5
s
ectiOn
2 — i
MpOrtant
s
afe
O
peratiOn
p
ractices
If situations occur which are not covered in this manual, use
33.
care and good judgment. 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. 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:
Mow across the face of slopes; never up and down. Exercise
1.
extreme caution when changing direction on slopes.
Watch for holes, ruts, rocks, hidden objects, or bumps
2.
which can cause you to slip or trip. Tall grass can hide
obstacles.
Always be sure of your footing. A slip and fall can
3.
cause serious personal injury. If you feel you are losing
your balance, release the motor/blade control handle
immediately, and the blade will stop rotating within three
(3) seconds.
Do Not:
Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embankments, you
1.
could lose your footing or balance.
Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees as shown on
2.
the slope gauge.
Do not mow on wet grass. Unstable footing could cause
3.
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.
Keep children out of the mowing area and under watchful
1.
care of a responsible adult other than the operator.
Be alert and turn mower off if a child enters the area.
2.
Before and while moving backwards, look behind and
3.
down for small children.
Use extreme care when approaching blind corners,
4.
doorways, shrubs, trees, or other objects that may obscure
your vision of a child who may run into the mower.
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.
Service
When servicing mower, use original equipment
1.
manufacturer (OEM) replacement parts listed in this
manual. “Use of parts which do not meet the original
equipment specifications may lead to improper
performance and compromise safety!”
Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make certain the
2.
blade and all moving parts have stopped. Disconnect the
power cord when not in use and to prevent unintended
starting.
Follow instructions for lubricating and changing
3.
accessories.
Inspect lawn mower cord and extension cords periodically
4.
and replace immediately, if damaged. Lawn mower cord
should be repaired by an authorized service dealer only.
Keep handles dry, clean and free from oil and grease.
5.
To reduce a fire hazard, keep the motor free of grass, leaves
6.
and debris build-up.
Check the blade and motor mounting bolts at frequent
7.
intervals for proper tightness. Also, visually inspect blade
for damage (e.g., bent, cracked, and worn) Replace blade
with the original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) blade
only, listed in this manual.
Maintain your mower with care — Keep mower blade sharp
8.
and clean for best and safest performance. Mower blades
are sharp and can cut, wrap the blade or wear gloves and
use extra caution when servicing them.
Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure the
9.
equipment is in safe working condition.
Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper
10.
operation regularly.
After striking a foreign object, stop the motor and
11.
disconnect the power cord. Thoroughly inspect the mower
for any damage. Repair the damage before operating the
mower.
Grass catcher components (if provided), discharge cover,
12.
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 (OEM) parts only, listed in this manual.
When not in use, store lawn mower indoors in a dry area,
13.
locked-up and/or out of the reach of children.
Maintain or replace safety and instructional labels, as
14.
necessary.
According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission
15.
(CPSC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
this product has an
Average Useful Life
of seven (7) years,
or 140 hours of operation. At the end of the
Average Useful
Life
have the machine inspected annually by an authorized
service dealer to ensure that all mechanical and safety
systems are working properly and not worn excessively.
Failure to do so can result in accidents, injuries or death.
