• If theequipmentshould startto vibrateabnormally,stoptheengine and
checkimmediatelyforthe cause.Vibration isgenerallya warningof
trouble.
• Shutthe engineoff and wait untilthe bladecomesto a completestop
beforeremovingthegrass catcheror uncloggingthechute.
Thecuttingblade continuesto rotatefor afewseconds afterthe engine
isshut off. Neverplaceany part ofthe body inthe bladearea until you
aresurethe bladehasstopped rotating.
• Neveroperatemowerwithoutproper trailshield,dischargecover,grass
catcher,bladecontrolhandle,or othersafety protectivedevicesin place
andworking.Neveroperate mowerwithdamagedsafetydevices.Failure
todo so can resultin personalinjury.
• Mufflerand enginebecome hotand can causea burn. Do not touch.
• Only useparts and accessoriesmadefor this machinebymanufacturer.
Failuretodo so can result in personalinjury. For recommendedacces-
sories,call 1-800-659-5917.
• If situationsoccurwhich are not coveredin this manual,use careand
goodjudgment.ContactyourSears ServiceCenterfor assistance.
SLOPE OPERATION
Slopesarea major factorrelatedto slip andfall accidentswhichcan resultin
severeinjury.Operationonslopesrequiresextracaution.If youfeel uneasyon
aslope, donot mow it.For yoursafety,usethe slope guideincludedaspart of
thismanualto measureslopesbeforeoperatingthisunit on a slopedor hilly
area.Ifthe slopeis greaterthan15 degrees,donot mowit.
Do:
• Mowacross theface of slopes; neverup anddown. Exerciseextreme
cautionwhenchangingdirectionon slopes.
• Watchfor holes,ruts, rocks, hiddenobjects,or bumpswhich can cause
youto slipor trip. Tallgrasscan hideobstacles.
• Alwaysbe sureof your footing.A slip andfall cancause seriouspersonal
injury.If youfeel you are losingyour balance,releasethe bladecontrol
handleimmediately,andtheblade will stoprotatingwithin3 seconds.
DoNot:
• Do notmow neardrop-offs, ditchesor embankments,whereyoucould
loseyourfooting or balance.
• Do not mowslopesgreater than 15degrees asshown onthe
slopegauge.
• Do notmow on wetgrass. Unstablefootingcouldcause slipping.
SERVICE
Safe Handling Of Gasoline:
•Toavoidpersonalinjury or propertydamage useextreme care in
handlinggasoline.Gasolineis extremelyflammableandthevapors are
explosive.Seriouspersonalinjurycan occurwhengasolineis spilled on
yourselforyour clotheswhichcan ignite.
• Washyourskin and changeclothes immediately.
• Useonly anapprovedgasolinecontainer.
• Neverfill containersinsidea vehicle or on a truckor trailerbedwith a
plasticliner.Alwaysplace containersonthe groundaway fromyour
vehiclebeforefilling.
• Removegas-poweredequipmentfromthetruck or trailerand refuel iton
theground.If this is not possible,then refuel suchequipmenton a trailer
witha portablecontainer,ratherthan from a gasolinedispenser nozzle.
• Keepthe nozzlein contact withthe rimof the fueltank or container
openingatall times until fueling is complete.Donot usea nozzle
lock-opendevice.
• Extinguishallcigarettes, cigars, pipesand othersources
ofignition.
• Neverfuel machineindoorsbecauseflammablevaporswill accumulate
inthe area.
• Neverremovegas cap or addfuel whileengineis hotor running.
Allowengineto cool at least two minutesbeforerefueling.
• Neveroverfill fuel tank.Fill tank tono morethan V2inchbelowbottom
offiller neckto providefor fuel expansion.
• Replacegasolinecapandtighten securely.
• If gasoline isspilled,wipe it offthe engineand equipment.Moveunit
toanother area.Wait 5 minutesbeforestarting engine.
• Neverstorethe machine orfuel containernearan openflame,spark
orpilot light ason awater heater,spaceheater,furnace,clothes dryer,
orother gasappliances.
• To reducefire hazard,keepmowerfree ofgrass, leaves,or other
debrisbuild-up.Clean upoil or fuel spillageandremove anyfuel
soakeddebris.
• Allowa mowerto coolat least 5 minutesbeforestoring.
General Service:
• Neverrun an engine indoorsor in a poorlyventilatedarea.Engine
exhaustcontainscarbonmonoxide,anodorless and deadlygas.
• Beforecleaning, repairing,orinspecting,make certainthe bladeand
allmoving parts havestopped.Disconnectthe spark plugwire and
groundagainstthe enginetopreventunintendedstarting.
• Checkthe bladeand engine mountingboltsat frequentintervalsfor
propertightness.Also,visuallyinspect bladefor damage(e.g.,bent,
cracked,worn)Replacebladewith the original equipmentmanufac-
ture's(O.E.M.)bladeonly, listedin this manual.Use of partswhich do
notmeetthe originalequipmentspecificationsmaylead to improper
performanceandcompromisesafety!
• Mowerblades are sharpand can cut.Wrap the blade or weargloves,
anduse extra cautionwhenservicing them.
• Keep allnuts, bolts, andscrewstight to be surethe equipmentis in
safeworkingcondition.
• Nevertamperwith safety devices.Check their proper
operationregularly.
• Afterstriking a foreignobject, stop the engine,disconnectthe spark
plugwireand groundagainstthe engine.Thoroughlyinspectthe
mowerforanydamage. Repairthe damagebeforestartingand
operatingthemower.
• Neverattemptto make a wheelor cuttingheightadjustmentwhilethe
engineis running.
• Grasscatchercomponents,dischargecover,andtrailshieldare
subjecttowear and damagewhichcould expose movingpartsor
allowobjectsto be thrown.Forsafety protection,frequentlycheck
componentsandreplaceimmediatelywithoriginal equipment
manufacturer's(O.E.M.)partsonly,listedin this manual.Useof parts
whichdo notmeet the original equipmentspecificationsmayleadto
improperperformanceandcompromisesafety!
• Do not changethe enginegovernorsetting or overspeedthe engine.
Thegovernorcontrolsthe maximumsafeoperatingspeed of the
engine.
• Maintainor replacesafety labels,as necessary.
• Observeproper disposallawsand regulations.Improperdisposalof
fluidsand materialscanharm theenvironment.
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