Full Product Manual

3Section 1 — important Safe operation practiceS
26. Only use parts and accessories made for
this machine by the manufacturer. Failure
to do so can result in personal injury.
27. When starting engine, pull cord slowly
until resistance is felt, then pull rapidly.
Rapid retraction of starter cord (kickback)
will pull hand and arm toward engine
faster than you can let go. Broken bones,
fractures, bruises or sprains could result.
28. If situations occur which are not covered
in this manual, use care and good
judgement. Contact Customer Support
for assistance or the name of the nearest
service dealer.
Slope Operation
Slopes are a major factor related to slip and
fall accidents, which can result in severe injury.
Operation on slopes requires extra caution. The
machine is heavy and can speed up when going
downhill. Be prepared to maintain control of
the machine. If you feel uneasy on a slope, do
not mow it. For your safety, use the slope gauge
included as part of this manual to measure
slopes before operating this machine on a
sloped or hilly area. If the slope is greater than
15 degrees, do not mow it.
Do:
1. Mow across the face of slopes; never up
and down to avoid loss of control.
2. Exercise extreme caution when changing
direction on slopes; turn uphill not down.
3. Watch for holes, ruts, rocks, hidden
objects, or bumps which can cause you to
slip or trip. Tall grass can hide obstacles.
4. 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
rotating within three (3) seconds.
Do Not:
1. Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches
or embankments, you could lose your
footing or balance.
2. Do not mow slopes greater than 15
degrees as shown on the slope gauge.
3. Do not mow on wet grass. Unstable
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. They do not understand the dangers.
Never assume that children will remain where
you last saw them.
1. Keep children out of the mowing area
and under watchful care of a responsible
adult other than the operator.
2. Be alert and turn mower off if a child
enters the area.
3. Before and while moving backwards, look
behind and down for small children.
4. Use extreme care when approaching
blind corners, doorways, shrubs, trees,
or other objects that may obscure your
vision of a child who may run into the
mower.
5. Keep children away from hot or running
engines. They can suffer burns from a hot
muffler.
6. Never allow children under 14 years of
age to operate this machine. Children 14
and over should read and understand the
instructions and safe operation practices
in this manual and on the machine and
be trained and supervised by an adult.
7. After stopping engine, remove Electric
Start Push Key (if equipped) and keep it in
a safe place out of the reach of children.
Service
Safe Handling Of Gasoline:
1. To avoid personal injury or property
damage use extreme care in handling
gasoline. Gasoline is extremely
flammable and the vapors are explosive.
Serious personal injury can occur when
gasoline is spilled on yourself or your
clothes, which can ignite. Wash your skin
and change clothes immediately.
2. Use only an approved gasoline container.
3. Never fill containers inside a vehicle or on
a truck or trailer bed with a plastic liner.
Always place containers on the ground
away from your vehicle before filling.
4. Remove gas-powered equipment from
the truck or trailer and refuel it on the
ground. If this is not possible, then
refuel such equipment on a trailer with
a portable container, rather than from a
gasoline dispenser nozzle.
5. Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim
of the fuel tank or container opening at
all times until fueling is complete. Do not
use a nozzle lock-open device.
6. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and
other sources
of ignition.
7. Never fuel machine indoors because
flammable vapors will accumulate in the
area.
8. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while
engine is hot or running. Allow engine
to cool at least two minutes before
refueling.
9. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no
more than 1 inch below bottom of filler
neck to provide for fuel expansion.
10. Replace gasoline cap and tighten
securely.
11. If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the
engine and equipment. Move machine
to another area. Wait 5 minutes before
starting engine.
12. Never store the machine or fuel container
near an open flame, spark or pilot light as
on a water heater, space heater, furnace,
clothes dryer or other gas appliances.
13. To reduce fire hazard, keep machine free
of grass, leaves, or other debris build-up.
Clean up oil or fuel spillage and remove
any fuel soaked debris.
14. Allow machine to cool at least 5 minutes
before storing.
General Service:
15. Never run an engine indoors or in a
poorly ventilated area. Engine exhaust
contains carbon monoxide, an odorless
and deadly gas.
16. Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting,
make certain the blade and all moving
parts have stopped. Disconnect the
spark plug wire and ground against the
engine and remove Electric Start Push
Key (if equipped) to prevent unintended
starting.
17. Check the blade and engine mounting
bolts at frequent intervals for proper
tightness. Also, visually inspect blade
for damage (e.g., bent, cracked,
worn). Replace blade with the original
equipment manufacture’s (O.E.M.)
blade only, listed in this manual. “Use
of parts which do not meet the original
equipment specifications may lead to
improper performance and compromise
safety!”
18. Mower blades are sharp and can cut.
Wrap the blade or wear gloves, and use
extra caution when servicing them.
19. Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to
be sure the equipment is in safe working
condition.
20. Never tamper with safety devices. Check
their proper operation regularly.
21. After striking a foreign object, stop
the engine, disconnect the spark plug
wire and ground against the engine.
Thoroughly inspect the mower for any
damage. Repair the damage before
starting and operating the mower.
22. Never attempt to make a wheel or cutting
height adjustment while the engine is
running.
23. Grass catcher components, discharge
cover, and trail shield are subject to wear
and damage which could expose moving
parts or allow objects to be thrown.
For safety protection, frequently check
components and replace immediately
with original equipment manufacturer’s
(O.E.M.) parts only, listed in this manual.
“Use of parts which do not meet the
original equipment specifications may
lead to improper performance and
compromise safety!”
24. Do not change the engine’s governor
setting or over-speed the engine. The
governor controls the maximum safe
operating speed of the engine.
25. Check fuel line, tank, cap, and fittings
frequently for cracks or leaks. Replace if
necessary.
26. Do not crank engine with spark plug
removed.
27. Maintain or replace safety and instruction
labels, as necessary.
28. Observe proper disposal laws and
regulations. Improper disposal of fluids