Slope Operation; Safety Of Children; Towing; Safe Handling Of Gasoline - Craftsman 917.28803 Operator's Manual

II. SLOPE OPERATION
Slopes are a major factor related to loss of
control and tip-over accidents, which can
result in severe injury or death. Operation
on all slopes requires extra caution. If you
cannot back up the slope or if you feel uneasy
on it, do not mow it.
• Mow up and down slopes, not across.
• Watch for holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, or
other hidden objects. Uneven terrain could
overturn the machine. Tall grass can hide
obstacles.
• Choose a low ground speed so that you
will not have to stop or shift while on the
slope.
• Do not mow on wet grass. Tires may lose
traction.
Always keep the machine in gear when
going down slopes. Do not shift to neutral
and coast downhill.
• Avoid starting, stopping, or turning on a
slope. Ifthetireslosetraction, disengage
the blades and proceed slowly straight
down the slope.
• Keepall movementontheslopesslowand
gradual. Do not make sudden changes
in speed or direction, which could cause
the machine to roll over.
• Use extra care while operating machine
with grass catchers or other attachments;
they can affect the stability of the machine.
Do no use on steep slopes.
• Do not try to stabilize the machine by
putting your foot on the ground.
• Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches, or
embankments. The machine could sud-
denly roll over if a wheel is over the edge
or if the edge caves in.
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. Never assume
that children will remain where you last
saw them.
• Keep children out of the mowing area and
in the watchful care of a responsible adult
other than the operator.
• Be alert and turn machine off if a child
enters the area.
• Before and while backing, look behind and
down for small children.
• Never carry children, even with the blades
shutoff. They may fall offand beseriously
injured or interfere with safe machine
operation. Children who have been given
rides in the past may suddenly appear in
the mowing area for another ride and be run
over or backed over by the machine.
• Never allow children to operate the ma-
chine.
• Use extra care when approaching blind
corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects
that may block your view of a child.
IV. TOWING
• Tow only with a machine that has a hitch
designed for towing. Do not attach towed
equipment except at the hitch point.
• Follow the manufacturer's recommenda-
tion for weight limits for towed equipment
and towing on slopes.
• Never allow children or others in or on
towed equipment.
• On slopes, the weight of the towed equip-
ment may cause loss of traction and loss
of control.
• Travel slowly and allow extra distance to
stop.
V. SERVICE
SAFE HANDLING OF GASOLINE
To avoid personal injury or property dam-
age, 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 approved gasoline container.
• Never remove gas cap or add fuel with
the engine running. Allow engine to cool
before refueling.
• Never fuel the machine indoors.
• Never store the machine or fuel container
where there is an open flame, spark, or
pilot light such as on a water heater or
other appliances.
• Never fill containers inside a vehicle or
on a truck or trailer bed with plastic liner.
Always place containers on the ground
away from your vehicle when filling.
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