Slope Operation; Towing; Service; Children - Craftsman 917.288460 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
can not 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 alowground speed sothat 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. Ifthetires Iosetraction, disengage
the blades and proceed slowly straight
down the slope.
• Keep all movement on the slopes slowand
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 affectthe stability of the machine.
Do no use on steep slopes.
• Do not try to stabilize the machine by put-
ting 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. Chil-
dren are often attracted to the machine and
the mowing activity. Never assume that chil-
dren 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 be seriously
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. 4
Neverallowchildrentooperatethemachine.
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,theweig htofthetowed equipment
maycause loss oftraction and Iossofcontrol.
• Travelslowly and allowextradistancetostop.
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.
• 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.
• 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.
• If fuel is spilled on clothing, change cloth-
ing immediately.
• Never overfill fuel tank. Replace gas cap
and tighten securely.