Safety Instructions; General Operation - Craftsman 247.204420 Operator's Manual

Thissymbolpoints out important s afety instructions w hich, if not
followed, could endangerthe personalsafetyand/or propertyof
yourself andothers. Read andfollow all instructionsin this manual
beforeattempting to operate this machine.Failureto comply with these
instructions may result in personalinjury.Whenyouseethis symbol,HEED
ITSWARNING!
CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65
EngineExhaust,someof its constituents, andcertain vehicle components
contain or emit chemicalsknown to Stateof Californiato causecancerand
birth defectsor other reproductive h arm.
Battery posts,terminals, a nd relatedaccessories c ontain leadand lead
compounds, c hemicalsknown to the Stateof Californiatocausecancerand
reproductive harm.Washhandsafter handling.
Thismachinewasbuilt to beoperated according to the safeoperation
practicesin this manual.Aswith anytype of powerequipment,
carelessness o r error on the part of the operatorcanresultin seriousinjury.
Thismachineiscapableof amputating fingers, hands,toesand feet and
throwing debris. Failureto observethe following safety instructions c ould
resultin seriousinjuryor death.
Your Responsibility--Restrict the useof thispower machineto
personswho read,understandandfollow the warningsand instructions i n
thismanualandon the machine.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!
GENERAL OPERATION
Read, u nderstand, andfollowall instructions onthe machine andinthe
manual(s) b efore attemptingto assemble andoperate.Keep thismanual i n
asafeplaceforfutureandregularreference a ndfor orderingreplacement
parts.
Befamiliarwith all controls andtheir properoperation. K nowhowto stop
the machine anddisengage themquickly.
Never a llowchildrenunder14yearsold to operate thismachine. C hildren 14
years old andovershouldreadandunderstand the operationinstructions
andsafetyrulesinthismanual a ndshouldbetrainedandsupervised b ya
parent.
Never a llowadultsto operatethismachine without properinstruction.
Tohelpavoidbladecontact o r a thrownobjectinjury,keepbystanders,
helpers, c hildrenandpetsat least75feetfrom the machine whileit isin
operation. S topmachine if anyone entersthe area.
Thoroughly inspectthe areawherethe equipmentisto beused.Remove
all stones, s ticks,wire, bones, t oys,andotherforeignobjectswhichcould
bepickedupandthrownbythe blade(s). Thrown objectscancause serious
personal i njury.
Planyourmowingpatterntoavoiddischarge o f material t oward roads,
sidewalks, b ystanders a ndthe like.Also, a voiddischarging material a gainst
awall or obstruction whichmaycause discharged material t o ricochet b ack
towardthe operator.
Always wearsafetyglasses o r safetygoggles duringoperationandwhile
performinganadjustment o r repairto protectyoureyes. T hrown objects
whichricochetcancause serious injury to the eyes.
Wear s turdy,rough-soled workshoes andclose-fittingslacks andshirts.
Loose fitting clothes andjewelrycanbecaughtin movable parts.Never
operate this machine inbarefeetor sandals.
Beaware of the mowerandattachment d ischarge d irectionanddonot point
it at anyone. D onot operatethe mowerwithoutthe discharge cover o r entire
grasscatcher i n its properplace.
Donot put hands or feetnearrotatingpartsor underthe cuttingdeck.
Contact w iththe blade(s) c anamputatehands andfeet.
Amissingor damaged discharge covercancause bladecontactorthrown
objectinjuries.
Stopthe blade(s) w hencrossing graveldrives, w alks,or roadsandwhilenot
cuttinggrass.
Watchfortrafficwhenoperatingnearor crossing roadways. Thismachine is
not intended foruseon anypublicroadway.
Donot operatethe machine whileunderthe influence of alcohol o r drugs.
Mowonly indaylightor goodartificial light.
Nevercarrypassengers.
Disengage b lade(s) b efore shiftinginto reverse. B ack upslowly.Alwayslook
downandbehindbeforeandwhilebackingto avoida back-over accident.
Slowdownbeforeturning.Operate the machine smoothly. A voiderratic
operationandexcessive s peed.
Disengage b lade(s), setparkingbrake, s topengineandwaituntil the
blade(s) c ometo acompletestopbeforeremoving grass catcher, e mptying
grass, u nclogging chute,removing anygrassor debris, o r making any
adjustments.
Neverleave a runningmachine unattended. A lwaysturn off blade(s), set
parkingbrake, s topengineandremove keybefore dismounting.
Use extracarewhen loading or unloading the machineintoa traileror truck.
Thismachine shouldnot bedrivenup or downramp(s), b ecause t he machine
couldtip over, c ausing serious personal i njury.Themachine mustbepushed
manuallyonramp(s)to loador unloadproperly.
Mufflerandenginebecome hot andcancause a burn.Donot touch.