HILLSIDE (SLOPE)
OPERATION
Read,
Understand,
Obey:
WARNING:
Improper
opera-
tion
of
your
tractor
on
hill-
A
sides
and
slopes
can
be
dan-
gerous.
Avoid
improper
oper-
ation!
Read
and
follow
the
in-
structions
given
in
the
section
titled
"Hillside
Operation"
in
this
manual
before
operating
you
r
tractor.
Avoid operating tractor on hillsides and slopes.
To
minimize the possibility
of
accidents while operating
on hills
and/or
rough terrain, obey a combination
of
rules, practices and good
common
sense.
These include:
1.
Reading, understanding, and obeying all written
safety messages appearing
on
decals
on
the ma-
chine and in operator's manuals.
2.
Learning from your operator's manual and careful-
ly from EXPERIENCE
how
to
operate your tractor
correctly.
Know
your tractor's limitations.
3. Knowing the terrain on
which
you
are operating
your
tractor. There are terrain conditions on which
your tractor cannot
be
operated!
4. Learning
to
expect changes in operating condi-
tions. Adding or removing attachments or weight
to
your tractor will make your tractor perform dif-
ferently. Rain, snow, loose gravel,
wet
grass, etc.,
change the tractive conditions
of
the terrain re-
quiring changes in your operating technique or
not
to
operate on that terrain.
The following paragraphs will cover these practices
one at a time. Read and study them. The examples
provided are
not
all inclusive
but
will give you a firm
understanding
of
the requirements
for
avoiding acci-
dents while operating your tractor.
Ingersoll Lawn and Garden Tractors are designed and
built
to
comply
with
the Voluntary Standard
ANSI
(American National Standards Institute).
THE OPERATOR
IS
THE SOLE JUDGE
AS
TO THE
DEGREE
OF
SLOPE ON
WHICH
THIS TRACTOR
CAN
BE
SAFELY OPERATED. IF
IN
DOUBT
THAT
THIS TRACTOR CAN
BE
SAFELY OPERATED ON A
PARTICULAR SLOPE,
DO
NOT OPERATE ON
THAT
SLOPE! COMMON SENSE
MUST
PREVAIL.
VI
Safety messages are found on the tractor and in the
operator's manuals. These must be understood by the
tractor operator
to
be
of
value.
Be
sure that these mes-
sages are studied before starting
and/or
operating the
tractor by
an
operator not familiar
with
this particular
tractor.
learn
to
Operate:
Learn your tractor's controls
from
decals on the trac-
tor and from instructions in
the
operator's manual.
Practice
how
to
properly manipulate these controls.
Practice must be done in a flat area, clear
of
obstacles
and bystanders. Learn your tractor's operating charac-
teristics and limitations. These include:
a.
amount
of
engine power available
b. engine governor response
c. tractive ability
d. steering characteristics
e.
braking characteristics
f.
movement of.travel lever
g. forward and reverse ground speeds
h. speed
of
attachment
lift
i. and others
Attempting
any operation
which
approaches or ex-
ceeds the tractor's limitation is risking
an
accident.
Know
the
Terrain:
Know
the terrain on which you are working. Find hid-
den obstacles
by
walking through and inspecting the
area prior
to
operating your tractor on it. Mark ob-
stacles, such as, rocks, ruts or holes
with
a 6 ft. long
pole and red flag and stay well clear
of
these obstacles
when operating.
Operate your tractor at a ground speed
slow
enough
to
insure complete control at all times.
Place the transmission in
low
gear and regulate the
throttle control lever slowly and
smoothly
to
maintain
this safe speed. Do
not
stop on a hill or slope
to
change gears.
