General Operation; Slope Operation - Craftsman 917.773706 Owner's Manual

AWARNING: Engine
exhaust, some
of its constituents, and certain vehicle
components contain or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.
A CAUTION: Muffler and other engine
parts become extremely hot during
operation and remain hot after engine has
stopped. To avoid severe burns on contact,
stay away from these areas.
I. GENERAL OPERATION
• Read, understand, and follow all instruc-
tions on the machine and in the manual
before starting. Be thoroughly familiar
with the controls and the proper use of
the machine before starting.
• Do not put hands or feet near or under
rotating parts.
• Keep all parts of your body away from
muffler and spinning line. A hot muffler
can cause serious burns.
• Only allow responsible individuals, who
are familiar with the instructions, to
operate the machine.
• Stay away from breakable objects, such
as house windows, auto glass, green-
houses, etc.
• Clear the area of objects such as rocks,
toys, wire, bones, sticks, etc., which
could be picked up and thrown by the
spinning lines.
• Be sure the area is clear of other people
before trimming, particularly small chil-
dren and pets. Stop machine if anyone
enters the area.
• Wear appropriate clothing such as a
long-sleeved shirt or jacket. Also wear
long trousers or slacks. Do not wear
shorts.
• Do not wear loose clothing which could
get caught in this equipment.
• Do not operate the machine when bare-
foot or wearing open sandals. Always
wear work gloves and sturdy footwear.
Leather work shoes or short boots work
well for most people. These will protect
the operator's ankles and shins from
small sticks, splinters, and other debris,
and improve traction.
• Do not pull machine backwards unless ab-
solutely necessary. Always look down and
behind before andwhile moving backwards.
• Do not operate the machine without
proper guards, plates or other safety
protective devices in place.
• See manufacturer's instructions for
proper operation and installation of
accessories. Only use accessories ap-
proved by the manufacturer.
• Never use blades, wire, or flailing devices.
This unit is designed for line trimmer use
only. Use of other accessories or attach-
ments will increase the risk of injury.
• Stop the rotating trimmer head when
crossing gravel drives, walks, or roads.
Wait for the cutting lines to stop rotating.
• Stop the engine (motor) whenever you
leave the equipment and allow it to cool,
before cleaning, repairing or inspecting
the unit. Be sure the trimmer head and
all moving parts have stopped.
• Operate only in daylight or good artificial
light.
• Do not operate the machine while under
the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Never operate machine in wet grass. Al-
ways be sure of your footing: keep a firm
hold on the handle and walk; never run.
• If the equipment should start to vibrate
abnormally, stop the engine (motor) and
check immediately for the cause. Vibra-
tion is generally a warning of trouble.
• Always wear safety goggles or safety
glasses with side shields when oper-
ating machine.
II. SLOPE OPERATION
Slopes are a major factor related to slip and
fall accidents which can result in severe injury.
All slopes require extra caution. If you feel
uneasy on a slope, do not trim it.
DO:
• Trim across the face of slopes: never up
and down. Exercise extreme caution
when changing direction on slopes.
• Remove obstacles such as rocks, tree
limbs, etc.
• Watch for holes, ruts, or bumps. Tall
grass can hide obstacles.
DO NOT:
• Do not trim near drop-offs, ditches or
embankments. The operator could lose
footing or balance.
• Do not trim excessively steep slopes.
• Do not trim on wet grass. Reduced foot-
ing could cause slipping.