid loss of control.
 Use extra care when approaching blind corners, shrubs,
trees, or other objects that may block your view.
 Never make any adjustments or repairs with the motor
running and/or blades moving. Turn off power switch and
remove key.
 Stop the motor, set the parking brake, wait until the
blades come to a complete stop, and remove start key
3 — English