• Iftheequipmentshouldstartto vibrateabnormally,stoptheengineand
checkimmediatelyfor thecause.Vibrationisgenerallya warningof
trouble.
• Shutthe engineoff andwait untilthe bladecomesto acompletestop
beforeremovingthe grasscatcheror uncloggingthe chute.
Thecuttingbladecontinuestorotateforafewsecondsafterthe engine
isshut off.Neverplaceanypartofthe bodyinthe bladearea untilyou
aresurethe bladehasstoppedrotating.
• Neveroperatemowerwithoutpropertrailshield,dischargecover,grass
catcher,bladecontrolhandle,orothersafetyprotectivedevicesinplace
andworking.Neveroperatemowerwithdamagedsafetydevices.Failure
todosocan resultinpersonalinjury.
• Mufflerandenginebecomehotand cancauseaburn.Do nottouch.
• Onlyusepartsandaccessoriesmadeforthismachinebymanufacturer.
Failureto dosocanresultin personalinjury.
• Whenstartingengine,pull cordslowlyuntilresistanceisfelt,thenpull
rapidly.Rapidretractionofstartercord(kickback)willpullhandand
armtowardenginefasterthanyoucanletgo.Brokenbones,fractures,
bruisesor sprainscouldresult.
• Ifsituationsoccurwhicharenotcoveredinthismanual,usecareand
goodjudgment.ContactyourSearsServiceCenterforassistance.
SLOPE OPERATION
Slopesareamajorfactorrelatedto slipandfallaccidentswhichcanresultin
severeinjury.Operationon slopesrequiresextracaution.Ifyoufeeluneasyon
aslope,donotmowit.Foryoursafety,usethe slopegaugeincludedas part
ofthismanualtomeasureslopesbeforeoperatingthis unitonaslopedor hilly
area.Iftheslopeis greaterthan15degrees,do notmowit.
Do:
• Mowacrossthefaceofslopes; neverupanddown. Exerciseextreme
cautionwhenchangingdirectionon slopes.
• Watchforholes,ruts,rocks, hiddenobjects,orbumpswhich cancause
youto slipor trip.Tallgrasscan hideobstacles.
• Alwaysbe sureofyourfooting.Aslip andfall cancauseseriouspersonal
injury.If youfeelyouarelosingyourbalance,releasethe bladecontrol
handleimmediately,andthe bladewillstoprotatingwithin3 seconds.
Do Not:
• Donotmowneardrop-offs,ditchesorembankments,whereyoucould
loseyourfootingorbalance.
• Donotmowslopesgreaterthan15degreesasshownonthe
slopegauge.
• Donotmowonwetgrass.Unstablefootingcouldcauseslipping.
SERVICE
Safe Handling Of Gasoline:
• Toavoidpersonalinjuryorpropertydamageuseextremecarein
handlinggasoline.Gasolineis extremelyflammableandthevaporsare
explosive.Seriouspersonalinjurycanoccurwhengasolineis spilledon
yourselfor yourclotheswhichcan ignite.Washyourskinandchange
clothesimmediately.
• Useonlyanapprovedgasolinecontainer.
• Neverfill containersinsideavehicleoron atruckor trailerbedwith a
plasticliner.Alwaysplacecontainersonthe groundawayfromyour
vehiclebeforefilling.
• Removegas-poweredequipmentfromthetruckortrailerandrefueliton
theground.Ifthisisnot possible,thenrefuelsuchequipmentonatrailer
witha portablecontainer,ratherthanfromagasolinedispensernozzle.
• Keepthe nozzlein contactwiththe rimofthefueltank or container
openingatalltimesuntilfuelingiscomplete.Donot usea nozzle
lock-opendevice.
• Extinguishall cigarettes,cigars,pipesandother sources
of ignition.
• Neverfuelmachineindoorsbecauseflammablevaporswillaccumu-
latein the area.
• Neverremovegascapor addfuelwhile engineis hotorrunning.
Allowengineto coolatleasttwominutesbeforerefueling.
• Neveroverfillfuel tank.Fill tanktono morethan 1inchbelowbottom
offiller neckto provideforfuel expansion.
• Replacegasolinecapandtightensecurely.
• Ifgasolineisspilled,wipeit offthe engineand equipment.Moveunit
toanotherarea.Wait5minutesbeforestarting engine.
• Neverstorethe machineorfuelcontainernearan openflame,spark
or pilotlightason awaterheater,spaceheater,furnace,clothesdryer,
or othergasappliances.
• Toreducefire hazard,keepmowerfreeofgrass,leaves,or other
debrisbuild-up.Cleanupoilorfuelspillageandremoveanyfuel
soakeddebris.
• Allowamowerto coolatleast5minutesbeforestoring.
General Service:
• Neverrunanengineindoorsorina poorlyventilatedarea.Engine
exhaustcontainscarbon monoxide,anodorlessand deadlygas.
• Beforecleaning,repairing,or inspecting,makecertainthe bladeand
all movingpartshavestopped.Disconnectthe sparkplugwireand
groundagainsttheenginetopreventunintendedstarting.
• Checkthe bladeand enginemountingboltsatfrequentintervals
forpropertightness.Also,visually inspectbladefordamage(e.g.,
bent,cracked,worn) Replacebladewiththe originalequipment
manufacture's(O.E.M.)bladeonly,listedinthis manual."Useofparts
whichdonotmeettheoriginalequipmentspecificationsmayleadto
improperperformanceand compromisesafety!"
• Mowerbladesaresharpandcancut.Wrapthebladeor weargloves,
anduseextracautionwhenservicingthem.
• Keepallnuts,bolts,andscrewstightto besurethe equipmentis in
safeworkingcondition.
• Nevertamperwithsafetydevices.Checktheirproperoperation
regularly.
• Afterstrikingaforeignobject,stoptheengine,disconnectthe spark
plugwireand groundagainstthe engine.Thoroughlyinspectthe
mowerfor anydamage.Repairthe damagebeforestartingand
operatingthe mower.
• Neverattempttomakea wheelor cuttingheightadjustmentwhilethe
engineisrunning.
• Grasscatchercomponents,dischargecover,andtrailshieldare
subjecttowearanddamagewhichcould exposemovingpartsor
allowobjectsto bethrown.Forsafetyprotection,frequentlycheck
componentsandreplaceimmediatelywithoriginalequipment
manufacturer's(O.E.M.)partsonly,listedin thismanual."Useof parts
whichdonotmeettheoriginalequipmentspecificationsmayleadto
improperperformanceand compromisesafety!"
• Donotchangetheenginegovernorsettingoroverspeedthe engine.
Thegovernorcontrolsthe maximumsafeoperatingspeedofthe
engine.Donotcrankenginewithsparkplugremoved.
• Checkfuel line,tank,cap,andfittingsfrequentlyforcracksor leaks.
Replaceif necessary.
• Maintainorreplacesafetyand instructionlabels,as necessary.
• Observeproperdisposallawsandregulations.Improperdisposalof
fluidsandmaterialscanharmtheenvironment.
YourResponsibility:Restrictthe useofthispowermachineto personswhoread,understand,andfollowthe warningsand instructionsin thismanualandonthe
machine.
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