PermaGreen Triumph Spreader Sprayer - Manual (Page 15)

Safety Manual
Recommendations for driving up an incline or slope:
• Lean forwards to provide better balance and to transfer
more weight to the front drive wheels. Refer to the driver’s
position illustrations in Driver’s Training and Operation sec-
tion of this Manual for details.
•
Accelerate gently. Accelerate slowly. Accelerating too
quickly may result in a loss of traction.
•
DO NOT make sharp or quick turns. Making sharp or quick
turns may cause you to lose your balance and be thrown off
the machine or cause a side rollover.
•
In areas of poor traction, operate the machine as a walk
behind unit.
•
If you experience a loss of control while driving the machine
on an upward slope, lower the handlebars as you step
backwards off the operator’s platform and apply the brakes.
Once the brakes are applied, take corrective action.
• Backing down a slope is a hazardous maneuver which
should be avoided. To avoid backing down a slope; stop
the machine, apply the brakes, step off the Driver’s plat-
form, drop the handlebars, steer the front of the machine
across the grade, and gradually engage the Throttle/Clutch.
If backing down a slope is unavoidable (such as when
unloading the machine from a trailer), use extreme caution.
Read Safety Manual Warning 13, Reverse Operation, for
details on backing up.
When pointing downhill, the weight and traction is transferred to
the front drive wheels. Avoid driving the machine at this angle
since the machine may tip over.
Recommendations for driving downhill:
•
Lean backwards as you travel downhill to provide better
balance for you and transfer more weight to the rear
wheels. If necessary, extend your arms and squat down
backwards with arms extended to transfer more weight
further to the rear.
•
Do not change speed suddenly. DO NOT accelerate. Decel-
erate gently by applying the rear brakes first followed by the
front brakes.
•
Use extreme caution when turning. DO NOT make sharp
turns as you may lose your balance and/or be thrown from
the machine or loose control. When making turns, slow
down and make gradual turns.
•
Zigzag or slalom slowly and gradually downhill traveling
across the grade using both brakes to slow your speed.
The steeper the slope the more gradual the slaloms should
be between the switchbacks.
•
Avoid any obstacles that could suddenly stop the front
wheels causing a tip over.
•
If you ever loose control while driving down a slope, let go
of the handles and jump off to the rear, if necessary.
•
Backing uphill is a risky maneuver which should be avoided.
To avoid backing uphill; stop the machine, apply the brakes,
step off the Driver’s platform, drop the handlebars, steer the
front of the machine across the grade, and gradually en-
gage the Throttle/Clutch. When backing uphill is unavoid-
able, use caution. Read Safety Manual Warning 13, Re-
verse Operation, for details on backing up.
When pointing across an incline, slope or hill sideways, the
weight distribution between the front drive wheels and the rear
wheels is similar to level ground. However, more weight is trans-
ferred to the lower wheels which may cause the machine to roll-
over towards the downhill side. This is the preferred angle for driv-
ing on gentle slopes.
To avoid Loss-of-control, tip-over, and rollover
Loss-of-control, tip-over or rollover may cause death or serious
injury. This machine has a high center of gravity and turf conditions
affect stability. Slopes are a major factor in loss-of-control, tip-over,
and rollover accidents.
• Never shift gears while the machine is moving as this may
cause a rapid slowdown or stop the front wheels causing loss-of
-control or a forward tip over. Instead, bring the machine to a
complete stop before shifting gears.
•
Study the terrain before beginning work and plan a safe operat-
ing pattern. If the area at issue will not accommodate a safe
operating pattern, DO NOT attempt to drive the Triumph in that
area.
• DO NOT operate on slopes or inclines where traction and stabil-
ity are doubtful.
• DO NOT ride on slopes exceeding 15 Degrees. Read Machine
Safety Label and Safe, Balance Zone, sections for details on
estimating 15 degree slopes before starting or operating the
Triumph.
•
Never operate on wet slopes.
• Look for holes, ruts, rocks, and other hidden hazards in the work
area before starting work. Uneven terrain can overturn the
machine. Tall grass can hide hazards.
• DO NOT operate near drop-offs, ditches, or bodies of water.
•
Keep a firm grip of the handlebars with both hands at all times.
• Slow down and lean into turns for better balance and to transfer
your weight to the inside wheels to prevent loss-of-control, tip
over, or rollover.
•
Tires with excessively worn tire tread are dangerous on slopes
or inclines. Replace tire(s) with less than 1/4” of tread remain-
ing. Only use liquid filled tires supplied by PermaGreen. Main-
tain tire pressure at 12 PSI. Higher pressures will cause the tires
to lose traction and under inflated tires will cause instability.
• DO NOT attempt to climb over curbs and parking blocks while
operating the Triumph at a high speed as this may cause a
forward tip-over.
•
To help avoid Loss-of-control, tip over, and rollover, use ex-
treme caution on inclines, and slopes and:
•
Use Low Gear to provide improved traction and a slower
ground speed.
• Travel across the grade. Begin at the bottom of the slope
and work your way up.
•
Avoid traveling straight down a slope. When descending a
slope, zigzag or slalom across the grade gradually down-
wards using the brakes to slow the machine.
• Lean uphill at all times to provide better balance and to
transfer weight to the uphill tires.
•
Slow down and avoid sharp turns and sudden starts and
stops.
•
Reduce the amount of granular and liquid products carried.
•
Apply rear brakes first and then front brakes.
Operate the Triumph as a walk-behind unit in situations where loss
-of-control, tip-over, or rollover is possible.
When traveling up a slope, be aware that the drive tires have
reduced traction and there is greater risk that the machine could tip
backwards.
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