blades are in good condition and the blade bolts are tight before restarting the engine.
15.Do not mow excessively steep slopes (No more than 15 degrees or a 26.8% grade). Mow across the slope.
WARNING: Do not mow up and down the slope. You could slip and slide into the mower, or the mower could loose traction and steering control.
16.Never raise the mower deck while the blades are rotating.
17.Never walk or stand on the discharge side of a mower with the engine running. Disengage the blade clutch if another person approaches while you are operating a mower.
18.Always disconnect the spark plug wire to prevent the engine from accidentally starting before performing any maintenance on this mower.
19.Keep the mower and especially the engine clean and free of grease, grass and leaves to reduce the chance of fire and to permit proper cooling.
20.The operator presence control levers located at each handle are designed for your safety. Do not try to defeat their operation. If the blade clutch is engaged or the transmission is in gear, releasing both handles will shut off the mower’s engine.
MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE
WARNING: Never let children or untrained people operate or service this mower.
1.Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper operation regularly.
2.Check bolts and screws for proper tightness at frequent intervals to keep the machine in safe working condition. Also, visually inspect machine for any damage and repair, if needed.
3.Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, stop the engine and make certain all moving parts have stopped. Disconnect the spark plug wire and ground it against the engine to prevent unintended starting.
4.Do not change the engine governor settings or overspeed the engine. The governor controls the maximum safe operating speed of the engine.
5.Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels, as necessary.
6.Follow this manual for safe loading, unloading, transporting, and storage of this machine. (See page 16 and page 24)
7.Never store the machine or fuel container inside where there is an open flame, spark or pilot light such as a water heater, furnace, clothes dryer, etc.
8.Always refer to the operator’s manual for proper instructions on
9.If the fuel tank has to be drained, do this outdoors.
Observe proper disposal laws and regulations for gas, oil, etc. to protect the environment.
RELATED TO FUEL
1.Fuel is highly flammable and its vapors can explode if ignited. Please respect it.
2.Do not smoke or permit others to smoke while han- dling fuel.
3.Always use approved containers for fuel and fill slowly to decrease the chance of static electricity buildup and spillage.
4.Store fuel in well ventilated and unoccupied build- ings away from sparks and flames.
5.When dispensing gasoline into approved contain- ers, place the container on the ground when refuel- ing to avoid a possible static electricity ignition of
fuel vapors.
6.Do not fill containers while it is inside a vehicle, trunk, the bed of a pickup or floor of a trailer.
7.Always shut off the engine and permit it to cool before removing the fuel tank cap.
8.Always fill the fuel tank outdoors.
9.If the fuel container spout will not fit inside the fuel tank opening, use a funnel.
10.When filling the fuel tank, stop when the fuel reaches one inch from the top. This space is necessary for tank expansion. Do not overfill.
11.Wipe up any spilled fuel.
12.Do not operate or store the machine or fuel container inside where there is an open flame, spark or pilot light such as a water heater, furnace, clothes dryer, etc.
SLOPE OPERATION
DO:
•Mow across slopes, and exercise caution when turning or changing direction.
•Watch for holes, ruts or bumps and hidden objects.
•Be sure of your footing. A slip could cause personal injury.
•Check the area thoroughly before mowing.
•Slow down and use extra care.
DO NOT:
•Do not mow up and down slopes.
•Do not mow near drop offs, ditches, embankments, etc. 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 or slippery grass. Reduced traction could cause sliding.
•Do not mow on slopes greeater than 15 degrees as shown on the slope gauge.
5