MTD 080 Series Operator's Manual page 4

SlopeOperation
Slopes are a major factor related to slip and fall accidents which can
result in severe injury Operation on slopes requires extra caution If
you feel uneasy on a slope, do not mow it For your safety, use the
slope gauge included as part of this manual to measure slopes before
operating this unit on a sloped or hilly area If the slope is greater than
15 degrees, do not mow it
Do:
1 Mow across the face of slopes; never up and down Exercise
extreme caution when changing direction on slopes
2 Watch for holes, ruts, rocks, hidden objects, or bumps which can
cause you to slip or trip Tall grass can hide obstacles
3 Always be sure of your footing A slip and fall can cause serious
personal injury If you feel you are losing your balance, release
the blade control handle immediately, and the blade will stop
rotating within 3 seconds
Do Not:
1 Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embankments, you could
lose your footing or balance
2 Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees as shown on the
slope gauge
3 Do not mow on wet grass Unstable footing could cause slipping
Children
Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the presence
of children Children are often attracted to the mower and the mowing
activity They do not understand the dangers Never assume that
children will remain where you last saw them
1 Keep children out of the mowing area and under the watchful
care of a responsible adult other than the operator
2 Be alert and turn mower off if a child enters the area
3 Before and while moving backwards, look behind and down for
small children
4 Use extreme care when approaching blind corners, doorways,
shrubs, trees, or other objects that may obscure your vision of a
child who may run into the mower
5 Keep children away from hot or running engines They can suffer
burns from a hot muffler
6 Never allow children under 14 years old to operate a power
mower Children 14 years old and over should read and
understand the operation instructions and safety rules in this
manual and should be trained and supervised by a parent
Safe HandlingOf Gasoline:
1 To avoid personal injury or property damage use extreme care in
handling gasoline Gasoline is extremely flammable and the
vapors are explosive Serious personal injury can occur when
gasoline is spilled on yourself or your clothes which can ignite
2 Wash your skin and change clothes immediately
3 Use only an approved gasoline container
4 Never fill containers inside a vehicle or on a truck or trailer bed
with a plastic liner Always place containers on the ground away
from your vehicle before filling
5 Remove gas-powered equipment from the truck or trailer and
refuel it on the ground If this is not possible, then refuel such
equipment on a trailer with a portable container, rather than from
a gasoline dispenser nozzle
6 Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim of the fuel tank or
container opening at all times until fueling is complete Do not
use a nozzle lock-open device
7 Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources of
ignition
8 Never fuel machine indoors because flammable vapors will
accumulate in the area
9 Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the engine is hot or
running Allow engine to cool at least two minutes before
refueling
10 Never over fill fuel tank Fill tank to no more than ½ inch below
bottom of filler neck to provide for fuel expansion
11 Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely
12 If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine and equipment Move
unit to another area Wait 5 minutes before starting the engine
13 Never store the machine or fuel container near an open flame,
spark or pilot light as on a water heater, space heater, furnace
,clothes dryer or other gas appliances
14 To reduce fire hazard, keep mower free of grass, leaves, or other
debris build-up Clean up oil or fuel spillage and remove any fuel
soaked debris
15 Allow a mower to cool at least 5 minutes before storing
GeneralService:
1 Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated area
Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless and
deadly gas
2 Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make certain the blade
and all moving parts have stopped Disconnect the spark plug
wire and ground against the engine to prevent unintended
starting
3 Check the blade and engine mounting bolts at frequent intervals
for proper tightness Also, visually inspect blade for damage
(eg, bent, cracked, worn) Replace blade with the original
equipment manufacture's (OEM) blade only, listed in this
manual "Use of parts which do not meet the original equipment
specifications may lead to improper performance and
compromise safety!"
4 Mower blades are sharp and can cut Wrap the blade or wear
gloves, and use extra caution when servicing them
5 Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure the equipment is
in safe working condition
6 Never tamper with safety devices Check their proper operation
regularly
7 After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, disconnect the
spark plug wire and ground against the engine Thoroughly
inspect the mower for any damage Repair the damage before
starting and operating the mower
8 Never attempt to make a wheel or cutting height adjustment
while the engine is running
9 Grass catcher components, discharge cover, and trail shield are
subject to wear and damage which could expose moving parts or
allow objects to be thrown For safety protection, frequently
check components and replace immediately with original
equipment manufacturer's (OEM) parts only, listed in this
manual "Use of parts which do not meet the original equipment
specifications may lead to improper performance and
compromise safety!"
10 Do not change the engine governor setting or overspeed the
engine The governor controls the maximum safe operating
speed of the engine
11 Maintain or replace safety labels, as necessary
12 Observe proper disposal laws and regulations Improper
disposal of fluids and materials can harm the environment
Your ResponsiNiity
• Restrict the use of this power machine to persons who read,
understand and follow the warnings and instructions in this
manual and on the machine