14
STORAGE
Immediately prepare your lawn mower for storage at the end of the season or if the unit
will not be used for 30 days or more.
BATTERY
IMPORTANT:
Battery should always be
stored in a fully charged state. Charge
every two weeks, even when not in use.
(See “TO PREPARE BATTERY” in the As-
sembly section of this manual.)
WARNING:
Do not store battery in
temperatures lower than 32° F (0° C).
OTHER
• If possible, store your unit indoors and
cover it to protect it from dust and dirt.
• Cover your unit with a suitable pro tec -
tive cover that does not retain mois ture.
Do not use plastic. Plas tic cannot
breathe, which allows con den sa tion to
form and will cause your unit to rust.
LAWN MOWER
When lawn mower is to be stored for a
period of time, clean it thor oughly, remove
all dirt, grease, leaves, etc. Store in a
clean, dry area.
• Clean entire lawn mower (See “CLEAN-
ING” in the Maintenance section of this
manual).
• Lubricate as shown in the Main te nance
section of this manual.
• Be sure that all nuts, bolts, screws, and
pins are securely fas tened. Inspect
moving parts for damage, breakage and
wear. Replace if necessary.
• Touch up all rusted or chipped paint
surfaces; sand lightly before painting.
HANDLE
You can fold your lawn mower han dle for
storage.
1. Loosen the two cam locks on sides of
the upper handle and allow handle to
fold down to the rear.
2. Loosen the two handle knobs on sides
of the lower handle, lift the sides of
the lower handle past the edges of
the handle brackets and pivot entire
handle as sem bly forward and allow it
to rest on mower.
• When setting up your handle from the
storage position, the lower han dle will
require manually locking into the mow-
ing position.
IMPORTANT:
When folding the handle for
storage or transportation, be sure to fold
the handle as shown or you may damage
the control cables.
FOLD
FORWARD
FOR
STORAGE
MOWING
POSITION
Lower handle
Operator
presence
control bar
Upper
handle
Cam lock
Handle knob
3
I. GENERAL OPERATION
• Read, understand, and follow all
instructions on the machine and in the
manual(s) before starting. Be thoroughly
familiar with the controls and the proper
use of the machine before starting.
• Do not put hands or feet near or under
rotating parts. Keep clear of the dis-
charge opening at all times.
• Only allow responsible adults, who are
familiar with the instructions, to operate
the machine.
• Clear the area of objects such as rocks,
toys, wire, sticks, etc., which could be
picked up and thrown by the blade.
Stay behind the handle when the motor
is running.
• Be sure the area is clear of other people
before mowing. Stop machine if anyone
enters the area.
• Do not operate the mower when bare-
foot or wearing open sandals. Always
wear substantial foot wear.
• Do not pull mower backwards unless
absolutely necessary. Always look down
and behind before and while moving
backwards.
• Never direct discharged material toward
anyone. Avoid discharging material
against a wall or obstruction. Material
may ricochet back toward the operator.
Stop the blade when crossing gravel
surfaces.
• Do not operate the mower without the
entire grasscatcher, discharge guard,
rear guard or other safety protective
devices in place and working.
• Never leave a running machine unat-
tended.
• See manufacturer’s instructions for
proper operation and installation of
accessories. Only use accessories ap-
proved by the manufacturer.
• Stop the motor when crossing gravel
drives, walks, or roads.
• Stop the motor whenever you leave the
equipment, before cleaning the mower
or unclogging the chute.
• Shut the motor off and wait until the
blade comes to complete stop before
removing grass catcher.
• Mow only in daylight or good artifi cial
light.
• Do not operate the machine while under
the infl uence of alcohol or drugs.
• Never operate machine in rain or on wet
grass. Always be sure of your footing:
keep a fi rm hold on the handle and
walk; never run.
• Disengage the self-propelled mecha-
nism on mowers so equipped before
starting the motor.
• If the equipment should start to vibrate
abnormally, stop the motor and check
immediately for the cause.
• Vibration is generally a warning of
trouble.
• Always wear safety goggles or safety
glasses with side shields when operat-
ing mower.
II. SLOPE OPERATION
Slopes are a major factor related to slip
and fall accidents which can result in
severe injury. All slopes require extra cau-
tion. If you feel uneasy on a slope, do not
mow it.
DO:
• Mow across the face of slopes: never
up and down. Exercise extreme caution
when changing direction on slopes.
• Remove obstacles such as rocks, tree
limbs, etc.
• Watch for holes, ruts, or bumps. Tall
grass can hide obstacles.
DO NOT:
• Do not trim near drop-offs, ditches or
embankments. The operator could lose
footing or balance.
• Do not cut excessively steep slopes.
• Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced
footing could cause slipping.
III. CHILDREN
Tragic accidents can occur if the opera-
tor is not alert to the presence of chil-
dren. Children are often attracted to the
machine and the mowing activity. Never
assume that children will remain where
you last saw them.
• Keep children out of the mowing area
and under the watchful care of another
responsible adult.
• Be alert and turn machine off if children
enter the area.
• Before and while walking backwards,
look behind and down for small children.
Use extra care when approaching blind
corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects
that may obscure vision.
• The mower is not a toy. It can be very
dangerous; children should not use this
mower. Only responsible adults who have
read the manual and understood all instruc-
tions should operate this mower.
SAFETY RULES
