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 man- ual 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:
•Mow across the face of slopes; never up and down. Exercise extreme caution when changing direction on slopes.
•Watch for holes, ruts, rocks, hidden objects, or bumps which can cause you to slip or trip. Tall grass can hide obstacles.
•Always be sure of your footing. A slip and fall can cause seri- ous 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:
•Do not mow near
•Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees as shown on the slope gauge.
•Do not mow on wet grass. Unstable footing could cause slip- ping.
Children
Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the presence of children. Children are often attracted to the mower and the mowing activity. They do not understand the dangers. Never assume that children will remain where you last saw them.
•Keep children out of the mowing area and under the watchful care of a responsible adult other than the operator.
•Be alert and turn mower off if a child enters the area.
•Before and while moving backwards, look behind and down for small children.
•Use extreme care when approaching blind corners, doorways, shrubs, trees, or other objects that may obscure your vision of a child who may run into the mower.
•Keep children away from hot or running engines. They can suf- fer burns from a hot muffler.
•Never allow children under 14 years old to operate a power mower. Children 14 years old and over should read and under- stand the operation instructions and safety rules in this manual and should be trained and supervised by a parent.
Service
Safe Handling Of Gasoline:
•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.
•Use only an approved gasoline container.
•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.
•Remove
•Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim of the fuel tank or con- tainer opening at all times until fueling is complete. Do not use a nozzle
•Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources of igni- tion.
•Never fuel machine indoors because flammable vapors will ac- cumulate in the area.
•Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the engine is hot or run- ning. Allow engine to cool at least two minutes before refueling.
•Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more than ½ inch below bottom of filler neck to provide for fuel expansion.
•Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely.
•If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine and equipment. Move unit to another area. Wait 5 minutes before starting the engine.
•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.
•To reduce fire hazard, keep mower free of grass, leaves, or other debris
•Allow a mower to cool at least 5 minutes before storing.
General Service:
•Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated area. En- gine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless and deadly gas.
•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.
•Check the blade and engine mounting bolts at frequent inter- vals 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 equip- ment specifications may lead to improper performance and compromise safety!”
•Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap the blade or wear gloves, and use extra caution when servicing them.
•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.
•After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, disconnect the spark plug wire and ground against the engine. Thoroughly in- spect the mower for any damage. Repair the damage before starting and operating the mower.
•Never attempt to make a wheel or cutting height adjustment while the engine is running.
•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 replace immediately with original equip- ment manufacturer’s (O.E.M.) parts only, listed in this manual. “Use of parts which do not meet the original equipment specifi- cations may lead to improper performance and compromise safety!
•Do not change the engine governor setting or overspeed the engine. The governor controls the maximum safe operating speed of the engine.
•Maintain or replace safety labels, as necessary.
•Observe proper disposal laws and regulations. Improper dis- posal of fluids and materials can harm the environment.
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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