Murray 22" Front Drive manual Safe Operation Practices for Walk-Behind Mowers, General Operation

IMPORTANT

Safe Operation Practices for Walk-Behind Mowers.

This cutting machine is capable of amputating hands and feet and throwing objects. Failure to ob- serve the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death.

I.General Operation

1.Read, understand, and follow all instruc- tions on the machine and in the manual(s). Be thoroughly familiar with the controls and the proper use of the mower before starting.

2.Do not put hands or feet near or under rotat- ing parts. Keep clear of the discharge open- ing at all times.

3.Only allow responsible individuals, who are familiar with the instructions, to operate the mower.

4.Thoroughly inspect the mower and area where the equipment is to be used. Clear the area of objects such as rocks, toys, wire, bones, sticks etc., which could be picked up and thrown by the blade.

5.Be sure the area is clear of other people be- fore mowing. Stop mower if anyone enters the area.

tion which can cause drowsiness or affect your ability to operate this machine safely.

15.Never operate mower in wet grass. Always be sure of your footing; keep a firm hold on the handle and walk; never run.

16.Disengage the self-propelled mechanism or drive clutch on mowers so equipped be- fore starting the engine (motor).

17.If the equipment should start to vibrate ab- normally, stop the engine (motor) and check immediately for the cause. Vibration is gen- erally a warning of trouble such as a blade that is damaged, a loose blade, or the en- gine mounting bolts are loose.

18.Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side shields when operating mower to protect your eyes from foreign ob- jects which can be thrown from the unit.

19.Plan your mowing pattern to avoid dis- charge of material toward roads, sidewalks, bystanders and the like.

6.Do not operate the mower when barefoot or wearing open sandals. Always wear sub- stantial foot wear.

7.Do not pull mower backwards unless abso- lutely necessary. Look down and behind be- fore and while moving backwards.

8.Do not operate the mower without proper guards, plates, grass catcher or other safety protective devices in place.

9.See manufacturer’s instructions for proper operation and installation of accessories. Only use accessories approved by the manufacturer.

10.Stop the blade(s) when crossing gravel drives, walks, or roads.

11.Stop the engine (motor) whenever you leave the equipment, before cleaning the mower or unclogging the chute.

12.Shut the engine (motor) off and wait until the blade comes to complete stop before re- moving grass catcher.

13.Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.

14.Do not operate the mower while under the

influence of alcohol, drugs or other medica-	4
F-050442L

20.After striking a foreign object, stop the en- gine. Remove the wire from the spark plug. Inspect the blade and mower for damage. If damaged, repair before starting and operat- ing the mower.

21.Keep any washout ports and other mower housing service openings closed when mowing.

II. Slope Operation

Slopes are a major factor related to slip and fall accidents which can result in severe injury. All slopes require extra caution. If you feel uneasy on a slope, do not mow it.

DO:

Mow across the face of slopes; never up and down. Do not mow excessively steep slopes (maximum 15 degrees) or areas where the ground is very rough. See the “Guide” in the back of this manual to check a slope. Exercise extreme caution when changing direction on slopes.

Remove objects such as rocks, tree limbs, etc.

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

(Continued Following Page)