Craftsman 247.889980 Operator's Manual page 4

• If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the engine and
check immediately for the cause. Vibration is generally a warning of
trouble.
• Shut the engine off and wait until the blade comes to a complete stop
before removing the grass catcher or unclogging the chute.
The cutting blade continues to rotate for a few seconds after the engine
is shut off. Never place any part of the body in the blade area until you
are sure the blade has stopped rotating.
• Never operate mower without proper trailshield, discharge cover, grass
catcher, blade control handle, or other safety protective devices in place
and working. Never operate mower with damaged safety devices. Failure
to do so can result in personal injury.
• Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a burn. Do not touch.
• Only use parts and accessories made for this machine by manufacturer.
Failure to do so can result in personal injury. For recommended acces-
sories, call 1-800-659-5917.
• If situations occur which are not covered in this manual, use care and
good judgment. Contact your Sears Service Center for assistance.
SLOPE OPERATION
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 guide 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:
• Mow across the face of slopes; never up and down. Exercise extreme
caution when changing direction on slopes.
• Watch for holes, ruts, rocks, hidden objects, or bumps which can cause
you to slip or trip. Tall grass can hide obstacles.
• 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:
• Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embankments, where you could
lose your footing or balance.
• Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees as shown on the
slope gauge.
• Do not mow on wet grass. Unstable footing could cause slipping.
SERvICE
Safe Handling Of Gasoline:
• 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.
• Wash your skin and change clothes immediately.
• Use only an approved gasoline container.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources
of ignition.
• Never fuel machine indoors because flammable vapors will accumulate
in the area.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
4
• Never remove gas cap or add fuel while engine is hot or running.
Allow engine to cool at least two minutes before refueling.
• Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more than ½ inch below bottom
of filler neck to provide for fuel expansion.
• Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely.
• If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine and equipment. Move unit
to another area. Wait 5 minutes before starting engine.
• 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.
• 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.
• Allow a mower to cool at least 5 minutes before storing.
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 manufac-
ture's (O.E.M.) 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!
• 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 trailshield 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 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 governor setting or overspeed the engine.
The governor controls the maximum safe operating speed of the
engine.
• Maintain or replace safety labels, as necessary.
• Observe proper disposal laws and regulations. Improper disposal of
fluids and materials can harm the environment.