Yard Machines 540 manual Your Responsibility, Do not

DO:

•Mow across the face of slopes; never up and down. Exercise extreme caution when changing direction on slopes.

•Watch for holes, ruts, hidden objects, or bumps. Tall grass can hide obstacles.

•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 in less than 3 seconds.

DO NOT:

•Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embankments. The operator could lose footing or balance.

•Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees as shown on the slope gauge.

•Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced footing could cause slipping.

3.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. 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.

•Never allow children under age 14 to operate the mower.

•Use extreme care when approaching blind corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects that may obscure your vision of a child or hazard.

4.SERVICE

•Use extreme care in handling gasoline and other fuels. They are extremely flammable and the vapors are explosive.

•Use only an approved gasoline container.

•Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the engine is running. Allow engine to cool at least two minutes before refueling.

•Replace gasoline cap securely and wipe off any spilled gasoline before starting the engine as it may cause a fire or explosion.

•Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources of ignition.

•Never refuel machine indoors because flammable vapors will accumulate in the area.

•Never store the machine or fuel container inside where there is an open flame or spark such as a gas water heater, space heater, or furnace.

•Never run an engine inside a closed area.

•To reduce fire hazard, keep mower free of grass, leaves, or other debris build-up. Clean up oil or fuel spillage. Allow mower 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., 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.

•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 starting and operating the mower.

•Never attempt to make a wheel or cutting height adjustment while the engine is running.

•Grass catcher components are subject to wear, damage and deterioration, which could expose moving parts or allow objects to be thrown. For 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 them.

•Do not change the engine governor setting or overspeed the engine. Excessive engine speeds are dangerous.

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.

•Following are representations of the safety labels on your lawn mower. Maintain safety while operating the mower.

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