Important Safety Instructions - Black Box BM21HWAS Operator's Manual

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

DANGER:
Risk of fire and serious burns: Never remove fuel cap
when unit is running. Shut off engine and allow the unit
to cool at least five minutes. Remove cap slowly.
WARNING:
READ AND UNDERSTAND ALL INSTRUCTIONS.
Failure to follow all instructions listed below and on the
machine may result in electric shock, fire, and/or serious
personal injury.
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS
 This cutting machine is capable of amputating hands and
feet and throwing objects. Failure to observe all safety
instructions could result in serious injury or death.
 Avoid dangerous environment — Do not use the lawn
mower in damp or wet conditions or operate in the rain.
 Keep children away — Keep all bystanders, children, and
pets at least 100 ft. away. Stop machine if anyone enters
the area.
 Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to
the presence of children. Children are often attracted to
the machine and the mowing activity. Never assume that
children will remain where you last saw them.
• Keep children out of the mowing area and under the
watchful care of a responsible adult other than the
operator.
• Be alert and turn mower off if a child enters the area.
• Never allow children to operate the machine.
• Use extra care when approaching blind corners, shrubs,
trees, or other objects that may block your view of a
child.
 Dress properly — Wear heavy, long pants, long sleeves,
gloves, and protective footwear that will protect your
feet and improve your footing on slippery surfaces. Do
not wear loose fitting clothing, short pants, sandals, or
go barefoot. Do not wear jewelry of any kind. They can
be caught in moving parts.
 Heavy protective clothing may increase operator fatigue,
which could lead to heat stroke. During weather that is
hot and humid, heavy work should be scheduled for early
morning or late afternoon hours when temperatures are
cooler.
 Don't overreach — Keep proper footing and balance at
all times. Overreaching can result in loss of balance.
 Do not leave the mower unattended while running.
 Keep hands and feet away from cutting area. Keep clear
of the discharge opening at all times.
 Operate the lawn mower only in daylight or good artificial
light.
 Always wear eye protection with side shields marked to
comply with ANSI Z87.1, along with hearing protection
when operating this product. Failure to do so could result
in objects being thrown into your eyes, resulting in pos-
sible serious injury.
 Use the right appliance — Do not use the lawn mower
for any job except that for which it is intended.
 Do not force the lawn mower — It will do the job better
and safer at the rate for which it was designed.
 Stay alert — Watch what you are doing and use common
sense when operating the lawn mower. Do not operate
the mower while tired, upset or under the influence of
drugs, alcohol, or medication. A moment of inattention
while operating the lawn mower may result in serious
personal injury.
 Maintain lawn mower with care — Keep machine in good
working condition. Keep blades sharp and guards in place
and in working order. Replace damaged or unevenly worn
blades before using mower for best performance.
 Check all nuts, bolts, and screws at frequent intervals for
proper tightness to be sure the equipment is in safe work-
ing condition. Mower blades are sharp. Wrap the blade or
wear gloves, and use extra caution when servicing them.
 Check fuel hoses and joints for looseness and fuel leak-
age before each use.
 Do not touch area around the muffler or cylinder of the
unit; these parts get hot from operation. Contact with hot
surfaces could result in possible serious personal injury.
 Stop the engine, wait until the blade comes to a complete
stop, and disconnect the spark plug wire before cleaning
the lawn mower, removing the grass catcher, or removing
the mulching plug.
 Replace blade if it is bent or cracked. An unbalanced
blade causes vibration that could damage the engine
drive unit or cause personal injury. Sharpen a dull blade
equally at each end to maintain the balance. Clean the
blade thoroughly and check its balance by supporting
it horizontally on a thin nail through its center hole. The
nail should be in a horizontal position. If either end of
the blade rotates downward, remove some metal from
the heavy or lower end until the blade is balanced. It is
balanced when neither end drops.
 Always use safety protective devices. Do not operate the
mower without the entire grass catcher or mulching plug
and rear discharge door in place and working properly.
 Follow manufacturer's instructions for proper operation
and installation of accessories. Only use accessories
approved by the manufacturer.
 Clear the work area before each use. Remove all objects
such as rocks, sticks, metal, wire, tree nuts, bones, toys,
or other objects which can be thrown by the blade. Stay
behind the handle when the engine is running.
Page 2 — English