RULES FOR SAFE OPERATION

• IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS •

WARNING: When using electric gardening appliances, basic safety precautions should always be followed to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, and personal injury, including the following:

TRAINING

WARNING: When using the unit, you must follow the safety rules. Please read these instructions before operating the unit in order to ensure the safety of the operator and any bystanders. Please keep these instructions for later use.

•Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the machine and in the manual(s) before attempting to assemble and operate. Be thoroughly familiar with the controls and the proper use of the cultivator. Keep this manual in a safe place for future and regular reference and for ordering replacement parts.

•Be familiar with all controls and their proper operation. Know how to stop the machine and disengage tines quickly.

•Never allow children under 14 years old to operate this machine. Children 14 years old and over should read and understand the operation instructions and safety rules in this manual and should be trained and supervised by a parent.

•Never allow adults to operate this machine without proper instruction.

•Keep bystanders, helpers, pets, and children at least 50 feet from the machine while it is in operation. Stop machine if anyone enters the area.

PREPARATION

•Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment is to be used. Remove all stones, sticks, wire, and other foreign objects which could be tripped over and cause personal injury.

WARNING: To reduce risk of electric shock use only UL Listed extension cord suitable for outdoor use, such as Type SW-A, SOW-A, STW-A, STOW- A, SJW-A, SJOW-A, SJTW-A, or SJTOW-A.

•Extension Cord—Make sure your extension cord set is in good condition, is heavy enough to carry the current your cultivator will draw.

MINIMUM WIRE SIZE FOR EXTENSION CORDS FOR 120 VOLT APPLIANCES USING 6-10 AMPS

Cord Length (ft.)

25

50

100

150

 

 

 

 

 

Wire Size (AWG)

18

16

14

12

 

 

 

 

 

If in doubt, use the next heavier gage cord. The smaller the gage number, the heavier the cord. An undersized cord will cause a drop in line voltage resulting in loss of power and overheating. To reduce the likelihood of disconnection of the extension cord set from the cultivator, be sure to use the cord restraint provided.

•If extension cord is damaged in any manner while plugged in, disconnect extension cord from house receptacle.

WARNING: Do not change the plug on the cultivator in any way.

•Inspect cultivator cord periodically, and if damaged, have it repaired by an authorized service facility. Inspect extension cord periodically and replace if damaged.

•Dress properly. Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close-fitting slacks and shirts. Loose fitting clothes or jewelry can be caught in movable parts. Never operate this machine in bare feet or sandals. Use of rubber gloves is recommended when working outdoors. Wear protective hair covering to contain long hair.

•Wear safety glasses or goggles when operating this unit. Wear a face or dust mask if the operation is dusty. Such protective equip- ment is available from your authorized service dealer or retailer.

•Use the right tool. Do not use cultivator for any job except that for which it is intended.

Cover of Grounded Outlet Box

Grounding Pin

Rigid Ear/

Metal Screw

Adapter

•Grounding Instructions—The cultivator should be grounded while in use to reduce the risk of electric shock to the operator. The cultivator is equipped with a three-conductor cord and a three- prong grounding plug to fit the proper grounding receptacle. The green (or green and yellow) wire conductor in the cord is the grounding wire. Never connect the green (or green and yellow) wire to a live terminal. Your cultivator has a plug as illustrated in Fig. A. An adapter, illustrated in Fig. C, is available for connecting plugs as illustrated in Fig. B to two-prong receptacles. The green- colored rigid ear, lug, or the like, must be connected to a permanent ground, such as a properly grounded outlet box.

•Use only three-wire outdoor extension cords that have three- prong grounding plugs and grounding receptacles that accept the cultivator’s plug.

•Keep handle dry, clean, and free from oil and grease.

•Fuses—The cultivator should be operated on a 15 or 20 AMP circuit. If difficulty in starting is experienced with a standard 15 AMP fuse or circuit breaker or the cultivator’s built-in overload protection switch frequently trips, contact your nearest authorized service location. Do not use a higher rated fuse without consulting your power company.

•Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection should be provided on the circuit(s) or outlet(s) to be used for the cultivator. Receptacles are available having built-in GFCI protection and may be used for this measure of safety.

•Never attempt to make any adjustments while motor is running.

OPERATION

•Avoid dangerous environment. Don’t use cultivator in damp or wet locations.

•Don’t use the cultivator in the rain.

•Do not operate cultivator on excessively steep slopes.

•Avoid unintentional starting. Don’t carry plugged-in cultivator with your hands/fingers on the motor starting controls.

•Do not abuse cord. Never pull or carry the cultivator by cord or yank the cord to disconnect it from the receptacle. Keep cord away from heat, oil, and sharp edges.

•If extension cord is damaged in any manner while plugged in, disconnect extension cord from house receptacle.

•Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts. Contact with the rotating parts can amputate fingers, hands, and feet.

•Do not operate machine while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

•Only operate cultivator in daylight or good artificial light. Don’t overreach. Keep proper footing and balance and a firm hold on the handle at all times.

•Stay alert. Watch what you are doing. Use common sense. Do not operate cultivator when you are tired.

•Don’t force cultivator. It will do a better job and with less likelihood of a risk of injury if operated at the rate for which it was designed.

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