Children; Safe Handling Of Gasoline; General Service - Craftsman 944.361361 Owner's Manual

DO:
• Mow across the face of slopes: never up
and down. Exercise extreme caution when
changing direction on slopes.
• Remove obstacles such as rocks, tree
limbs, etc.
• Watch for holes, ruts, or bumps. Tall grass
can hide obstacles.
DO NOT:
• Do not trim near drop-offs, ditches or
embankments. The operator could lose
footing or balance.
• Do not trim excessively steep slopes.
• Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced footing
could cause slipping.
Iii. CHILDREN
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. Neverassume that children
will remain where you last saw them.
• Keep children out of the trimming area
and under the watchful care of another
responsible adult.
• Be alert and turn machine off if children
enter the area.
• Before and whilewalking backwards, look
behind and down for small children.
• Never allow children to operate ma-
chine.
• Use extra care when approaching blind
corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects
that may obscure vision.
IV. SAFE HANDLING OF GASOLINE
Use extreme care in handling gasoline.
Gasoline is extremely flammable and the
vapors are explosive.
• Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and
other sources of ignition.
• Use only an approved container.
• Never remove gas cap or add fuel with
the engine running. Allow engine to cool
before refueling.
• Never refuel the machine indoors.
• Never store the machine or fuel container
where there is an open flame, spark or pilot
light such as a water heater or on other
appliances.
• Never fill containers inside a vehicle, 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 equipmentfrom the
truck or trailer and refuel iton the ground. If
this is not possible, then refuel such equip-
mentwith a portable container, rather than
from a gasoline dispenser nozzle.
• Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim
of the fue! tank or container opening at
all times until fueling is complete. Do not
use a nozzle lock-open device.
• Iffue! is spilled on clothing, change clothing
immediately.
• Never overfill fue! tank. Replace gas cap
and tighten securely.
V. GENERAL SERVICE
• Never run machine inside a closed area.
• Never make adjustments or repairs with
the engine (motor) running. Disconnect
the spark plug wire, and keep the wire
away from the plug to prevent accidental
starting.
• Keep nuts and bolts, especially blade at-
tachment bolts, tight and keep equipment
in good condition.
• Never tamper with safety devices. Check
their proper operation regularly.
• Keep machine free of grass, leaves, or
other debris build-up. Clean oil or fue! spill-
age. Allow machine to cool before storing.
• Stop and inspect the equipment if you
strike an object. Repair, if necessary,
before restarting.
• Never attempt to make wheel height ad-
justments while the engine is running.
• Grass catcher components are subject to
wear, damage, and deterioration, which
could expose moving parts or allowobjects
to be thrown. Frequently check compo-
nents and replace with manufacturer's
recommended parts, when necessary.
• Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap
the blade(s) orwear gloves, and use extra
caution when servicing them.
• Do not change the engine governorsetting
or overspeed the engine.
• Maintain or replace safety and instruction
labels, as necessary.
&WARNING: This lawn mower is equipped with an internal combustion engine and
should not be used on or near any unimproved forest-covered, brush-covered or
grass-covered land unless the engine's exhaust system is equipped with a spark
arrester meeting applicable local or state laws (if any). If a spark arrester is used, it
should be maintained in effective working order by the operator.
A spark arrester for the muffler is available through your nearest Sears Service Cen-
tre (See the REPAIR PARTS section of this manual).
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