Safety Rules; Training; Preparation; Operation - Craftsman 917.298350 Owner's Manual

SAFETY RULES
Safe Operation Practices for Walk-Behind Powered Rotary Tillers
TRAINING
, Read the operating and service instruction 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.
o Keep the area of operation clear of all persons, particu-
larly small children, and pets.
PREPARATION
o Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment is to
be used and remove al! foreign objects.
o Disengage all clutches and shift into neutral before
starting the engine (motor).
o Do not operate the equipment without wearing ade-
quate outer garments, Wear footwear that will improve
footing on slippery surfaces.
o Handle fuel with care; it is highly flammable,
, Use an approved fuel container,
• Never add fuel to a running engine or hot engine.
o Fill fuel tank outdoors with extreme care. Never fill
fuel tank indoors.
o Replace gasoline cap securely and clean up spilled
fuel before restarting.
o 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 recom-
mended by manufacturer).
OPERATION
, Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating parts.
o Exercise extreme caution when operating on or crossing
gravel drives, walks, or roads. Stay alert for hidden
hazards or traffic. Do not carry passengers.
o After striking a foreign object, stop the engine (motor),
remove the wire from the spark plug, thoroughly inspect
the tiller for any damage, and repair the damage before
restarting and 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. Vi-
bration is generally a warning of trouble.
• Stop the engine (motor) when leaving the operating
position, before unclogging the tines, and when making
any repair, adjustments, and inspections.
o Take all possible precautions when leaving the machine
unattended. Disen£tage the power take-off, lower the
attachment, shift into neutral, stop the engine, and
remove the key.
, Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, shut off the
engine and 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 dan-
gerous.
o Never operate the tilter 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 till
too deep at too fast a rate,
• Never allow bystanders near the unit.
o Use only attachments and accessories approved by the
manufacturer of the tiller (such as wheel weights, counter-
weights, cabs, and the like).
o Never operate the tiller without good visibility or light.
o 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 tt_e handlebars and do not restrain the
machine.
MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE
• Keep machine, attachments, and accessories in safe
working condition.
• Check shear bolts, engine mounting bolts, and other
bolts at frequent intervals for proper tightness to be sure
the equipment is in safe working condition.
, 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 the engine to coot before storing in any enclosure.
, Always refer to the operator's guide instructions for
important details if the tiller is to be stored for an extended
period.
-IMPORTANT -
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes are a means of attracting attention to important or critical information in this manual.
LOOK FOR THiS SYMBOL TO POINT
OUT IMPORTANT SAFETY PRE-
CAUT!ONS. _TMEANS ooATTENTION!
BECOME ALERT! YOUR SAFETY _S
INVOLVED.
CAUTION: USED TO ALERT YOU THAT THERE IS
A POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGING THIS
EQUIPMENT,
NOTE: Gives essential information that will aid you to
better understand, incorporate, or execute a particular
set of instructions.
2