Important Safe Operation Practices - MTD 700 series Operator's Manual

Important Safe Operation Practices

WARNING! This symbol points
out important safety instructions
which, if not followed, could
endanger the personal safety
and/or property of yourself and
others. Read and follow all instructions in this
manual before attempting to operate this
machine. Failure to comply with these
instructions may result in personal injury.
When you see this symbol.
HEED ITS WARNING!
CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION
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WARNING! Engine Exhaust,
some of its constituents, and
certain vehicle components
contain or emit chemicals
known to State of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.
DANGER: This machine was
built to be operated according
to the safe operation practices in
this manual. As with any type of
power equipment, carelessness
or error on the part of the operator can result
in serious injury. This machine is capable of
amputating fingers, hands, toes and feet and
throwing foreign objects. Failure to observe
the following safety instructions could result in
serious injury or death.
Training
1. Read, understand, and follow all
instructions on the machine and in
the manual(s) before attempting to
assemble and operate. Keep this manual
in a safe place for future and regular
reference and for ordering replacement
parts.
2. Be familiar with all controls and their
proper operation. Know how to stop the
machine and disengage them quickly.
3. 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.
4. Never allow adults to operate this
machine without proper instruction.
5. Thrown objects can cause serious
personal injury. Plan your snow-
throwing pattern to avoid discharge of
material toward roads, bystanders and
the like.
6. Keep bystanders, pets and children at
least 75 feet from the machine while it
is in operation. Stop machine if anyone
enters the area.
7. Exercise caution to avoid slipping or
falling, especially when operating in
reverse.
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Preparation
Thoroughly inspect the area where the
equipment is to be used. Remove all doormats,
newspapers, sleds, boards, wires and other
foreign objects, which could be tripped over or
thrown by the auger.
1. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields
during operation and while performing
an adjustment or repair to protect your
eyes. Thrown objects which ricochet can
cause serious injury to the eyes.
2. Do not operate without wearing
adequate winter outer garments. Do
not wear jewelry, long scarves or other
loose clothing, which could become
entangled in moving parts. Wear
footwear which will improve footing on
slippery surfaces.
3. Use a grounded three-wire extension
cord and receptacle for all machines
with electric start engines.
4. Adjust auger housing height to clear
gravel or crushed rock surfaces.
5. Disengage all control levers before
starting the engine.
6. Never attempt to make any adjustments
while engine is running, except where
specifically recommended in the
operator's manual.
7. Let engine and machine adjust to
outdoor temperature before starting to
clear snow.
Safe Handling of Gasoline
To avoid personal injury or property damage
use extreme care in handling gasoline.
Gasoline is extremely flammable and the
vapors are explosive. Serious personal injury
can occur when gasoline is spilled on yourself
or your clothes which can ignite. Wash your
skin and change clothes immediately.
1. Use only an approved gasoline
container.
2. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes
and other sources of ignition.
3. Never fuel machine indoors.
4. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while
the engine is hot or running.
5. Allow engine to cool at least two
minutes before refueling.
6. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no
more than ½ inch below bottom of filler
neck to provide space for fuel expansion.
7. Replace gasoline cap and tighten
securely.
8. If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the
engine and equipment. Move machine
to another area. Wait 5 minutes before
starting the engine.
9. Never store the machine or fuel
container inside where there is an open
flame, spark or pilot light (e.g. furnace,
water heater, space heater, clothes dryer
etc.).
10. Allow machine to cool at least 5 minutes
before storing.
11. Never fill containers inside a vehicle or
on a truck or trailer bed with a plastic
liner. Always place containers on the
ground away from your vehicle before
filling.
12. If possible, remove gas-powered
equipment from the truck or trailer and
refuel it on the ground. If this is not
possible, then refuel such equipment on
a trailer with a portable container, rather
than from a gasoline dispenser nozzle.
13. Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim
of the fuel tank or container opening at
all times until fueling is complete. Do not
use a nozzle lock-open device.
Operation
1. Do not put hands or feet near rotating
parts, in the auger housing or chute
assembly. Contact with the rotating
parts can amputate hands and feet.
2. The auger control lever is a safety device.
Never bypass its operation. Doing so
makes the machine unsafe and may
cause personal injury.
3. The control levers must operate easily
in both directions and automatically
return to the disengaged position when
released.
4. Never operate with a missing or
damaged chute assembly. Keep all
safety devices in place and working.
5. Never run an engine indoors or in a
poorly ventilated area. Engine exhaust
contains carbon monoxide, an odorless
and deadly gas.
6. Do not operate machine while under the
influence of alcohol or drugs.
7. Muffler and engine become hot and
can cause a burn. Do not touch. Keep
children away.
8. Exercise extreme caution when
operating on or crossing gravel surfaces.
Stay alert for hidden hazards or traffic.
9. Exercise caution when changing
direction and while operating on slopes.
Do not operate on steep slopes.
10. Plan your snow-throwing pattern to
avoid discharge towards windows,
walls, cars etc. Thus, avoiding possible
property damage or personal injury
caused by a ricochet.
11. Never direct discharge at children,
bystanders and pets or allow anyone in
front of the machine.
12. Do not overload machine capacity by
attempting to clear snow at too fast of
a rate.
13. Never operate this machine without
good visibility or light. Always be sure of
your footing and keep a firm hold on the
handles. Walk, never run.
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