Operation; Maintenance And Storage - Craftsman 917.293401 Owner's Manual

OPERATION
o Do not put hands or feet near or under
rotating parts.
o Exercise extreme caution when operat-
ing 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_
o Exercise caution to avoid slipping or
falling.
° If the unit should start to vibrate abnor-
mally, stop the engine (motor) and check
immediately for the cause. Vibration is
generally a warning of trouble.
o Stop the engine (motor) when leaving
the operating position.
o Take all possible precautions when leav-
ing the machine unattended. Disengage
the tines, shift into neutral, and stop the
engine.
° 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.
o 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.
o Do not overload the machine capacity
by attempting to till too deep at too fast a
rate.
o Never operate the machine at high
speeds on slippery surfacesr Look
behind and use care when backing.
o Never allow bystanders near the unit.
° Use only attachments and accessories
approved by the manufacturer of the
tiller (such as wheel weights, counter-
weights, cabs, and the like). '
° Never operate the tiller without good vis-
ibility 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.
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MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE
o Keep machine, attachments, and
accessories in Safe working condition.
= Check shear pins, engine mounting
bolts, and other bolts at frequent inter-
vals for proper tightness to be sure the
equipment is in safe working condition.
o 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 cool before
storing in ar_y enclosure.
° Always refer to the operator's guide
instructions for important details if the
tiller is to be stored for an extended peri-
CAUTION: Always disconnect spark
plug wire and place wire where it cannot
contact spark plug in order to prevent acci-
dental starhng when sethng up, transport-
ing, adjusting or making repairs.
WARNING
The engine exhuast from this product con-
tains chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer, birth defeotd, or
other reproductive harm°
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