19.Shut the engine off and wait until the blade comes to a complete stop before removing the grass catcher or unclog- ging the chute.
The cutting blade continues to rotate for a few seconds after the engine is shut off. Never place any part of the body in the blade area until you are sure the blade has stopped rotating.
20.Never operate mower without proper trail shield, discharge cover, grass catcher, blade control handle or other safety protective devices in place and working. Never operate mower with damaged safety devices. Failure to do so can result in personal injury.
21.Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a burn. Do not touch.
22.Only use parts and accessories made for this machine by manufacturer. Failure to do so can result in personal injury.
23.If situations occur which are not covered in this manual, use care and good judgment. Contact your dealer for assistance.
Slope Operation
Slopes are a major factor related to slip and fall accidents, which can result in severe injury. Operation on slopes requires extra caution. If you feel uneasy on a slope, 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 degrees, do not mow it.
Do:
1.Mow across the face of slopes; never up and down. Exercise extreme caution when changing direction on slopes.
2.Watch for holes, ruts, rocks, hidden objects, or bumps which can cause you to slip or trip. Tall grass can hide obstacles.
3.Always be sure of your footing. A slip and fall can cause serious personal injury. If you feel you are losing your balance, release the blade control handle immediately, and the blade will stop rotating within 3 seconds.
Do Not:
1.Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embankments, you could lose your footing or balance.
2.Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees as shown on the slope gauge.
3.Do not mow on wet grass. Unstable footing could cause slipping.
Service
Safe Handling Of Gasoline:
1.To avoid personal injury or property damage use extreme care in handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremely flammable and the vapors are explosive. Serious personal injury can occur when gasoline is spilled on yourself or your clothes, which can ignite. Wash your skin and change clothes immediately.
2.Use only an approved gasoline container.
3.Never fill containers inside a vehicle or on a truck or trailer bed with a plastic liner. Always place containers on the ground away from your vehicle before filling.
4.Remove gas-powered equipment from the truck or trailer and refuel it on the ground. If this is not possible, then refuel such equipment on a trailer with a portable container, rather than from a gasoline dispenser nozzle.
5.Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim of the fuel tank or container opening at all times until fueling is complete. Do not use a nozzle lock-open device.
6.Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources of ignition.
7.Never fuel machine indoor because flammable vapors will accumulate in the area.
8.Never remove gas cap or add fuel while engine is hot or running. Allow engine to cool at least two minutes before refueling.
9.Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more than ½ inch below bottom of filler neck to provide for fuel expansion.
10.Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely.
11.If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine and equipment. Move unit to another area. Wait 5 minutes before starting engine.
12.Never store the machine or fuel container near an open flame, spark or pilot light as on a water heater, space heater, furnace, clothes dryer or other gas appliances.
13.To reduce fire hazard, keep mower free of grass, leaves, or other debris build-up. Clean up oil or fuel spillage and remove any fuel soaked debris.
14.Allow a mower to cool at least 5 minutes before storing.
General Service:
1.Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated area. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless and deadly gas.
2.Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make certain the blade and all moving parts have stopped. Disconnect the spark plug wire and ground against the engine to prevent unintended starting.
3.Check the blade and engine mounting bolts at frequent intervals for proper tightness. Also, visually inspect blade for damage (e.g., bent, cracked, worn) Replace blade with the original equipment manufacture’s (O.E.M.) blade only, listed in this manual. “Use of parts which do not meet the original equipment specifications may lead to improper performance and compromise safety!”
4.Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap the blade or wear gloves, and use extra caution when servicing them.
5.Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure the equip- ment is in safe working condition.
6.Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper operation regularly.
7.After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, discon- nect the spark plug wire and ground against the engine. Thoroughly inspect the mower for any damage. Repair the damage before starting and operating the mower.
8.Never attempt to make a wheel or cutting height adjust- ment while the engine is running.
9.Grass catcher components, discharge cover, and trail shield are subject to wear and damage which could expose moving parts or allow objects to be thrown. For safety protection, frequently check components and re- place immediately with original equipment manufacturer’s (O.E.M.) parts only, listed in this manual. “Use of parts which do not meet the original equipment specifications may lead to improper performance and compromise safety!”
10.Do not change the engine governor setting or over-rev the engine. The governor controls the maximum safe operating speed of the engine.
11.Maintain or replace safety labels, as necessary.
12.Observe proper disposal laws and regulations. Improper disposal of fluids and materials can harm the environment.
