4Section 2 — important Safe operation practiceS

Safe Handling of Gasoline:

To avoid personal injury or property damage use extreme c are
in handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremely flammabl e and the
vapors are explosive. Serious personal injury can occur wh en
gasoline is spilled on yourself or your clothes which can ignite.
Wash your skin and change clothes immediately.
a. Use only an approved gasoline container.
b. Never fill containers inside a vehicle or on a truck
or trailer bed with a plastic liner. Always place
containers on the ground away from your vehicle
before filling.
c. When practical, remove gas-powered equipment
from the truck or trailer and refuel it on the ground.
If this is not possible, then refuel such equipment on
a trailer with a portable container, rather than from a
gasoline dispenser nozzle.
d. Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim of the fuel
tank or container opening at all times until fueling is
complete. Do not use a nozzle lock-open device.
e. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other
sources of ignition.
f. Never fuel machine indoor s.
g. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the engine
is hot or running. Allow engine to cool at least two
minutes before refueling.
h. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more than ½
inch below bottom of filler neck to allow space for
fuel expansion.
i. Replace gasoline cap and t ighten securely.
j. If gasoline is spilled, wip e it off the engine and
equipment. Move unit to another area. Wait 5
minutes before starting the engine.
k. To reduce fire hazards, keep machine free of grass,
leaves, or other debris build-up. Clean up oil or fuel
spillage and remove any fuel soaked debris.
l. Never store the machine or fu el container inside
where there is an open flame, spark or pilot light
as on a water heater, space heater, furnace, clothes
dryer or other gas appliances.
Operation
1. Do not put hands and feet near rotating parts or in the
feeding chambers and discharge opening. Contact with
the rotating impeller can amputate fingers, hands, and
feet.
2. Before starting the machine, make sure the chipper chute,
feed intake, and cutting chamber are empty and free of all
debris.
3. Thoroughly inspect all material to be shredded and remove
any metal, rocks, bottles, cans, or other foreign obje cts
which could cause personal injury or damage to the
machine.
4. If it becomes necessary to push material through the
shredder hopper, use a small diameter stick. Do not use
your hands or feet.
5. If the impeller strikes a foreign object or if your machine
should start making an unusual noise or vibration,
immediately shut the engine off. Allow the impeller to
come to a complete stop. Disconnect the spark plug wire,
ground it against the engine and perform the following
steps:
a. Inspect for damage.
b. Repair or replace any damaged parts.
c. Check for any loose parts and tighten to assure
continued safe operation.
6. Do not allow an accumulation of processed material to
build up in the discharge area. This can prevent proper
discharge and result in kickback of material through the
feed opening.
7. Do not attempt to shred or chip material larger than
specified on the machine or in this manual. Personal injury
or machine damage could result.
8. Never attempt to unclog either the feed intake or discharge
opening while the engine is running. Shut the engine off,
wait until all moving parts have stopped, disconnect the
spark plug wire and ground it against the engine before
clearing debris.
9. Never operate without the shredder hopper, chipper chute,
or chute deflector properly attached to the ma chine.
Never empty or change discharge bag while the engine is
running.
10. Keep all guards, deflectors and safety devices in place and
operating properly.
11. Keep your face and body back and to the side of the
chipper chute while feeding material into the machine to
avoid accidental kickback injuries.
12. Never operate this machine without good visibility or light.
13. Do not operate this machine on a paved, gravel or non-
level surface.
14. Do not operate this machine while under the influence of
alcohol or drugs.
15. Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a burn. D o
not touch.
16. Never pick up or carry machine while the engine is running.
17. If situations occur which are not covered in this manual, use
care and good judgement. Contact Customer Support for
assistance and the name of the nearest service dealer.
Maintenance & Storage
1. Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper
operation regularly.
2. Check bolts and screws for proper tightness at frequent
intervals to keep the machine in safe working condition.
Also, visually inspect machine for any damage and repair, if
needed.