Craftsman 154.37837 Operator's Manual page 5

GENERAL SERVICE
Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated area. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide, an odorless and deadly gas.
• 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.
• Check the blade and engine mounting bolts at frequent intervals for proper
tightness. Also, visually inspect blade for damage (e.g., bent, cracked, worn).
• Replace blade with the original equipment manufacture's (O.E.M.) blade only,
listed in the Parts pages of this manual. Use of parts which do not meet the
original equipment specifications may lead to improper performance and
compromise safety!
• Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap the blade or wear gloves, and use
extra caution when servicing them.
• Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure the equipment is in safe
working condition.
• Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper operation regularly.
• 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.
• Never attempt to make a wheel or cutting height adjustment while the engine
is running.
• 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 (O.E.M.) parts only, listed in the Parts
pages of this manual. Use of parts which do not meet the original equipment
specifications may lead to improper performance and compromise safety!
• Do not change the engine's governor setting or over-speed the engine. The
governor controls the maximum safe operating speed of the engine.
• Check fuel line, tank, cap, and fittings frequently for cracks or leaks. Replace if
necessary.
• Do not crank engine with spark plug removed.
• Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels, as necessary.
• Observe proper disposal laws and regulations. Improper disposal of fluids and
materials can harm the environment.
• According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this product has an Average Useful Life
of seven (7) years, or 140 hours of operation. At the end of the Average Useful
Life have the machine inspected annually by a Sears or other qualified service
dealer to ensure that all mechanical and safety systems are working properly
and not worn excessively. Failure to do so can result in accidents, injuries or
death.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
DO NOT MODIFY ENGINE
To avoid serious injury or death, do not modify engine in any way. Tampering with
the governor setting can lead to a runaway engine and cause it to operate at unsafe
speeds. Never tamper with factory setting of engine governor.
NOTICE REGARDING EMISSIONS
Engines which are certified to comply with California and federal EPA emission
regulations for SORE (Small Off Road Equipment) are certified to operate on regular
unleaded gasoline, and may include the following emission control systems: Engine
Modification (EM), Oxidizing Catalyst (OC), Secondary Air Injection (SAI) and Three
Way Catalyst (TWC) if so equipped.
SPARK ARRESTOR
This machine is equipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be
used on or near any unimproved forest-covered, brushcovered or grass-covered
land unless the engine's exhaust system is equipped with a spark arrestor
meeting applicable local or state laws (if any).
If a spark arrestor is used, it should be maintained in effective working order by the
operator. In the State of California the above is required by law (Section 4442 of the
California Public Resources Code). Other states may have similar laws. Federal laws
apply on federal lands.
A spark arrestor for the muffler is available through your nearest Sears Parts and
Repair Service Center.
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WARNING