Simplicity 1691766, Service & Repair Manual

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1 General Information
Safety Rules
1 - 8
Work Area Safety
• Always keep the work area clear of clutter from dis-
carded parts, and debris from parts boxes or packag-
ing materials. Small parts, hardware items, and other
debris or refuse left lying around can become slip,
trip, and fall hazards if not removed and discarded of
properly.
• Always observe general shop safety rules for house-
keeping, and tend to oil spills and other spilled fluids
promptly to prevent slip and fall injuries.
• Allow sufficient work area around the equipment you
are working on to permit comfortable working posi-
tions. Never put yourself in a position that would pre-
vent you from escaping quickly in the event of emer-
gencies such as sudden shifts in equipment position,
fire, or other situations requiring an immediate reac-
tion on your part.
Compressed Air Safety
• Always use care when using compressed air to blow
dirt and debris off equipment - always direct the air
blast away from yourself and others in the area, and
protect your eyes with safety glasses to prevent injury
from particles that may blow back toward your face.
• Never use high pressure air directly against your skin
to clean dirt and debris - the air pressure could actu-
ally force foreign material or fluids into your skin,
causing serious injuries.
• Use care when filling tires - lawn and garden tractors
utilize low pressure tires, and over-pressurization is
hazardous to you and anyone who operates the
equipment with improper tire pressures. Always con-
sult the air pressure recommendations for the unit
involved before adding additional air to the tires.
Grease & Lubricant Safety
• Normal service and maintenance involves the use of
oils and greases that could present a fire hazard if
not handled properly. Always dispose of oily rags
properly to prevent fires caused by spontaneous
combustion.
• Spilled lubricants pose dangerous slip hazards and
must be taken care of immediately. Wipe up spills
carefully, or use absorbent materials to soak up
spilled fluids. Always dispose of rags, paper towels,
and other saturated absorbents properly.
• Store oils and greases away from flame or other igni-
tion sources. Petroleum-based fluids can be ignited
by smoking materials and sparks - always treat oils
and greases as potentially flammable materials.
Always cap oil and grease containers when done
using, and store or dispose of properly.
General Servicing Safety
• Always check safety devices and switches for proper
operation - never alter these devices or make tempo-
rary or makeshift repairs. Use only factory-autho-
rized parts and procedures, and check newly-
installed parts for proper operation.
• Make sure all hardware items are properly tightened,
especially blade attachment bolts. Replace any hard-
ware that appears damaged.
• Check brake operation, and adjust or repair as
required. Always comply with factory specifications
on settings and adjustments.
• Check grass catcher components for wear, damage,
or deterioration, and replace with factory authorized
parts if necessary.
• Always make repairs using factory authorized
replacement parts only. Using parts that don’t meet
factory specifications can result in sudden or prema-
ture failures, poor or erratic equipment performance,
and potential safety hazards to operators and
bystanders.
• Always comply with factory specifications on settings
and adjustments when installing new parts, making
repairs, or performing routine service procedures.
• Always test repairs before releasing units to cus-
tomers, paying special attention to any items that are
safety-related. Correct any problems noted, and re-
check to ensure that the problems have been fully
remedied.
• Make sure all safety and operating instruction decals
are legible, properly located, and securely attached.
Replace any decals that can’t be read or are in dan-
ger of falling off.
• Always advise equipment owners of any potential
operating or safety problems that may be arising due
to anticipated wear, and request that the owner
address the problem before a hazard develops.
• Never allow a unit to be placed back into service if a
serious safety or operating problem is evident.
Advise the owner of the problem and the possible
hazards associated with the problem, and request
permission to correct the deficiencies.
• Use extreme care when working on older models that
do not have all of the latest safety devices and
switches. Disengage the PTO and transmission
before starting the unit, or commencing repairs.
• Always use care when removing or installing parts to
prevent damage from dropping or rough handling.
Support heavy parts properly to prevent damage or
personal injury to yourself and others.