wall or obstruction first look down and behind, and then follow these steps:
a.Step back from the mower to fully extend your arms.
b.Be sure you are well balanced with sure footing.
c.Pull the mower back slowly, no more than half way toward you.
d.Repeat these steps as needed.
•Do not operate the mower while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
•Do not engage the
•The blade control handle is a safety device. Never attempt to bypass its operation. Doing so makes the safety device inoperative and may result in personal injury through contact with the rotating blade. The blade control handle must operate easily in both directions and automatically return to the disengaged position when released.
•Never operate the mower in wet grass. Always be sure of your footing. A slip and fall can cause serious personal injury. Keep a firm hold on the handle and walk, never run. If you feel you are losing your footing, RELEASE THE BLADE CONTROL HANDLE IMMEDIATLEY and the blade will stop rotating within three seconds.
•Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.
•Stop the blade when crossing gravel drives, walks or roads.
•If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the engine and check immediately for the cause. Vibration is generally a warning of trouble.
•Shut the engine off and wait until the blade comes to a complete stop before removing the grass catcher or unclogging 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.
•Never operate mower without proper guards, grass catcher, plates or other safety protective devices in place.
•Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a burn. Do not touch.
•Do not adjust the throttle control with the engine running.
•Only use accessories approved for this machine by the manufacturer. Read, understand, and follow all instructions provided with the approved accessory.
•If situations occur which are not covered in this manual, use care and good judgment. Contact your dealer for assistance.
Slope Operation
For your safety, use the slope gauge included as part of this manual to measure slopes before operating this unit on a slope or hilly area. If the slope is greater than 15 degrees
as shown on the slope gauge (page 6), do not operate this unit on that area or serious injury could result.
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.
•ON MODELS WITH CASTER WHEELS: Lock both front wheels so they do not pivot while mowing on the face of slopes. To turn the mower, depress the handle and raise the front wheels slightly.
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. Reduced footing could cause slipping.
•ON MOWERS WITH CASTER WHEELS: Do Not mow on slopes with casters unlocked since the mower has a tendency to drift down hill.
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 or other objects.
•Never allow children under age 14 to operate the mower. Children 14 years of age and above should read and understand the operation instructions and safety rules in this manual.
•Use extreme care when approaching blind corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects that may obscure your vision of a child or hazard.
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.
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