Safety Instructions
13
18. If the cutting blades strike a solid object or the
machine begins to vibrate abnormally,
immediately disengage the blade clutch
(PTO), stop the engine, and wait for all moving
parts to stop.
To prevent accidental starting,
disconnect the spark plug wires. Thoroughly
inspect the mower and repair any damage before
restarting the engine and operating the mower.
Make sure cutter blades are in good condition
and blade bolts are torqued to 64 ft-lb (86.8 N
·
m).
19.
Do not touch the engine or muffler while the
engine is running
or immediately after stop ping
the engine. These areas may be hot enough to
cause serious burns.
20. When leaving the machine unattended,
disen-
gage the blade clutch (PTO), stop the engine,
and remove the key.
MAINTENANCE
1. To prevent accidental starting of the engine when
servicing or adjusting the machine, remove the
key from the ignition switch and disconnect the
spark plug wires.
2.
To reduce fire hazards,
keep the engine free of
grass, leaves, excessive grease, and dirt.
3. Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to ensure
the machine is in a safe, working condition.
Check the blade mounting bolts frequently, mak-
ing sure they are tight.
4.
Perform only maintenance instructions de-
scribed in this manual.
Unauthorized mainte-
nance operations or machine modifications may
result in unsafe operating conditions.
5. If the engine must be running to perform a main-
tenance adjustment, keep hands, feet, and cloth-
ing away from moving parts.
Do not wear jew-
elry or loose clothing.
6.
Always use the proper engine service
manual when working on the engine.
Unauthorized maintenance operations or
modifications to the engine may result in
unsafe operating conditions.
7. Altering the equipment or engine in any manner
which adversely affects its operation, perfor-
mance, durability, or use will
VOID the warranty
and may cause hazardous conditions.
8. Never attempt to disconnect any safety devices
or defeat the purpose of these safety devices.
9. Do not change the engine governor settings or
overspeed the engine. The governor has been
factory-set for maximum-safe engine operating
speed.
10.
Use genuine factory replacement parts.
Sub-
stitute parts may result in product malfunction
and possible injury to the operator and/or others.
11.
Use care when charging the battery
or per-
forming maintenance on the battery and electri-
cal system:
a. Make sure the battery charger is unplugged
before connecting or disconnecting cables
to the battery.
b. Charge the battery in a well-ventilated
space, so gases produced while charging
can dissipate. Make sure the battery vents
in the caps are open.
c. Keep sparks, flames, and smoking materi als
away from the battery at all times. To avoid
sparks, use care when removing bat tery
cables from posts.
d. Disconnect both battery cables before
unplugging any wiring connectors or making
repairs on the electrical system.
IMPORTANT:
Keep all applicable manuals im-
mediately accessible to anyone who may oper-
ate or service this machine.
