Safety Instructions; General Operation - Craftsman 247.290000 Operator's Manual

Thissymbol p ointsout importantsafetyinstructions w hich, if not
followed, couldendangerthe personalsafetyand/or property of
yourself a nd others.Readandfollow all instructions i n thismanual
beforeattempting to operate thismachine.Failuretocomplywith these
instructions m ayresultin personalinjury.Whenyouseethissymbol, HEED
ITSWARNING!
CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65
Engine Exhaust,someof itsconstituents,and certain vehiclecomponents
contain or emit chemicalsknown to Stateof Californiatocausecancerand
birth defectsor other reproductive h arm.
Battery posts,terminals, and relatedaccessories c ontainlead andlead
compounds, chemicals k nown to theStateof Californiatocause cancer a nd
reproductive harm.Washhandsafter handling.
Thismachinewasbuilt to beoperatedaccordingto the safeoperation
practicesin this manual.Aswith anytype of power equipment,
carelessness o r error on the part of the operator canresultin seriousinjury.
Thismachineis capableof amputating fingers, hands,toesandfeet and
throwing debris. Failureto observethe following safety instructionscould
resultin seriousinjury or death.
Your ResponsibilityiRestrict the useof thispowermachineto
personswho read,understandandfollow thewarnings and instructionsin
this manualandon the machine.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!
GENERAL OPERATION
Read, u nderstand, andfollowall instructions onthe machine andinthe
manual(s) beforeattemptingto assemble andoperate.Keep thismanual i n
asafeplaceforfutureandregularreference a ndfor orderingreplacement
parts.
Befamiliarwith all controls andtheir properoperation. K nowhowto stop
the machine anddisengage themquickly.
Never a llowchildrenunder14yearsold to operate thismachine. C hildren 14
yearsoldandovershouldreadandunderstand the operationinstructions
andsafetyrulesinthismanual a ndshouldbetrainedandsupervised b ya
parent.
Never a llowadultsto operatethismachine without properinstruction.
Tohelpavoidbladecontact o r a thrownobjectinjury,keepbystanders,
helpers, c hildrenandpetsat least75feetfrom the machine whileit isin
operation. S topmachine if anyone entersthe area.
Thoroughly inspectthe areawherethe equipmentisto beused.Remove
all stones, s ticks,wire, bones, t oys,andotherforeignobjectswhichcould
bepickedupandthrownbythe blade(s). Thrown objectscancause serious
personal i njury.
Planyourmowingpatterntoavoiddischarge o f material t owardroads,
sidewalks, b ystanders a ndthe like.Also, a voiddischarging materialagainst
awall or obstruction whichmaycause discharged material t o ricochet b ack
towardthe operator.
Always wearsafetyglasses or safetygoggles duringoperationandwhile
performinganadjustment o r repairto protectyoureyes. T hrown objects
whichricochetcancause serious injury to the eyes.
Wear s turdy,rough-soled workshoes andclose-fittingslacks andshirts.
Loose fitting clothes andjewelrycanbecaughtin movable parts.Never
operate this machine inbarefeetor sandals.
Beaware of the mowerandattachment d ischarge d irectionanddonot point
it at anyone. D onot operatethe mowerwithoutthe discharge cover o r entire
grasscatcher i n its properplace.
Donot put hands or feetnearrotatingpartsor underthe cuttingdeck.
Contact w iththe blade(s) c anamputatehands andfeet.
Amissingor damaged discharge covercancause bladecontactorthrown
objectinjuries.
Stopthe blade(s) w hencrossing graveldrives, w alks,or roads andwhilenot
cuttinggrass.
Watchfortrafficwhenoperatingnearor crossing roadways. Thismachine is
not intended foruseon anypublicroadway.
Donot operatethe machine whileunderthe influence of alcohol o r drugs.
Mowonly indaylightor goodartificial light.
Nevercarrypassengers.
Disengage b lade(s) b efore shiftinginto reverse. B ack upslowly.Alwayslook
clownandbehindbeforeandwhilebackingto avoidaback-over a ccident.
Slowdownbeforeturning.Operate the machine smoothly. A voiderratic
operationandexcessive s peed.
Disengage b lade(s), setparkingbrake, s topengineandwaituntil the
blade(s) c ometo acomplete stop beforeremoving grass catcher, e mptying
grass, u nclogging chute,removing anygrassor debris, o r making any
adjustments.
Neverleavearunningmachine unattended. A lwaysturn off blade(s), set
parkingbrake, s topengineandremove keybefore dismounting.
Use extracarewhen loading or unloading the machineintoa traileror truck.
Thismachine shouldnot bedrivenup or downramp(s), b ecause the machine
couldtip over, c ausing serious personal injury.Themachine mustbepushed
manuallyonramp(s)to loador unloadproperly.
Mufflerandenginebecome hot andcancause a burn.Donot touch.