MTD 800 series Operator's Manual page 3

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.
14. Release auger control lever to disengage power to the auger when
transporting or not clearing snow.
15. Never operate machine at high transport speeds on slippery
surfaces. Look down and behind and use care when backing up.
16. After striking a foreign object or if the machine should start to
vibrate abnormally, stop the engine, disconnect the spark plug wire
and ground it against the engine. Inspect thoroughly for damage.
Repair any damage before starting and operating.
17. Disengage all control levers and stop engine before you leave the
operating position (behind the handles). Wait until the auger comes
to a complete stop before unclogging the chute assembly, making
any adjustments, or inspections.
18. Never put your hand in the discharge or collector openings. Always
use the clean-out tool provided to unclog the discharge opening.
Do not unclog chute assembly while engine is running. Shut off
engine and remain behind handles until all moving parts have
stopped before unclogging.
19. Use only attachments and accessories approved by the
manufacturer (e.g. wheel weights, tire chains, cabs etc.).
20. When starting engine, pull cord slowly until resistance is felt, then
pull rapidly. Rapid retraction of starter cord (kickback) will pull hand
and arm toward engine faster than you can let go. Broken bones,
fractures, bruises or sprains could result.
21. If situations occur which are not covered in this manual, use care
and good judgment. Contact Customer Support for assistance and
the name of your nearest servicing dealer.
Clearing a Clogged Discharge Chute
Hand contact with the rotating impeller inside the discharge chute is the
most common cause of injury associated with snow throwers. Never use
your hand to clean out the discharge chute.
To clear the chute:
1. SHUT THE ENGINE OFF!
2. Wait 10 seconds to be sure the impeller blades have stopped
rotating.
3. Always use a clean-out tool, not your hands.
Maintenance & Storage
1. Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper operation
regularly. Refer to the maintenance and adjustment sections of this
manual.
2. Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting machine disengage all
control levers and stop the engine. Wait until the auger come to a
complete stop. Disconnect the spark plug wire and ground against
the engine to prevent unintended starting.
3. Check bolts and screws for proper tightness at frequent intervals to
keep the machine in safe working condition. Also, visually inspect
machine for any damage.
4. Do not change the engine governor setting or over-speed the
engine. The governor controls the maximum safe operating speed of
the engine.
5. Snow thrower shave plates and skid shoes are subject to wear and
damage. For your safety protection, frequently check all components
and replace with original equipment manufacturer's (OEM) parts
only. "Use of parts which do not meet the original equipment
specifications may lead to improper performance and compromise
safety!"
6. Check control levers periodically to verify they engage and
disengage properly and adjust, if necessary. Refer to the adjustment
section in this operator's manual for instructions.
7. Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels, as necessary.
8. Observe proper disposal laws and regulations for gas, oil, etc. to
protect the environment.
9. Prior to storing, run machine a few minutes to clear snow from
machine and prevent freeze up of auger.
10. Never store the machine or fuel container inside where there is
an open flame, spark or pilot light such as a water heater, furnace,
clothes dryer, etc.
11. Always refer to the operator's manual for proper instructions on
off-season storage.
12. Check fuel line, tank, cap, and fittings frequently for cracks or leaks.
Replace if necessary.
13. Do not crank engine with spark plug removed.
14. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this product has an
Average Useful Life of seven (7) years, or 60 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.
Do not modify engine
To avoid serious injury or death, do not modify engine in any way.
Tampering with the governor setting can lead to a runaway engine and
cause it to operate at unsafe speeds. Never tamper with factory setting of
engine governor.
Notice Regarding Emissions
Engines which are certified to comply with California and federal EPA
emission regulations for SORE (Small Off Road Equipment) are certified
to operate on regular unleaded gasoline, and may include the following
emission control systems: Engine Modification (EM), Oxidizing Catalyst (OC),
Secondary Air Injection (SAI) and Three Way Catalyst (TWC) if so equipped.
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