4
•
The blade control handle is a safety device. Never
attempt to bypass its operation. Doing so makes
the safety device inoperative and may result in
personal injury through contact with the rotating
blade. The blade control handle must operate
easily in both directions and automatically return to
the disengaged position when released.
•
Never operate the mower in wet grass. Always be
sure of your footing. A slip and fall can cause
serious personal injury.
•
Keep a firm hold on the handle and walk, never
run. If you feel you are losing your footing,
RELEASE THE BLADE CONTROL HANDLE
IMMEDIATELY and the blade will stop rotating
within three seconds.
•
Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.
•
Stop the blade when crossing gravel drives, walks
or roads.
•
If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally,
stop the engine and check immediately for the
cause. Vibration is generally a warning of trouble.
•
Shut the engine off and wait until the blade comes
to a complete stop before removing the grass
catcher or unclogging the chute. The cutting blade
continues to rotate for a few seconds after the
engine is shut off. Never place any part of the body
in the blade area until you are sure the blade has
stopped rotating.
•
Never operate mower without proper guards,
grass catcher, plates or other safety protective
devices in place.
•
Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a
burn. Do not touch.
•
Only use accessories approved for this machine
by the manufacturer.
•
Read, understand, and follow all instructions
provided with the approved accessory.
•
If situations occur which are not covered in this
manual, use care and good judgment. Contact
your dealer for assistance. Telephone 1-800-800-
7310 for the name of your nearest dealer.
Slope Operation
•
For your safety, use the slope gauge included as
part of this manual to measure slopes before
operating this unit on a sloped or hilly area. If the
slope is greater than 15 degrees as shown on the
slope gauge, do not operate this unit on that area
or serious injury could result.
Do:
•
Mow across the face of slopes; never up and
down. Exercise extreme caution when changing
direction on slopes.
•
Watch for holes, ruts, hidden objects, or bumps.
Tall grass can hide obstacles.
•
Always be sure of your footing. A slip and fall can
cause serious personal injury. If you feel you are
losing your balance release the blade control
handle immediately and the blade will stop in less
than 3 seconds.
Do not:
•
Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or
embankments. The operator could lose footing or
balance.
•
Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees as
shown on the slope gauge.
•
Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced footing could
cause slipping.
Children
•
Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not
alert to the presence of children. Children are often
attracted to the mower and the mowing activity.
Never assume that children will remain where you
last saw them.
•
Keep children out of the mowing area and under
the watchful care of a responsible adult other than
the operator.
•
Be alert and turn mower off if a child enters the
area.
•
Before and while moving backwards, look behind
and down for small children or other objects.
•
Never allow children under age 14 to operate the
mower. Children 14 years of age and above
should read and understand the operation
instructions and safety rules in this manual.
•
Use extreme care when approaching blind
corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects that may
obscure your vision of a child or hazard.
Service
•
Use extreme care in handling gasoline and other
fuels. They are extremely flammable and the
vapors are explosive.
•
Use only an approved gasoline container.
•
Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the engine
is running. Allow engine to cool at least two
minutes before refueling.
•
Replace gasoline cap securely and wipe off any
spilled gasoline before starting the engine as it
may cause a fire or explosion.
•
Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other
sources of ignition.
•
Never refuel machine indoors because flammable
vapors will accumulate in the area.
•
Never store the machine or fuel container inside
where there is an open flame or spark such as a
gas water heater, space heater, or furnace.
•
Never run an engine inside a closed area.