Craftsman 247.886510 Owner's Manual page 3

IMPOR ANT
SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES FOR WALK-BEHIND SNOW THROWERS
_lb 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 YOUR SNOW
THROWER.
To reduce the potential for any injury, comply with the following safety instructions. Failure to comp|y with
the instructions may result in personal injury.
TRAINING
1. Read this owner's guide carefully. Be thoroughly familiar with
the controls and proper use of the equipment. Know how to
stop the unit and disengage the controls quickly.
2. Never allow children to operate equipment. Never allow
adults to operate equipment without proper instructions.
3. No one should operate this unit while intoxicated or while
taking medication that impairs the senses or reactions.
4. Keep the area of operation clear of all persons, especialLy
small children and pets.
5. Exercise caution to avoid slipping or falling, especially when
operating in reverse.
PREPARATION
1. Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment is to be
used and remove all door mats, sleds, boards, wires and
other foreign objects.
2. Disengage all clutches and shift into neutral before starting
engine.
3. Do not operate equipment without wearing adequate winter
outer garments. Wear footwear which will improve footing
on slippery surfaces.
4. Check the fuel before starting the engine. Gasoline is an ex-
tremely flammable fuel. Do not fill the gasoline tank indoors,
while the engine is running, or while the engine is still hot.
Replace gasoline cap securely and wipe off any spilled
gasoline before starting the engine as it may cause_a fire or
explosion.
5. Use a grounded three wire plug-in for all units with electric
drive motors or etectric starting motors.
6. Adjust auger housing height to clear gravel or crushed rock
surface.
7. Never attempt to make any adjustments while engine is run-
ning (except where specifically recommended by
manufacturer).
8. Let engine and machine adjust to outdoor temperature before
starting to clear snow.
9. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields during operation
or while performing an adjustment or repair, to protect eyes
from foreign objects that may be thrown from the machine
in any direction.
OPERATION
1, Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts. Keep clear of
discharge opening at all times.
2. Exercise extreme caution when operating on or crossing
gravel drives, walks, or roads. Stay alert for hidden hazards
or traffic. Do not carry passengers.
3. After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, remove wire
from spark plug, and thoroughly inspect the snow thrower
for any damage. Repair the damage before restarting and
operating the snow thrower.
4. If the snow thrower should start to vibrate abnormally, stop
the engine and check immediately for the cause. Vibration
is generally a warning of trouble.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
5_ Stop engine whenever you leave the operating position,
before unclogging the augerlimpel_,r housing or discharge
guide, and making any repairs, adjustments, or inspections.
6. Take all possible precautions when leaving the unit un-
attended. Disengage the auger/impeller, shift into neutral,
stop the engine, and remove the key.
7. When cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make certain
auger/impeller and all moving parts have stopped. Discon-
nect spark plug wire and keep away from plag to prevent
accidental starting.
8. Do not run engine indoors, except when starting engine and
transporting snow thrower in or out of building. Open doors.
Exhaust fumes are dangerous.
9. Do not clear snow across the face of slopes. Exercise ex-
treme caution when changing direction on slopes. Do not at-
tempt to clear steep slopes.
10. Never operate snow thrower without guards, plates, or other
safety protection devices in place.
11. Never operate snow thrower near glass enclosures,
automobiles, windows wells, drop offs, etc., without proper
adjustment of snow thrower discharge angle. Keep children
and pets away.
Do not overload machine capacity by attempting to clear
snow at too fast a rate.
Never operate the machine at high transport speeds on slip-
pery surfaces. Look behind and use care when backing.
Never direct discharge at bystanders or allow anyone in front
of unit.
17.
Disengage power to auger/impeller when transporting or not
in use.
Use only attachments and accessories approved by the
manufacturer of snow thrower (such as wheel weights,
counterweights, cabs, etc.).
Never operate the snow thrower without good visibility or light.
Always be sure of your footing and keep a firm hold on the
handles. Walk, never run.
MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE
1. Check shear bolts, engine mounting bolts, etc., at frequent
intervals for proper tightness to be sure equipment is in safe
working condition.
2. Never store the machine with fuel in the fuel tank inside a
building where ignition sources are present, such as hot water
and space heaters, clothes dryers, and the like. Allow engine
to cool before storing in any enclosure.
3. Always refer to owner's manual instructions for important
details if snow thrower is to be stored for an extended period.
4. Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels, as
necessary.
5. Run machine a few minutes after throwing snow to prevent
freeze up of auger/impeller.