Safe Operation Practices - MTD Yard-Man 12A-559K401 Operator's Manual

SECTION 1: IMPORTANT SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES
This symbol points out important safety instructions which, if not followed, could endanger the
personal safety and/or property of yourself and others. Read and follow all instructions in this manual
before attempting to operate your lawn mower. Failure to comply with these instructions may result
in personal injury. When you see this symbol--heed its warning.
Your lawn mower was built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation in this manual.
DANGER:
As with any type of power equipment, carelessness or error on the part of the operator can result in
serious injury. If the operator violates any of these rules, he/she may cause serious injury to
himself/herself or others.
1,
GENERAL OPERATION
• Read this owner's guide carefully in its entirety
before attempting to assemble this machine. Read,
understand, and follow all instructions on the
machine and in the manual(s) before operation. Be
completely familiar with the controls and the
proper use of this machine before operating it.
Keep this manual in a safe place for future and
regular reference and for ordering replacement
parts.
• Your rotary mower is a precision piece of power
equipment, not a plaything. Therefore, exercise
extreme caution at all times. Your unit has been
designed to perform one job: to mow grass. Do net
use it for any other purpose.
• Never allow children under 14 years old to operate
a power mower. Children 14 years old and over
should only operate mower under close parental
supervision. Only responsible individuals who are
familiar with these rules of safe operation should be
allowed to use your mower.
• Keep the area of operation clear of all persons,
particularly small children and pets. Stop engine
when they are in the vicinity of your mower to help
prevent blade contact or thrown object injury.
Although the area of operation should be
completely cleared of foreign objects, an object
may have been overlooked and could be
accidentally thrown by the mower in any direction
and cause serious personal injury to the operator or
any others allowed in the area.
• Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment
is to be used. Remove all stones, sticks, wire,
bones, toys and other foreign objects which could
be picked up and thrown by the mower in any
direction and cause serious personal injury to the
operator or any others allowed in the area. Plan
your mowing pattern to avoid discharge of material
toward roads, sidewalks, bystanders and the like.
To help avoid a thrown object's injury, keep
children, bystanders and helpers at least 75 feet
from the mower while it is in operation.
• Always wear safety glasses or safety goggles
during operation or while performing an adjustment
or repair, to protect eyes from foreign objects that
may be thrown from the machine in any direction.
• Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close-
fitting slacks and shirts. Shirts and pants that cover
the arms and legs and steel-toed shoes are
recommended. Do not wear loose fitting clothes or
jewelry. They can be caught in moving parts. Never
operate a unit in bare feet, sandals, or sneakers.
• Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating
parts. Keep clear of discharge opening at all times
as the rotating blade can cause injury.
• Many injuries occur as a result of the mower being
pulled over the foot during a fall. Do not hang on to
the mower if you are falling; release the handle
immediately.
• Never pull the mower toward you while you are
walking. If you must back the mower away from a
wall or obstruction first look down and behind, and
then follow these steps:
Step back from the mower to fully extend your
arms.
Be sure you are well balanced with sure footing.
Pull the mower back slowly, no more than half
way toward you.
Repeat these steps as needed.
• Do not operate the mower while under the
influence of alcohol or drugs.
• The blade control handle is a safety device. Never
attempt to bypass its operation. Doing so makes
the safety device inoperative and may result in
personal injury through contact with the rotating
blade. The btade control handle must operate
easily in both directions and automatically return to
the disengaged position when released.
• Never operate the mower in wet grass. Always be
sure of your footing. A slip and fall can cause
serious personal injury. Keep a firm hold on the
handle and walk, never run. Mow only in daylight or
in good artificial light.
• Stop the blade when crossing gravel drives, walks
or roads.
• If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally,
stop the engine and check immediately for the
cause. Vibration is generally a warning of trouble.
• Shut the engine off and wait until the blade comes
to a complete stop before removing the
grasscateher or unclogging the chute. The cutting
blade continues to rotate for a few seconds after
the engine is shut off. Never place any part of the
body in the blade area until you are sure the blade
has stopped rotating.
• Never operate mower without proper guards,
grasscatcher, plates or other safety protective
devices in place.
• Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a
burn. Do not touch.
• Only use accessories approved for this machine
by the manufacturer. Read, understand, and follow
al! instructions provided with the approved
accessory.
• If situations occur which are not covered in this
manual, use care and good judgment. Contact your
dealer for assistance.
2. SLOPE OPERATION
For your safety, use the slope gauge included as part of this
manual to measure slopes before operating this unit on a
sloped or hilly area. If the slope is greater than 15 degrees
as shown on the slope gauge, do not operate this