4
2
Safe
Operation
Practices Children
Tragic accidents can occur if operator is not alert to presence
of children. Children are often attracted to mower and mowing
activity. They do not understand the dangers. Never assume
that children will remain where you last saw them.
1. Keep children out of the mowing area and under watchful
care of a responsible adult other than the operator.
2. Be aler t and turn mower off if a child enters the area.
3. Before and while moving backwards, look behind and down
for small children.
4. 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.
5. Keep children away from hot or running engines. They can
suffer burns from a hot muffler.
6. Never allow children under 14 years old to operate a power
mower. Children 14 years old and over should read and
understand operation instructions and safety rules in this
manual and should be trained and supervised by a parent.
General Operation
1. Read th is operator’s manual carefully in its entiret y before
attempting to assemble this machin e. Read, understand,
and follow all instructions on the mac hine and in the
manual(s) before operation. B e completely familiar with
the controls and the proper use of this mac hine before
operating it. Keep this manual in a safe place for fu ture
and regular reference and for ordering repl acement parts.
2. This m achine is a precision piece of power equip ment,
not a plaything. Therefore, exercise extreme cau tion at all
times. Your unit has been designed to perform one jo b: to
mow grass. Do not use it for any other purpose.
3. Never allow c hildren under 14 years old to operate this
machine. Children 14 years old and over should read and
understand the instructions i n this manual and should
be trained and supervised by a parent. On ly responsible
individuals who are familiar with thes e rules of safe
operation should be allowed to use this mac hine.
4. Thor oughly inspect the area where the equip ment is to
be used. Remove all stones, sticks, wire, bones, toys
and other foreign objects, which cou ld be tripped over or
picked up and thrown by the blade. Thrown objec ts can
cause serious personal injury. Plan your mowing pat tern
to avoid discharge of material toward roads, sidewal ks,
bystanders and the like. Also, avoid discharging m aterial
against a wall or obstruction, which m ay cause discharged
material to ricochet back toward the operato r.
5. To help avoid blade con tact or a thrown object injury,
stay in operator zone behind handles and keep chi ldren,
bystanders, helpers and pets at least 75 feet from mo wer
while it is in operation. Stop machine if anyon e enters
area.
6. Always wear safet y glasses or safety goggles during o pera-
tion and while performing an adjust ment or repair to protect
your eyes. Thrown objects which ricochet c an cause serious
injury to the eyes.
7. Wear sturd y, rough-soled work shoes and close-fit ting
slacks and shirts. Shirts and pa nts that cover the arms and
legs and steel-toed shoes are recommend ed. Never operate
this machine in bare feet, sandals, slip pery or light-weight
(e.g. canvas) shoes.
8. Do not pu t hands or feet near rotating parts or under c utting
deck. Contact with blade can ampu tate hands and feet.
9. A miss ing or damaged discharge cover can cause bl ade
contact or thrown object injuries.
10. Many injuries occur as a result of the mower being pull ed
over the foot during a fall caused by slipping or tri pping.
Do not hold on to the mower if you are falling; rele ase the
handle immediately.
11. Never pull the mower back toward you while you are
walking. If you must back the mower away from a wall or
obstruction first look down and be hind to avoid tripping and
then follow these steps:
a. Step b ack from mower to fully extend your arms.
b. Be sur e you are well balanced with sure footing.
c. Pull the mower back slowly, no more than half way
toward you.
d. Rep eat these steps as needed.
12. Do not operate the mower while under the influence of
alcohol or drugs.
13. Do not engage the self-propelled mechani sm on units so
equipped while starting engin e.
14. The blade control handle is a safety device. Never at tempt
to bypass its operation. Doing so makes the safet y device
inoperative and may result in personal injur y through
contact with the rotating blade. The bla de control handle
must operate easily in both directions a nd automatically
return to the disengaged position whe n released.
15. Never operate the mower in wet grass. Always be sure of
your footing. A slip and fall can cause serious p ersonal
injury. If you feel you are losing your footing, release the
blade control handle immediately and t he blade will stop
rotating within three seconds.
16. Mow only in daylight or good artificial lig ht. Walk, never run.
17. Stop the blade when crossing gravel drives, walks or road s.
18. If the equipment should start to vibrate abn ormally, stop the
engine and check immediately for the cau se. Vibration is
generally a warning of trouble.
WARNING: Engine Exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle compo-
nents contain or emit chemicals known to State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive harm.
WARNING
This symbol points
out important safety
instructions which, if
not followed, could
endanger the personal
safety and/or property
of yourself and others.
Read and follow all
instructions in this
manual before at-
tempting to operate
this machine. Failure
to comply with these
instructions may result
in personal injury. When
you see this symbol.
HEED ITS WARNING!
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.
DANGER: This machine was built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation in this
manual. As with any type of power equipment, carelessness or error on the part of the operator
can result in serious injury. This machine is capable of amputating hands and feet and throwing
objects. Failure to observe the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death.