• Iftheequipmentshouldstartto vibrateabnormally,stoptheengineand
checkimmediatelyforthe cause.Vibrationisgenerallya warningof
trouble.
• Shutthe engineoff andwait untilthe bladecomesto acompletestop
beforeremovingthe grasscatcheror uncloggingthe chute.
Thecuttingbladecontinuestorotateforafewsecondsafterthe engine
isshut off.Neverplaceanypartofthe bodyinthebladearea untilyou
aresurethe bladehasstoppedrotating.
• Neveroperatemowerwithoutpropertrailshield,dischargecover,grass
catcher,bladecontrolhandle,orothersafetyprotectivedevicesinplace
andworking.Neveroperatemowerwithdamagedsafetydevices.Failure
todosocan resultin personalinjury.
• Mufflerandenginebecomehotandcancauseaburn.Do nottouch.
• Onlyusepartsandaccessoriesmadeforthismachinebymanufacturer.
Failureto dosocanresultin personalinjury. Forrecommendedacces-
sories,call 1-800-659-5917.
• Ifsituationsoccurwhich arenotcoveredinthismanual,usecareand
goodjudgment.ContactyourSearsServiceCenterforassistance.
SLOPE OPERATION
Slopesareamajorfactorrelatedto slipandfall accidentswhichcanresultin
severeinjury.Operationon slopesrequiresextracaution.Ifyoufeeluneasyon
aslope,donotmowit.Foryoursafety,usethe slopeguideincludedaspartof
thismanualto measureslopesbeforeoperatingthis unitonaslopedor hilly
area.Iftheslopeis greaterthan15degrees,do notmowit.
Do:
• Mowacrossthefaceofslopes; neverupanddown. Exerciseextreme
cautionwhenchangingdirectionon slopes.
• Watchfor holes,ruts,rocks,hiddenobjects,or bumpswhichcancause
youto slipor trip.Tallgrasscan hideobstacles.
• Alwaysbe sureofyourfooting.Aslip andfall cancauseseriouspersonal
injury.If youfeelyouarelosingyourbalance,releasethe bladecontrol
handleimmediately,andthebladewill stoprotatingwithin3 seconds.
Do Not:
• Donotmowneardrop-offs,ditchesorembankments,whereyoucould
loseyourfootingor balance.
• Donotmowslopesgreaterthan15degreesasshownonthe
slopegauge.
• Donotmowonwetgrass.Unstablefootingcouldcauseslipping.
SERVICE
Safe Handling Of Gasoline:
• Toavoidpersonalinjuryor propertydamageuseextremecarein
handlinggasoline.Gasolineis extremelyflammableandthevaporsare
explosive.Seriouspersonalinjurycanoccurwhengasolineis spilledon
yourselfor yourclotheswhichcan ignite.
• Washyourskinandchangeclothesimmediately.
• Useonlyanapprovedgasolinecontainer.
• Neverfill containersinsidea vehicleoron atruckor trailerbedwith a
plasticliner.Alwaysplacecontainersonthe groundawayfromyour
vehiclebeforefilling.
• Removegas-poweredequipmentfromthetruckortrailerandrefueliton
theground.If thisisnot possible,thenrefuelsuchequipmentonatrailer
witha portablecontainer,ratherthanfroma gasolinedispensernozzle.
• Keepthe nozzlein contactwiththerimofthefueltank or container
openingatalltimesuntilfuelingiscomplete.Donot usea nozzle
lock-opendevice.
• Extinguishallcigarettes,cigars,pipesandothersources
ofignition.
• Neverfuel machineindoorsbecauseflammablevaporswillaccumulate
inthearea.
• Neverremovegascapor addfuelwhile engineis hotorrunning.
Allowengineto coolatleasttwominutesbeforerefueling.
• Neveroverfillfuel tank.Fill tanktono morethanV2inch belowbottom
offiller neckto provideforfuel expansion.
• Replacegasolinecapandtightensecurely.
• Ifgasolineisspilled,wipeit offthe engineandequipment.Moveunit
toanotherarea.Wait5minutesbeforestarting engine.
• Neverstorethe machineorfuelcontainernearan openflame,spark
or pilotlightason awaterheater,spaceheater,furnace,clothesdryer,
or othergasappliances.
• Toreducefire hazard,keepmowerfreeofgrass,leaves,or other
debrisbuild-up.Cleanupoilor fuelspillageandremoveanyfuel
soakeddebris.
• Allowamowerto coolatleast5minutesbeforestoring.
General Service:
• Neverrunanengineindoorsorin a poorlyventilatedarea.Engine
exhaustcontainscarbon monoxide,anodorlessand deadlygas.
• Beforecleaning,repairing,orinspecting,makecertainthe bladeand
all movingpartshavestopped.Disconnectthe sparkplugwireand
groundagainsttheenginetopreventunintendedstarting.
• Checkthe bladeandenginemountingboltsatfrequentintervalsfor
propertightness.Also,visuallyinspectbladefordamage(e.g.,bent,
cracked,worn)Replacebladewiththeoriginalequipmentmanufac-
ture's(O.E.M.)bladeonly,listedinthis manual.Useofpartswhichdo
notmeetthe originalequipmentspecificationsmayleadtoimproper
performanceandcompromisesafety!
• Mowerbladesaresharpand cancut.Wrapthe bladeor weargloves,
anduseextracautionwhenservicingthem.
• Keepallnuts,bolts,andscrewstightto besurethe equipmentis in
safeworkingcondition.
• Nevertamperwith safetydevices.Checktheirproper
operationregularly.
• Afterstrikinga foreignobject,stoptheengine,disconnectthe spark
plugwireand groundagainstthe engine.Thoroughlyinspectthe
mowerforanydamage.Repairthe damagebeforestartingand
operatingthe mower.
• Neverattempttomakea wheelor cuttingheightadjustmentwhilethe
engineisrunning.
• Grasscatchercomponents,dischargecover,andtrailshieldare
subjecttowear anddamagewhichcould exposemovingpartsor
allowobjectsto bethrown.Forsafetyprotection,frequentlycheck
componentsandreplaceimmediatelywithoriginalequipment
manufacturer's(O.E.M.)partsonly,listedinthis manual.Useofparts
whichdonotmeettheoriginalequipmentspecificationsmayleadto
improperperformanceand compromisesafety!
• Donotchangetheenginegovernorsettingoroverspeedthe engine.
Thegovernorcontrolsthe maximumsafeoperatingspeedofthe
engine.
• Maintainor replacesafetylabels,as necessary.
• Observeproperdisposallawsand regulations.Improperdisposalof
fluidsandmaterialscanharmtheenvironment.
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