Cub Cadet 3240 tractor operator manual

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· Never leave a running machine unattended. Always turn off blade(s), place transmission in neutral, set park brake, stop engine and remove key before dismounting. · Turn off blade(s) when not mowing. · Stop engine and wait until blade(s) comes to a complete stop before (a) removing grass catcher or unclogging chute, or (b) making any repairs, adjusting or removing any grass or debris. · Mow only in daylight or good artificial light. · Do not operate the machine while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. · Watch for traffic when operating near or crossing roadways. · Use extra care when loading or unloading the machine into a trailer or truck. This unit should not be driven up or down a ramp onto a trailer or truck under power, because the unit could tip over, causing serious personal injury. The unit must be pushed manually on a ramp to load or unload properly. · Never make a cutting height adjustment while engine is running if operator must dismount to do so. · Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and c
lose-fitting slacks and shirts. Do not wear loose fitting clothes or jewelry. They can be caught in moving parts. Never operate a unit in bare feet, sandals, or sneakers. · Check overhead clearance carefully before driving under power lines, wires, bridges or low hanging tree branches, before entering or leaving buildings, or in any other situation where the operator may be struck or pulled from the unit, which could result in serious injury. · Disengage all attachment clutches, thoroughly depress the brake pedal, and shift into neutral before attempting to start engine.

· Your mower is designed to cut normal residential grass of a height no more than 10". Do not attempt to mow through unusually tall, dry grass (e.g., pasture) or piles of dry leaves. Debris may build up on the mower deck or contact the engine exhaust presenting a potential fire hazard. · Use only accessories approved for this machine by the manufacturer. Read, understand and follow all instructions provided with the approved accessory.

2. SLOPE OPERATION
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. For your safety, use the slope gauge included as part of this manual to measure slopes before operating this unit on a sloped or hilly area. If the slope is greater than 15° as shown on the slope gauge, do not operate this unit on that area or serious injury could result.

DO:
· Mow up and down slopes, not across. · Remove obstacles such as rocks, limbs, etc. · Watch for holes, ruts or bumps. Uneven terrain could overturn the machine. Tall grass can hide obstacles. · Use slow speed. Choose a low enough gear so that you will not have to stop or shift while on the slope. Always keep machine in gear when going down slopes to take advantage of engine braking action. · Follow the manufacturers recommendations for wheel weights or counterweights to improve stability.

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· Use extra care with grass catchers or other attachments. These can change the stability of the machine. · Keep all movement on the slopes slow and gradual. Do not make sudden changes in speed or direction. Rapid engagement or braking could cause the front of the machine to lift and rapidly flip over backwards which could cause serious injury. · Avoid starting or stopping on a slope. If tires lose traction, disengage the blade(s) and proceed slowly straight down the slope.

· Before and when backing, look behind and down for small children. · Never carry children, even with the blades off. They may fall off and be seriously injured or interfere with the safe machine operation. · Never allow children under 14 years old to operate the machine. Children 14 years and over should only operate machine under close parental supervision and proper instruction. · Use extra care when approaching blind corners, shrubs, trees or other objects that may obscure your vision of a child or other hazard. · Remove key when machine is unattended to prevent unauthorized operation.

DO NOT:
· Do not turn on slopes unless necessary; then, turn slowly and gradually downhill, if possible. · Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embankments. The mower could suddenly turn over if a wheel is over the edge of a cliff or ditch, or if an edge caves in. · Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced traction could cause sliding. · Do not try to stabilize the machine by putting your foot on the ground. · Do not use grass catcher on steep slopes.

4. SERVICE
· Use extreme care in handling gasoline and other fuels. They are extremely flammable and the vapors are explosive. · Use only an approved container. · Never remove fuel cap or add fuel with the engine running. Allow engine to cool at least two minutes before refueling. · Replace fuel cap securely and wipe off any spilled fuel before starting the engine as it may cause a fire or explosion. · Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources of ignition. · Never refuel the machine indoors because fuel vapors will accumulate in the area. · Never store the fuel container or machine inside where there is an open flame or spark, such as a gas hot water heater, space heater or furnace. · Never run a machine inside a closed area.

3. CHILDREN
· Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the presence of children. Children are often attracted to the machine and the mowing activity. Never assume that children will remain where you last saw them. · Keep children out of the mowing area and in watchful care of an adult other than the operator. · Be alert and turn machine off if children enter the area.

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· To reduce fire hazard, keep the machine free of grass, leaves or other debris build-up. Clean up oil or fuel spillage. Allow machine to cool at least 5 minutes before storing. · Before cleaning, repairing or inspecting, make certain the blade and all moving parts have stopped. Disconnect the spark plug wire, and keep the wire away from the spark plug to prevent accidental starting. · Check the blade and engine mounting bolts at frequent intervals for proper tightness. Also, visually inspect blade for damage (e.g., excessive wear, bent, cracked). Replace with blade which meets original equipment specifications. · Keep all nuts, bolts and screws tight to be sure the equipment is in safe working condition. · Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper operation regularly. Use all guards as instructed in this manual. · After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, remove the wire from the spark plug and thoroughly inspect the mower for any damage. Repair the damage before restarting and operating
the mower. · Grass catcher components are subject to wear, damage and deterioration, which could expose moving parts or allow objects to be thrown. For your safety protection, frequently check components and replace with manufacturer's recommended parts when necessary. · Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap the blade(s) or wear gloves and use extra caution when servicing blade(s).

· Check brake operation frequently. Adjust and service as required. · Muffler, engine and belt guards become hot during operation and can cause a burn. Allow to cool down before touching. · Do not change the engine governor settings or overspeed the engine. Excessive engine speeds are dangerous. · Observe proper disposal laws and regulations. Improper disposal offluids and materials can harm the environment and the ecology. · Prior to disposal, determine the proper method to dispose of waste from your local Environmental Protection Agency. Recycling centers are established to properly dispose of materials in an environmentally safe fashion. · Use proper containers when draining fluids. Do not use food or beverage containers that may mislead someone into drinking from them. Properly dispose of the containers immediately following the draining of fluids. · DO NOT pour oil or other fluids into the ground, down a drain or into a stream, pond, lake or other body of water. Observe Environmental Protection Agency r
egulations when disposing of oil, fuel, coolant, brake fluid, filters, batteries, tires and other harmful waste. · We do not recommend the use of a pressure washer or garden hose to clean your unit. They may cause damage to electrical components; spindles; pulleys; bearings; or the engine. The use of water will result in shortened life and reduce serviceability.

WARNING - YOUR RESPONSIBILITY: Restrict the use of this power machine to persons who read, understand and follow the warnings and instructions in this manual and on the machine.
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