Safe Mowing Practices; Servicing Your Lawn Mower; Maintenance Safety - Honda HRX217VKA Owner's Manual

SAFE MOWING PRACTICES

For your safety, keep all four wheels on the ground and be careful to
avoid losing your footing and your control of the mower. Keep a firm
grip on the handlebar and walk, never run, with the mower. Be very
careful when mowing uneven or rough ground.
If stuck, do not kick or shove the mower with your foot. Use the
handlebar to control the mower.
B
WARNING
The blades are sharp and spin at high speed.
Spinning blades can cut you severely and can amputate
fingers and toes.
• Wear protective footwear.
• Keep your hands and feet away from the mower deck
while the engine is running.
• Stop the engine before performing any adjustment,
inspection, or maintenance.
Slopes
Mow across slopes, not up and down.
Avoid steep slopes (more than 20
be careful when changing direction.
Mowing on a slope when the grass is
damp or wet could cause you to slip, fall,
and lose control of the mower.
Obstacles
Use the side of the mower to cut close to
large obstacles, such as fences or walls.
Release the Smart Drive control to disengage the drive when mowing
around trees and other obstacles. Push the mower around obstacles
for better directional control. Be careful when mowing over obstacles
embedded in the lawn, such as sprinkler heads, paving, edging,
raised tree roots, etc. Avoid anything that sticks up above the surface
of the lawn.
If a blade hits something or the mower starts to vibrate, stop the
engine immediately, disconnect the spark plug cap, and check for
damage (page 9). Striking objects may damage the blades, bend the
crankshaft, and/or break the mower deck or other components.
Vibration usually indicates serious trouble.
B
WARNING
A worn, cracked, or damaged blade can break, and pieces
of the damaged blade can become dangerous projectiles.
Thrown objects can cause serious injury.
Inspect the blades regularly, and do not operate the mower
with a worn or damaged blade.
The DISTRIBUTOR'S LIMITED WARRANTY (page 19) does not
cover parts damaged by collision.
Gravel and Loose Objects
Gravel, loose stones, and landscaping material can be picked up by
the mower and thrown many feet with enough force to cause serious
personal injury and/or property damage. The best way to prevent
potential injury from thrown objects is to release the blade control
lever to stop the engine, and then push the mower across areas with
gravel, loose stones, or landscaping material.
8
°
), and
SERVICING YOUR LAWN
MOWER
Good maintenance is essential for safe, economical, trouble-free
operation. It will also help reduce air pollution.
B
WARNING
Improper maintenance or failure to correct a problem
before operation can cause a malfunction in which you
can be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection and maintenance
recommendations and schedules in this owner's manual.
To help you properly care for your mower, the following pages include
a maintenance schedule, routine inspection procedures, and simple
maintenance procedures using basic hand tools. Other service tasks
that are more difficult or require special tools are best handled by
professionals and are normally performed by a Honda technician or
other qualified mechanic.
The maintenance schedule applies to normal operating conditions. If
you operate your mower under severe conditions, such as sustained
high-load or high-temperature operation, or use in unusually wet or
dusty conditions, consult your servicing dealer for recommendations
applicable to your individual needs and use.
Remember that an authorized Honda servicing dealer knows your
mower best and is fully equipped to maintain and repair it.
To ensure the best quality and reliability, use only new, Honda
Genuine parts or their equivalents for repair and replacement.
Maintenance, replacement, or repair of the emission control
devices and systems may be performed by any engine repair
establishment or individual, using parts that are "certified" to
EPA standards.

MAINTENANCE SAFETY

Some of the most important safety precautions follow. However, we
cannot warn you of every conceivable hazard that can arise in
performing maintenance. Only you can decide whether or not you
should perform a given task.
B
WARNING
Failure to properly follow maintenance instructions and
precautions can cause you to be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures and precautions in this
owner's manual.
Safety Precautions
• Make sure the engine is off before you begin any maintenance or
repairs. This will eliminate several potential hazards:
– Carbon monoxide poisoning from engine exhaust
Be sure there is adequate ventilation whenever you operate
the engine.
– Burns from hot parts
Let the engine and exhaust system cool before touching.
– Injury from moving parts
Do not run the engine unless instructed to do so.