Chapter 1 General Information; General Safety Precautions - Tecumseh TM SERIES Technician's Handbook

CHAPTER 1 GENERAL INFORMATION

I. General Safety Precautions
Read the original equipment manufacturer's manual(s)
and this handbook thoroughly before servicing
Tecumseh engines.
Always follow recommended service procedures.
Such procedures affect the safe operation of the
equipment and the safety of you and/or the operator.
Failure to follow the instructions and warnings may
result in serious injury or death. Call Tecumseh Power
Company at 1-800-558-5402 or visit www.Tecumseh-
Power.com if you have any questions.
A. Use Personal Protective Equipment
To avoid injury, wear protective
equipment including appropriate
clothing, eyewear, safety shoes and
ear plugs when servicing Tecumseh
products.
B. Stay Away from Rotat-
ing Parts
Rotating parts can cause severe
injury or death. Use special care
when making service adjustments
with covers or guards removed.
Keep tools, hands, feet, hair, jewelry,
and clothing away from all moving
parts. Replace covers and guards
before operating equipment.
C. Stay Away from Hot Sur-
faces
Parts of equipment being serviced
become extremely hot during operation
and remain hot after the equipment has
stopped. To avoid severe burns, stay
away from hot surfaces or allow the unit
to cool prior to service.
D. Avoid Accidental Equipment Movement
To prevent accidental movement of equipment, always
set the parking brake. For gear-driven products that do
not have a parking brake, leave equipment in gear and
chock the wheels. Refer to original equipment operator
manuals for additional information.
Pulley bosses that hold the rewind spring inside the
keeper and spring housing may not be secured and can
be easily loosened. Use special care when handling this
housing. Failure to do so could cause spring to "fly out"
which could result in minor or moderate injury.
WARNING
Always discard gaskets, O-rings and seals after removal.
Use only new gaskets, O-rings and seals for assembly.
Failure to do so could result in leakage from engine areas
that use these parts.
E. Always Provide Adequate Ventilation
To avoid serious injury or death,
always ensure that you are working in
a properly ventilated facility. Special
precautions are required to avoid car-
bon monoxide poisoning.
All engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide, a deadly gas. Breathing
carbon monoxide can cause headaches, dizziness,
drowsiness, nausea, confusion and eventually death.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas
which may be present even if you do not see or smell any
engine exhaust.
Deadly levels of carbon monoxide can collect rapidly and
you can quickly be overcome and unable to save your-
self. Also, deadly levels of carbon monoxide can linger
for hours or days in enclosed or poorly-ventilated areas.
If you experience any symptoms of carbon monoxide poi-
soning, leave the area immediately, get fresh air, and
SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT.
To prevent serious injury or death from carbon monoxide:
• ALWAYS direct engine exhaust outdoors.
• NEVER run engine outdoors where engine
exhaust can be drawn into a building through
openings such as windows and doors.
F. Use Proper Methods When Cleaning
To reduce the risk of serious injury or
death from fires and/or explosions,
NEVER use flammable solvents (e.g.,
gasoline) to clean serviceable parts. Use a
water-based, non-flammable solvent such
as Tecumseh Degreaser Cleaner.
G. Compressed Air Precautions
Never use compressed air to clean debris from yourself
or your clothing. When using compressed air to clean or
dry serviceable parts:
• Wear appropriate eye protection.
• Use only approved air blow nozzles.
• Air pressure must not exceed 30psi (206kPa).
• Shield yourself and bystanders from flying debris.
H. Inspect and Adjust Brake(s)
Always inspect and adjust flywheel brake components
whenever servicing equipment that has a Tecumseh
engine. Refer to this Technician's Handbook and bulle-
tins for proper brake adjustment.
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