Operator's Manual

FuelSpecication
Petroleum
fuel
Useunleadedgasolinewithanoctaneratingof87
orhigher((R+M)/2ratingmethod).
Useanunleaded-gasolineblendwithupto10%
ethanol(gasohol)or15%MTBE(methyltertiary
butylether)byvolumeisacceptable.Ethanoland
MTBEarenotthesame.
Ethanol
blended
fuel
Gasolinewith15%ethanol(E15)byvolumeis
notapprovedforuse.Neverusegasolinethat
containsmorethan10%ethanolbyvolume,such
asE15(contains15%ethanol),E20(contains
20%ethanol),orE85(containsupto85%
ethanol).Usingunapprovedgasolinemaycause
performanceproblemsand/orenginedamage
whichmaynotbecoveredunderwarranty.
Important:Forbestresults,useonlyclean,fresh
fuel(lessthan30daysold).
•Donotusegasolinecontainingmethanol.
•Donotstorefueleitherinthefueltankorfuel
containersoverthewinterunlessyouuseafuel
stabilizer.
•Donotaddoiltogasoline.
Using
Stabilizer/Conditioner
Useafuelstabilizer/conditionerinthemachineto
providethefollowingbenets:
Important:Donotusefueladditivescontaining
methanolorethanol.
Addthecorrectamountoffuelstabilizer/conditioner
tothegasoline.
Note:Afuelstabilizer/conditionerismosteffective
whenmixedwithfreshgasoline.T ominimizethe
chanceofvarnishdepositsinthefuelsystem,usefuel
stabilizeratalltimes.
FillingtheFuelTank
1.Parkthemachineonalevelsurfaceandshut
offtheengine.
2.Allowtheenginetocool.
3.Cleanaroundthefuel-tankcapandremoveit
(Figure6).
4.Addfueltothefueltankuntiltheleveloffuelis
atthebottomofthellerneck.
5.Installthefuel-tankcapsecurely.
6.Wipeupanyfuelthatmayhavespilled.
CheckingtheEngine-Oil
Level
Beforeyoustarttheengineandusethemachine,
checktheoillevelintheenginecrankcase;referto
CheckingtheEngine-OilLevel(page17).
DuringOperation
DuringOperatingSafety
GeneralSafety
•Wearappropriateclothingincludingeyeprotection;
hearingprotection;protectivegloves;longpants;
andsubstantial,slip-resistantfootwear.Tieback
longhair,securelooseclothing,anddonotwear
loosejewelry.
•Donotoperatethemachinewhileill,tired,or
undertheinuenceofalcoholordrugs.
•Thebladeissharp;contactingthebladecanresult
inseriouspersonalinjury.Shutofftheengine,
removetheignitionkey(ifequiped),andwaitforall
movingpartstostopbeforeleavingtheoperating
position.
•Keepbystanders,especiallysmallchildren,outof
theoperatingarea.Stopthemachineifanyone
entersthearea.
•Alwayslookdownandbehindyoubeforemoving
themachineinreverse.
•Operatethemachineonlyingoodvisibilityand
appropriateweatherconditions.Donotoperate
themachinewhenthereistheriskoflighting.
•Wetgrassorleavescancauseseriousinjuryif
youslipandcontacttheblade.Avoidmowingin
wetconditions.
•Useextremecarewhenapproachingblind
corners,shrubs,trees,orotherobjectsthatmay
blockyourview.
•Watchforholes,ruts,bumps,rocks,orother
hiddenobjects.Uneventerraincouldcausethe
machinetooverturnorcauseyoutoloseyour
balanceorfooting.
•Ifthemachinestrikesanobjectorstartstovibrate,
immediatelyreleasetheblade-controlclutch,
shutofftheengine,removethekey,waitforall
movingpartstostop,anddisconnectthewire
fromthesparkplugbeforeexaminingthemachine
fordamage.Makeallnecessaryrepairsbefore
resumingoperation.
•Beforeleavingtheoperatingposition,shutoffthe
engine,removetheignitionkey,andwaitforall
movingpartstostop.
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