Table of Contents
Advertisement
Wear heavy gloves and disconnect the spark plug cap when you need
to clean the mower deck or handle the blade.
The blade is sharp and spins at high speed. If you
come in contact with a spinning blade, it will cut you
severely and can amputate fingers and toes.
• Wear protective footwear
• Keep you hands and feet away from the mower
deck while the engine is running
• Stop the engine before performing any adjustment,
inspection, or maintenance
Clear Mowing Area
Mower blade can throw rocks and other objects with enough force to
cause serious injury. Before mowing, carefully inspect the area and
remove all sticks, stones, pieces of wire, and other loose objects.
Never operate the blade over gravel.
NOTICE
Striking objects with the spinning blade can cause severe engine
damage, which is not covered by the DISTRIBUTORS LIMITED
WARRANTY
(page
19).
Keep Shields in Place
Guards and shields are designed to protect you from being hit by
thrown objects and from hot engine parts and moving components.
For your safety and the safety of others, keep all shields in place
when the engine is running.
Refuel With Care
Gasoline is extremely flammable and gasoline vapor can explode.
Refuel only outdoors, in a well-ventilated area, with the engine OFF.
Never smoke near gasoline, and keep other flames and sparks away.
Always store gasoline in an approved 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 with a portable container, rather than from a gasoline
dispenser nozzle.
Wear Protective Clothing
Wearing protective clothing will reduce your risk of injury. Long pants
and eye protection reduce the risk of injuries from thrown objects.
Sturdy shoes with aggressive soles will help protect your feet and give
you better traction on slopes or uneven ground.
Stop the Engine When Not Mowing
If you need to leave the mower for any reason, even just to inspect the
lawn ahead, stop the engine by releasing the blade control lever.
Avoid Slopes
Avoid steep slopes of more than 20
Mow across slopes, not up and down. 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. Never
operate the mower in wet grass.
NOTICE
Mowing on steep slopes can starve the engine of oil, causing engine
damage that is not covered by the DISTRIBUTORS LIMITED
WARRANTY
(page
19).
6
DANGER
°.
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. Do not mow near drop offs, ditches,
or embankments. You could lose your footing or balance.
If stuck, do not kick or shove the mower with your foot. Use the
handlebar to control the mower.
Avoid Obstacles
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. Never direct discharged
material toward anyone. Avoid discharging material against a wall or
obstruction. Material may ricochet back toward the operator. The best
way to prevent potential injury from thrown objects is to release the
blade control lever to stop the blade before reaching areas with
gravel, loose stones, or landscaping material.
Be careful when mowing over obstacles that stick up above the
surface of the lawn such as sprinkler heads, paving, edging, raised
tree roots, etc.
If the blade hits something, or if the mower starts to vibrate, stop the
engine immediately, disconnect the spark plug cap, and check for
damage
(page
10). Striking objects may damage the blade, bend the
crankshaft, and/or break the mower deck or other components.
Vibration usually indicates serious trouble.
WARNING
A worn, cracked, or damaged blade can break, and
pieces of the damaged blade can become dangerous
projectiles.
A blade thrown from the mower could seriously hurt or
kill someone.
Inspect the blade regularly (see
operate the mower with a worn or damaged blade.
The DISTRIBUTOR'S LIMITED WARRANTY
cover parts damaged by accidental impact collision.
Operating the Controls
Blade Control Lever
The blade control lever must be
pulled back against the handlebar
to start and run the engine. The
blade starts to rotate when the
lever is pulled back against the
handlebar and the recoil starter
grip is pulled.
Continue to hold the lever fully
against the handlebar. This will keep the engine and blade rotating
smoothly and prevent premature wear to the flywheel brake system.
Release the blade control lever to stop the engine and stop blade
rotation whenever you need to leave the mower.
Smart Drive Control
With the engine running and the
blades rotating, slowly push the
Smart Drive control to propel
the mower forward.
Ground speed will increase as
more pressure is applied to the
Smart Drive control. After
maximum ground speed is
page
10), and do not
(page
19) does not
BLADE CONTROL
LEVER
To prevent thumb fatigue, hold
the Smart Drive control as shown.
2
SMART DRIVE CONTROL
Advertisement
Table of Contents
