Troy-Bilt TB270 ES User Manual

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s
ectiOn
 2 — i
MpOrtant
 s
afe
 O
peratiOn
 p
ractices
A missing or damaged discharge cover can cause blade 
12. 
contact or thrown object injuries.
Many injuries occur as a result of the mower being pulled 
13. 
over the foot during a fall caused by slipping or tripping. 
Do not hold on to the mower if you are falling; release the 
handle immediately. 
Never pull the mower back toward you while you are 
14. 
walking. If you must back the mower away from a wall or 
obstruction first look down and behind to avoid tripping 
and then follow these steps:
Step back from mower to fully extend your arms.
a. 
Be sure you are well balanced with sure footing.
b. 
Pull the mower back slowly, no more than half way 
c. 
toward you.
Repeat these steps as needed.
d. 
Do not operate the mower while under the influence of 
15. 
alcohol or drugs.
Do not engage the self-propelled mechanism on machines 
16. 
so equipped while starting engine.
The blade control is a safety device. Never attempt to 
17. 
bypass its operation. Doing so makes the safety device 
inoperative and may result in personal injury through 
contact with the rotating blade. The blade control must 
operate easily in both directions and automatically return 
to the disengaged position when released.
Never operate the mower in wet grass. Always be sure of 
18. 
your footing.  A slip and fall can cause serious personal 
injury. If you feel you are losing your footing, release the 
blade control handle immediately and the blade will stop 
rotating within three seconds.
Mow only in daylight or good artificial light. Walk, never 
19. 
run.
Stop the blade when crossing gravel drives, walks or roads.
20. 
If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally, stop 
21. 
the engine and check immediately for the cause. Vibration 
is generally a warning of trouble.
Shut the engine off and wait until the blade comes to 
22. 
a complete stop before removing the grass catcher or 
unclogging the chute. The cutting blade continues to 
rotate for a few seconds after the blade control is released. 
Never place any part of the body in the blade area until you 
are sure the blade has stopped rotating.
Never operate mower without proper trail shield, 
23. 
discharge cover, grass catcher, blade control or other safety 
protective devices in place and working. Never operate 
mower with damaged safety devices. Failure to do so can 
result in personal injury.
Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a burn. Do 
24. 
not touch.
Never attempt to make a wheel or cutting height 
25. 
adjustment while the engine is running.
Only use parts and accessories made for this machine by 
26. 
the manufacturer. Failure to do so can result in personal 
injury.
When starting engine, pull cord slowly until resistance 
27. 
is felt, then pull rapidly. Rapid retraction of starter cord 
(kickback) will pull hand and arm toward engine faster than 
you can let go. Broken bones, fractures, bruises or sprains 
could result.
If situations occur which are not covered in this manual, 
28. 
use care and good judgement. Contact Customer Support 
for assistance or the name of the nearest service dealer.
Slope Operation
Slopes are a major factor related to slip and fall accidents, which 
can result in severe injury. Operation on slopes requires extra 
caution. If you feel uneasy on a slope, do not mow it. For your 
safety, use the slope gauge included as part of this manual to 
measure slopes before operating this machine on a sloped or 
hilly area. If the slope is greater than 15 degrees, do not mow it.
Do:
Mow across the face of slopes; never up and down. Exercise 
1. 
extreme caution when changing direction on slopes.
Watch for holes, ruts, rocks, hidden objects, or bumps 
2. 
which can cause you to slip or trip. Tall grass can hide 
obstacles.
Always be sure of your footing. A slip and fall can cause 
3. 
serious personal injury. If you feel you are losing your 
balance, release the blade control handle immediately and 
the blade will stop rotating within three (3) seconds.
Do Not:
Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embankments, you 
1. 
could lose your footing or balance.
Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees as shown on 
2. 
the slope gauge.
Do not mow on wet grass. Unstable footing could cause 
3. 
slipping.
Children
Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the 
presence of children. Children are often attracted to the mower 
and the mowing activity. They do not understand the dangers. 
Never assume that children will remain where you last saw them.
Keep children out of the mowing area and under watchful 
1. 
care of a responsible adult other than the operator.
Be alert and turn mower off if a child enters the area.
2. 
Before and while moving backwards, look behind and 
3. 
down for small children.
Use extreme care when approaching blind corners, 
4. 
doorways, shrubs, trees, or other objects that may obscure 
your vision of a child who may run into the mower.
Keep children away from hot or running engines. They can 
5. 
suffer burns from a hot muffler. 
Never allow children under 14 years of age to operate this 
6. 
machine. Children 14 and over should read and understand 
the instructions and safe operation practices in this manual 
and on the machine and be trained and supervised by an 
adult.