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SECTION 1: IMPORTANT SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES
This symbol points out important safety instructions which, if not followed, could endanger the personal
safety and/or property of yourself and others. Read and follow all instructions in this manual before
attempting to operate your lawn mower. Failure to comply with these instructions may result in personal
injury. When you see this symbol, heed its warning.
DANGER: Your lawn mower was built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation in this manual. As
with any type of power equipment, carelessness or error on the part of the operator can result in serious injury. This
lawn mower is capable of amputating hands and feet and throwing objects. Failure to observe the following safety
instructions could result in serious injury or death.
WARNING: The Engine Exhaust from this product contains chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.
GENERAL OPERATION
•
Read this operator’s manual carefully in its entirety
before attempting to assemble this machine.
Read, understand, and follow all instructions on
the machine and in the manual(s) before
operation. Be completely familiar with the controls
and the proper use of this machine before
operating it. Keep this manual in a safe place for
future and regular reference and for ordering
replacement parts.
•
Your rotary mower is a precision piece of power
equipment, not a plaything. Therefore, exercise
extreme caution at all times. Your unit has been
designed to perform one job: to mow grass. Do not
use it for any other purpose.
•
Never allow children under 14 years old to operate
a power mower. Children 14 years old and over
should only operate mower under close parental
supervision. Only responsible individuals who are
familiar with these rules of safe operation should
be allowed to use your mower.
•
Keep the area of operation clear of all persons,
particularly small children and pets. Stop engine
when they are in the vicinity of your mower to help
prevent blade contact or thrown object injury.
Although the area of operation should be
completely cleared of foreign objects, an object
may have been overlooked and could be
accidentally thrown by the mower in any direction
and cause serious personal injury to the operator
or any others allowed in the area.
•
Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close-
fitting slacks and shirts. Shirts and pants that cover
the arms and legs and steel-toed shoes are
recommended. Do not wear loose fitting clothes or
jewelry. They can be caught in moving parts.
Never operate a unit in bare feet, sandals, slippery
or light weight (e.g. canvas) shoes.
•
Always wear safety glasses or safety goggles
during operation or while performing an
adjustment or repair, to protect eyes from foreign
objects that may be thrown from the machine in
any direction.
•
Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment
is to be used. Remove all stones, sticks, wire,
bones, toys and other foreign objects which could
be picked up and thrown by the mower in any
direction and cause serious personal injury to the
operator or any others allowed in the area. Plan
your mowing pattern to avoid discharge of material
toward roads, sidewalks, bystanders and the like.
To help avoid a thrown objects injury, keep
children, bystanders and helpers at least 75 feet
from the mower while it is in operation.
•
Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating
parts. Keep clear of discharge opening at all times
as the rotating blade can cause injury.
•
Many injuries occur as a result of the mower being
pulled over the foot during a fall. Do not hang on to
the mower if you are falling; release the handle
immediately.
•
Never pull the mower toward you while you are
walking. If you must back the mower away from a
wall or obstruction first look down and behind, and
then follow these steps:
a.
Step back from the mower to fully extend your
arms.
b.
Be sure you are well balanced with sure
footing.
c.
Pull the mower back slowly, no more than half
way toward you.
d.
Repeat these steps as needed.
•
Do not operate the mower while under the
influence of alcohol or drugs.
•
Do not engage the self-propelled mechanism on
units so equipped while starting engine.