Children; Towing; Safe Handling Of Gasoline; General Service - Craftsman 247.25001 Operator's Manual

CHILDREN
Tragicaccidentscanoccur ifthe operatoris notalert to the presence
of children.Childrenare often attractedto the machineand the mowing
activity.They do notunderstandthe dangers.Neverassumethat
childrenwill remainwhereyou last sawthem.
• Keepchildrenout of the mowingareaand inwatchfulcare of a
responsibleadultotherthanthe operator.
• Be alert and turnmachineoff ifa childentersthe area.
• Toavoidback-overaccidents,alwayslookbehindand downfor
smallchildren.
• Nevercarry children,evenwith the blade(s)shut off.They may
fall off and be seriouslyinjured or interfere with safe machine
operation.
• Use extremecarewhenapproachingblind corners,doorways,
shrubs,trees or otherobjectsthat may block yourvisionof a child
whomay run intothe pathof the machine.
• Keepchildrenaway from hotor runningengines.They cansuffer
burnsfroma hotmuffler.
• Removekeywhenmachineisunattendedto preventunauthorized
operation.
Neverallowchildrenunder 14 yearsof age to operatethis machine.
Children14 and overshouldreadand understandthe instructions and
safeoperationpracticesin this manualand on the machineand should
be trainedand supervisedbyan adult.
TOWING
Towonlywith a machinethat hasa hitch designedfor towing.Do not
attachtowedequipmentexceptat the hitch point.
Followthe manufacturers recommendation forweight limitsfortowed
equipmentand towingon slopes.
Neverallowchildrenor othersin or on towedequipment.
On slopes,theweightof thetowed equipmentmaycause lossof
tractionand loss of control.
Travelslowlyand allowextradistanceto stop.
Do not shiftto neutraland coastdownhill.
Do nottow heavy pull behindattachments(e.g.loadeddumpcart,
lawnroller,etc.) on slopesgreaterthan5 degrees.Whengoing down
hill,the extra weighttendsto pushthe ridingmowerand may cause
youto loosecontrol (e.g. ridingmowermayspeedup, brakingand
steeringability are reduced,attachmentmayjack-knife and cause
riding mowerto overturn).
SERVICE
SafeHandlingof Gasoline:
Toavoidpersonalinjury or propertydamageuse extremecarein
handlinggasoline.Gasolineisextremelyflammableand the vaporsare
explosive.Seriouspersonalinjury canoccur whengasolineis spilled
on yourselfor your clotheswhich can ignite.Washyourskin and
changeclothesimmediately.
• Useonly an approvedgasolinecontainer.
• Neverfill containersinside a vehicleor on a truckor trailer bed
with a plasticliner.Alwaysplacecontainerson the groundaway
from yourvehiclebeforefilling.
• Whenpractical,removegas-powered equipmentfrom the truck
or trailerand refueliton theground.If this isnot possible,then
refuelsuch equipmenton a trailerwith a portablecontainer,rather
than froma gasolinedispensernozzle.
• Keepthe nozzleincontactwith the rim of the fueltank or
containeropeningat all timesuntilfuelingiscomplete.Donot use
a nozzlelock-opendevice.
• Extinguishall cigarettes,cigars,pipesand othersourcesof
ignition.
• Neverfuel machineindoors.
• Neverremovegascap or add fuelwhilethe engineis hotor run-
ning.Allowengineto coolat least two minutesbeforerefueling.
• Neveroverfill fuel tank. Filltank to no morethan 1/2" b elowbottom
of filler neck to allowspacefor fuelexpansion.
• Replacegasolinecap and tightensecurely.
• If gasolineis spilled,wipeitoff the engineand equipment.Move
machineto anotherarea.Wait 5 minutesbeforestartingthe
engine.
• To reducefire hazards,keepmachinefree of grass,leaves,or
otherdebrisbuild-up.Cleanup oil or fuel spillageand removeany
fuel soakeddebris.
• Neverstorethe machineor fuelcontainerinside wherethere isan
open flame,sparkor pilotlight as on a waterheater,spaceheater,
furnace,clothesdryeror othergasappliances.
• Allowa machineto coolat least five minutesbeforestoring.
GeneralService
• Neverrunan engineindoors or in a poorlyventilatedarea. Engine
exhaustcontainscarbonmonoxide,an odorless,and deadlygas.
• Beforecleaning,repairing,or inspecting, makecertainthe
blade(s)and all movingparts havestopped.Disconnectthe spark
plugwire andground againsttheengineto preventunintended
starting.
• Periodically checkto makesurethe bladescometo completestop
within approximately (5) five secondsafter operatingthe blade
disengagement c ontrol,ifthe bladesdo not stop withinthe this
time frame,aveyourmachineservicedprofessionally by Searsor
anotherqualifieddealer.
• Regularlycheckthesafety interlock s ystemfor properfunction,as
describedlaterinthis manual.If the safetyinterlock s ystemdoes
notfunctionproperly,haveyour machineservicedprofessionally