3

GENERAL OPERATION

•Read this owner’s guide carefully in its entirety
before attempting to assemble this machine.
Read, understand, and follow all instructi ons on
the machine and in the manual(s) before
operation. Be completely familiar with the controls
and the proper use of this machine before
operating it. Keep this manual in a safe place for
future and regular reference, and for ordering
replacement parts.
•Your rotary mower is a precision piece of power
equipment, not a plaything. Therefore, exercis e
extreme caution at all times. Your unit has been
designed to perform one job: to mow grass. Do not
use it for any other purpose.
•Never allow children under 14 years old to o perate
a power mower. Children 14 years old and over
should only operate mower under close parental
supervision. Only responsible individual s who are
familiar with these rules of safe operation should
be allowed to use your mower.
•Keep the area of operation clear of al l persons,
particularly small children and pets. Stop engi ne
when they are in the vicinity of your mower to help
prevent blade contact or thrown object injury.
Although the area of operation should be
completely cleared of foreign objects, an obj ect
may have been overlooked and could be
accidentally thrown by the mower in any dir ection
and cause serious personal injury to the operato r
or any others allowed in the area.
•Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment
is to be used. Remove all stones, sticks, wire,
bones, toys and other foreign objects which coul d
be picked up and thrown by the mower in any
direction and cause serious personal injury to the
operator or any others allowed in the area. Plan
your mowing pattern to avoid discharge of material
toward roads, sidewalks, bystanders and the like.
To help avoid a thrown object’s injury, keep
children, bystanders and helpers at least 75 feet
from the mower while it is in operation.
•Always wear safety glasses or safety goggle s
during operation or while performing an adjustment
or repair, to protect eyes from foreign object s that
may be thrown from the machine in any direction.
•Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close-
fitting slacks and shirts. Shirts and pants that cove r
the arms and legs and steel-toed shoes are
recommended. Do not wear loose fitting clothes or
jewelry. They can be caught in moving parts. Never
operate a unit in bare feet, sandals, slippery or ligh t
weight (e.g. canvas) shoes.
•Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating
parts. Keep clear of discharge opening at all ti mes
as the rotating blade can cause injury.
•Many injuries occur as a result of the mower being
pulled over the foot during a fall. Do not hang on to
the mower if you are falling; release the handle
immediately.
•Never pull the mower toward you while you are
walking. If you must back the mower away from a
This symbol points out important safety instructions which, if not followed, could endanger the per-
sonal safety and/or property of yourself and others. Read and follow all instructions in this manual before
attempting to operate your lawn mower. Failure to comply with these instruc tions may result in personal
injury. When you see this symbol—heed its warning.
SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES
Your lawn mower was built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation in this
manual. As with any type of power equipmen t, carelessness or error on the part of the operator
can result in serious injury. If you violate any of these rules, you may cause serious injury to
yourself or others.
DANGER:
This unit is equipped with an internal combustion eng ine and sho uld not b e used on or near any un improved
forest-covered, brush-covered or grass- covere d land un less the engine’s exhaust s ystem is equipped w ith a
spark arrester meeting applicable local or state laws (if an y). I f a spar k arrest er is used , it sh ould be
maintained in effective working order by the operat or.
In the State of California the above is required by law (Sec tion 444 2 of the Cal iforni a Public R esource s
Code). Other states may have similar laws. Federal la ws apply on federal la nds. A spar k arres ter for the
muffler is available through your nearest Sears Authorized Service Center (See the REPAIR PARTS section
of this manual.)
WARNING: The engine exhaust from this product contains chemic als known to the State o f Calif ornia to
cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductiv e harm.

SAFETY