Toro 03170 Operator's Manual page 36

• Practice moving forward and reverse, and starting
and stopping the machine. To stop, take your foot
off of the traction pedal and let it return to neutral
or press down on the reverse pedal to stop. Going
down a hill, you may need to use the reverse pedal
to stop.
• When driving on slopes, drive slowly to maintain
steering control and avoid turns to prevent rollovers.
In side hill situations you should shift the sidewinder
cutting units to the uphill side to give you more
stability. Conversely, shifting the cutting units to
the down hill side will give you less stability. This
should always be done before going on a side hill.
• When possible, mow up and down hills rather than
across them. Have the cutting units lowered when
going down a hill to maintain steering control. Do
not attempt to turn on a hill.
• Practice driving around obstacles with the cutting
units up and down. Be careful when driving
between narrow objects so that you do not damage
the machine or cutting units.
• On the Sidewinder unit, get a feel for the reach of
the cutting units so that you do not hang them up
or damage them in any way.
• Do not shift the units from side to side, unless the
cutting units are down and the machine is moving,
or the cutting units are up in the transport position.
Shifting the cutting units when they are down and
the machine is not moving may damage the turf.
• Always drive slowly in rough areas.
• If a person appears in or near the operating area,
stop the machine, and do not start it again until the
area is cleared. The machine is designed for one
person. Never let anyone else ride on the machine
with you. This is extremely dangerous and could
result in serious injury.
• Accidents can happen to anyone. The most
common causes are excessive speed, sudden turns,
terrain (not knowing which slopes and hills can
be mowed safely), not stopping the engine before
leaving the operator's seat, and drugs that impair
your alertness. Cold capsules or prescription drugs
may cause drowsiness, as can alcohol and other
drugs. Stay alert and stay safe. Failure to do so
could result in serious injury.
• The Sidewinder offers up to a maximum of 13
inches (33 cm) of overhang, allowing you to trim
closer to the edge of sand traps and other obstacles,
while at the same time keeping the tractor tires as
far away from the edge of traps or water hazards
as possible.
• If an obstacle is in the way, shift the cutting units
to easily mow around it.
• When transporting the machine from one work
area to another, raise the cutting units to the fully
up position, move the mow/transport slide to the
left to transport, and place the throttle in the Fast
position.
Mowing Techniques
• To begin cutting, engage the cutting units, then
approach the mowing area slowly. Once the front
cutting units are over the mowing area, lower the
cutting units.
• To achieve the professional straight-line cut and
striping that is desirable for some applications, find
a tree or other object in the distance and drive
straight toward it.
• As soon as the front cutting units reach the edge of
the mowing area, lift the cutting units and perform
a tear drop shaped turn to quickly line you up for
your next pass.
• To mow around bunkers, ponds, or other contours
easily, use the Sidewinder and move the control
lever left or right, depending on your mowing
application. The cutting units can also be shifted
to vary tire tracking.
• The cutting units tend to throw grass to the front
or the rear of the machine. Front throw should be
used when cutting smaller amounts of grass; thus,
leaving a better after-cut appearance. To throw
clippings to the front, simply close the rear shield
on the cutting units.
CAUTION
To prevent personal injury or damage to the
machine, do not open or close the cutting unit
shields while the engine is running.
Shut off the engine and wait for all moving parts
to stop before opening or closing the cutting unit
shields.
• When cutting larger amounts of grass, position
the shields to just below horizontal. Do not open
the shields too far or an excessive amount of
clippings could build up on the frame, rear
radiator screen, and engine area.
• The cutting units are also equipped with balance
weights on the non-motor end to give an even
cut. You can add or remove weights if a mismatch
occurs on your turf.
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