Maintaining Safety - MTD 500 Series Operator's Manual

SECTION 1: MAINTAINING SAFETY
This Warning 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 lawn mower• Failure to comply with these instructions may result in
personal injury. When you see this symbol, heed its warning.
DANGER:
Your lawn mower was built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation in
this manual• As with any type of power equipment, carelessness or error on the part of the operator can
result in serious injury. This lawn mower is capable of amputating hands and feet and throwing objects.
Failure to observe the following safety inStructionscould result in serious injury or death.
WARNING:
The Engine Exhaust from thisproduct contains chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.
General
Operation
Read, understand, and follow all instructions in the
operator's manual and on the machine before
starting. Keep thismanual in a safe placefor future
and regular reference and for orderingreplacement
parts.
• Only allow responsible individuals tamiliar with the
instructions to operate the machine•Knowcontrols
and how to stop the machinequickly•
Do notput hands or feet undercuttingdeck or near
rotatingparts.
Clear the area of objects suchas rocks,toys, wire,
etc., which couldbe pickedup andthrownby the
blade. A smallobject may have been overlooked
and couldbe accidentallythrown bythe mower in
any directionandcause injur_to youor a
bystander.To help avoid a thrownobjectsinjury,
keep children, bystandersand helpersat least 75
feet from the mower while it isin operation.Always
wear safety glassesor safety gogglesduring
operationor while performingan adjustmentor
repair,to protect eyes from foreignobjects.Stopthe
blade(s) when crossinggravel drives, walks or
roads.
Be sure the area is clear oi other peoplebefore
mowing•Stop machine if anyone enters the area.
Never carry passengers.
Disengage blade(s) before shiftinginto reverseand
backingup. Alwayslook down and behind before
andwhile backing.
Be aware of the mower and attachmentdischarge
direction and do not pointit at anyone• Do not
operate the mower withouteither the entire grass
catcher or the chute guard in place.
• Slow down before turning•Operate the machine
smoothly,Avoid erraticoperation and excessive
speed.
Never leave a runningmachine unattended.Always
turnoff blade(s), place transmissionin neutral,set
park brake, stop engine and remove key before
dismounting.
Turn off blade(s) when notmowing.
Stop engineand wait until blade(s) comesto a
complete stop before (a) removinggrass catcheror
unclogging chute, or Ib) making any repairs,
adjustingor removing any grassor debris.
Mow only in daylightor good artiticial light.
Do notoperate the machine while underthe
influenceof alcoholor drugs•
Watch for trafficwhen operating near or crossing
roadways.
Use extra care when loading or unloadingthe
machineinto a traileror truck. This unit shouldnot
be driven up or down a ramp ontoa traileror truck
underpower, because the unitcouldtip over,
causing sedouspersonal injury.The unitmust be
pushedmanually on a ramp to load or unload
properly.
Never make a cuttingheightadjustmentwhile
engine is running if the operatormust dismount to
do so.
Wear sturdy,rough-soledwork shoes andclose-
fitting slacksand shirts. Do not wear loose fitting
clothes orjewelry. They can be caught in moving
parts. Neveroperate a unitin bare feet, sandals, or
sneakers.
Check overhead clearance carefully before driving
underpower lines,wires, bridges or lowhanging
tree branches, before enteringor leaving buildings,
or in any other situationwhere the operatormay be
struckor pulledfrom the unit, whichcould resultin
seriousinjury.
Disengage all attachmentclutches, thoroughly
depressthe brake pedal, and shiftinto neutral
before attemptingto startengine•
Your mower is designed to cut normal residential
grassof a height no more than 10". Do not attempt
to mowthrough unusuallytall, dry grass (e.g.,
pasture) or piles of dryleaves. Debris may buildup
on the mower deck or contactthe engine exhaust
presentinga potentialfire hazard.
Slope Operation
Slopes are a majorfactor relatedto loss of control
and tip-overaccidents which can resultin severe
injuryor death. Allslopes require extra caution.If
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