Operator's Manual

3
understand the contents of this manual befor e the
motor is ever started. Pay particular attention to the
safety alert symbol which means CAUTION,
W ARNING, OR DANGER — “personal safety
instruction.” Read and understand the instruction
because it has to do with safety . Failur e to comply with
instruction may r esult in personal injury .
The snowthrower is designed and tested to of fer
reasonably safe service; however , failur e to comply with
the following instructions may r esult in personal
injury.
General Snowthrower Safety
The following instructions have been adapted from the
ANSI/OPEI standard B71.3—1995 and ISO standard
8437:1989. Information or terminology specific to T oro
snowthrowers is enclosed in parenthesis.
Training
• Read the operator ’ s manual carefully . Be thoroughly
familiar with the controls and the proper use of the
equipment. Know how to stop the unit and disengage
the controls quickly .
•
Never allow children to operate the equipment. Never
allow adults to operate the equipment without proper
instruction.
•
Keep the area of operation clear of all persons,
particularly small children and pets.
• Exercise caution to avoid slipping or falling, especially
when operating in reverse.
Preparation
• Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment is to
be used and remove all doormats, sleds, boards, wires,
and other foreign objects.
• Disengage all clutches and shift into neutral before
starting the engine.
• Do not operate the equipment without wearing
adequate winter garments. W ear footwear which will
improve footing on slippery surfaces.
• Handle fuel with care; it is highly flammable.
• Use an approved fuel container .
•
Never add fuel to a running or hot engine.
• Fill fuel tank outdoors with extreme care. Never
fill fuel tank indoors.
• Replace gasoline caps securely and wipe up spilled
fuel.
• Use only the power cord supplied with the
snowthrower and a receptacle appropriate for use with
the cord for electric starting motors.
• Adjust the collector (auger) housing height to clear
gravel or crushed rock surface. (This is not necessary
on single-stage snowthrowers.)
• Never attempt to make any adjustments while the
engine is running, except where specifically
recommended by manufacturer (T oro).
•
Let engine and machine adjust to outdoor temperatures
before starting to clear snow .
•
The operation of any powered machine can result in
foreign objects being thrown into the eyes. Always
wear safety glasses or eye shields during operation or
while performing an adjustment or repair .
Operation
• Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating parts.
Keep clear of the dischar ge opening at all times.
• Exercise extreme caution when operating on or
crossing gravel drives, walks, or roads. Stay alert for
hidden hazards or traf fic.
•
After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, remove
the wire from the spark plug, thoroughly inspect the
snowthrower for any damage, and repair the damage
before restarting and operating the snowthrower .
•
If the unit should start to vibrate abnormally , stop the
engine and check immediately for the cause. V ibration
is generally a warning of trouble.
• Stop the engine whenever you leave the operating
position, before unclogging the collector/impeller
(auger/impeller) housing or dischar ge guide (chute),
and when making any repairs, adjustments, or
inspections.
•
When cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make certain
the collector/impeller (auger/impeller or rotor blades)
and all moving parts have stopped. Disconnect the
spark-plug wire, and keep the wire away from the plug
to prevent someone from accidentally starting the
engine. Disconnect the cable on electric motors.
• Do not run the engine indoors, except when starting it
and for moving the snowthrower in or out of the
building. Open the outside doors; exhaust fumes are
dangerous.
•
Do not clear snow across the face of slopes. Exercise
extreme caution when changing direction on slopes.
Do not attempt to clear steep slopes.
• Never operate the snowthrower without proper guards.
plates or other safety protective devices in place.