Sears Craftsman 917.299852 Owner's Manual page 2

SAFETY RULES
Safe Operation Practices for Walk-Behind Powered Rotary Tillers
TRAINING
. Read the Owner's Manual carefully. Be thoroughly
familiar with the controls and the proper use of the
equipment. Know how to stop the unit and disengage
the controls quickly.
• Never allow children to operate the equipment. Never
allow adults to operate the equipment without proper
instruction.
• Keep the area of operation clear of all persons, particu-
:: lady small children, and pets.
PREPARATION
• Thoroughly inspectthe area where the equipment isto
be used and remove all foreign objects.
• Disengage all clutches and shift into neutral before
starting the engine (motor).
• Do not operate the equipment without wearing ad-
equate outer garments. Wear footwear that will im-
prove footing on slippery surfaces.
• Handle fuel with care; it is highly flammable.
• Use an approved fuel container.
• Never add fuel to a running engine or hot engine.
• Fill fuel tank outdoors with extreme care. Never fill
fuel tank indoors.
° Replace gasoline cap securely and clean up spilled
fuel before restarting.
• Use extension cords and receptacles as specified by
the manufacturer for all units with electric drive motors
or electric starting motors.
• Never attempt to make any adjustments while the
engine (motor) is running (except where specifically
recommended by manufacturer).
OPERATION
, Do not put hands or feet near or under rotatingparts.
* Exercise extreme caution when operating on or cross-
ing gravel drives, walks, or roads. Stay alert for hidden
hazards or traffic. Do not carry passengers.
• After striking a foreign object, stop the engine (motor),
remove the wire from the spark plug, thoroughly in-
spect the tiller for anydamage, and repairthe damage
before restartingand operating the tiller.
° Exercise caution to avoid slipping or falling.
• If the unit should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the
engine (motor) and check immediately for the cause.
Vibration is generally a warning of trouble.
• Stop the engine (motor) when leaving the operating
position.
• Take all possible precautions when leaving the ma-
chine unattended. Disengage the tines, shift into
neutral, and stop the engine.
= Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, shut off the
engineand make certain all moving parts have stopped.
Disconnect the spark plug wire, and keep the wire
away from the plug to prevent accidental starting.
Disconnect the cord on electric motors,
• Do not run the engine indoors; exhaust fumes are
dangerous.
° Never operate the tiller without proper guards, plates,
or other safety protective devices in place.
° Keep children and pets away.
• Do not overload the machine capacity by attempting to
tilt too deep at too fast a rate.
= Never operate the machine at high speeds on slippery
surfaces. Look behind and use care when backing.
• Never allow bystanders near the unit.
• Use only attachments and accessories approved by
the manufacturer of the tiller (such as wheel weights,
counterweights, cabs, and the like).
• Never operate the tiller without good visibility or light.
• Be careful when tilling in hard ground. The tines may
catch in the ground and propel the tiller forward. If this
occurs, let go of the handlebars and do not restrain the
machine.
MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE
• Keep machine, attachments, and accessories in safe
wo_ing condition.
• Check shear pins, engine mounting bolts, and other
bolts at frequent intervals for proper tightness to be
sure the equipment is in safe workingcondition.
• Never store the machine withfuel in the fueltank inside
a building where ignition sources are present, such as
hot water and space heaters, clothes dryers, and the
like. Allow the engine to cool before storing in any
enclosure.
• Always refer to the operator's guide instructionsfor
important details if the tiller is to be stored for an
extended period.
: : -IMPORTANT- :
CAUTION, IMPORTANTS, AND NOTES ARE A MEANS OF ATTRACTING ATTENTION TO IMPORTANT OR CRITI-
CAL INFORMATION IN THIS MANUAL: ........
CAUTION: Look for this symbol to point
out important safety precautions. It
means--Attention! Become Alert! Your
.... safety is involved.
III
IMPORTANT: USED TO ALERT YOU THAT THERE IS A
POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGING THiS EQU[PMENT.
NOTE: Gives essential information that will aid you to better
understand, incorporate, or execute a particular set of instruc-
tions. ................................................