Safe Mowing Guide - Murray G4618000 Operator's Manual

SAFE MOWING GUIDE
Each person that operates power equip-
ment must learn to use correct and safe
mowing procedures. To help you learn,
carefully read the followlng pages. Most
of the time the operator was not correctly
shown or did cot read the instructionson
the unitor inthe Ownar'siOperator's Manual
before using the unit. Also, some opera-
tots do not have enough experience. The
result is unsafe use, endangering the op-
erator, bystanders and the equipmant. An-
other result can be a poor appearance of
the area mowed.
Read thls book. Readthe instructions o n
the unit. Operate the moweraccording to
the Safe MowingGuide. Followalls_ety
ruios,cautions orwarnings inthisbookand
on the unit. Make sureanyonethatuses
the unit readsthe instructions a nd istold
howto safelyoperatethe mower.
The mower will give you good service and
durability, it operatad in normal conditions.
If the mower is not correctly serviced or is
used where the terrain is rough or unsuit-
able, product performance and safety will
be decreasad.
Correct clothingis an importantpart of safe
mowing. Safety glasses will protect the
eyes from objectsdisoharged bythe mower.
Safety shoes with steel plates can protect
a foot from injury by the blade. For protec-
tion from objects discharged from the
mower, wear ck?.thing that will cover the
arms and legs.
Before you start cuttingthe grass, practice
usingthe mower in a large open and level
area. Learn the location of the controls on
the mower. Know the purpose of the
controls and how they work. In an emer-
gancy, how fast you can stop the blade is
important. Learn how to control the mower
at all times.
Many engines are started by hand. When
youuse a pullstart or rope start, place your
feet apart and away from the blade(s).
Hold the rope handle tight. Never wrap the
rope around your arm or fingers for a "Bet-
ter grip". To start the engine, follow the
instructionson the mower, inthis book and
in the engine operating instructions.
For electric start engines, sit in the seat to
startthe engine. The battary can be dan-
gerous. Follow the instructions on the
battery, the acid container, and in thisbook
when working with the battery. Even small
batteries have enough voltage to cause an
injury. Always be careful.
The mower is designed to be operated by
one person. Never let another person ride
with you on the unitor on any accessories.
A passenger will make the unit harder to
control, block the visibility or distract the
operator and is dangerous to the operator,
the passenger and the equipment+Without
a passenger seat, the passenger can fall
fromthe mower orcootactdangerous parts.
A mower is not a toy for showing off or for
giving rides.
Never cut awet lawn. Wet grass can cause
an accident, affect mower performance
and can cause problems with future lawn
growth and appearance. Wet grass is
slippery and can cause the mower to slip.
Someone can get injured by touching the
blade(s). Wet grass tends to clog the
mower, causing poor discharge. Cut wet
grass will collecton the lawn, retarding the
growth of the grass. Also, getting the
mower wet will cause parts to rust and
decrease the life of the unit.
When you look over the lawn, remember
obstacles that cannot be removad, like
pipes, stumps or racks. Keep away from
these obstacles that can cause damage to
the mower or injury to the operator or a
person near the mower. Clear the areaof
rocks, toys, wire or other loose objects.
These itemscan damage themower or can
be discharged by the mower blade.
The blade of power mower rotates very
fast. It can discharge rocks and other
objects over a long distance which can be
dangerous. The force of the objects can
break windows, cause injuries or even put
an eye oat. Most of the time the injuryis to
a person, like a child. Keep avery person
completely away from the area to be
mowed. Make sure the grass is cot dis-
charged toward anyone. Planning your
mowing pattern has a double advantage. It
can decrease the possibility of an injury
and makethe clean up aftermowing easier.
Check the terrain of the area to be mowed.
Mow in patternthat willkeep you away from
dangerous areas. Check the distance you
need to stop and the distance available to
turn. Slopes and rough terrain must be
mowed carefully and some areas must cot
be mowed at all. With ridingmowers, mow
up and down the hill. When you must mow
rough terrain or on slopes, never change
directions or change speeds and stop in
these areas only in and emergency.
Before you ride up or down a slope, try to
back straight upthe slope. Do not ride up
or down a slope that is too steep to beck
straight up. See the "Guide "in the back of
this Owner's/Operator's Manual to check
any slopes.