• Iftheequipmentshouldstartto vibrateabnormally,stoptheengineand
checkimmediatelyfor the cause.Vibrationisgenerallya warningof
trouble.
• Shutthe engineoff andwait untilthe bladecomesto a completestop
beforeremovingthe grasscatcheror uncloggingthe chute.
Thecuttingblade continuestorotatefor a fewsecondsafterthe engine
isshut off.Neverplaceanypartof the bodyinthe bladearea untilyou
aresurethe bladehasstoppedrotating.
• Neveroperatemowerwithoutpropertrailshield,dischargecover,grass
catcher,bladecontrolhandle,orothersafety protectivedevicesin place
andworking.Neveroperatemowerwithdamagedsafetydevices.Failure
todoso can resultin personalinjury.
• Mufflerandenginebecomehotand cancausea burn.Do nottouch.
• Onlyusepartsand accessoriesmadefor this machineby manufacturer.
Failureto doso canresultin personalinjury.Forrecommendedacces-
sories,call 1-800-659-5917.
• Ifsituationsoccurwhichare notcoveredinthis manual,usecareand
goodjudgment.ContactyourSearsServiceCenterfor assistance.
SLOPE OPERATION
Slopesare amajorfactorrelatedto slipandfall accidentswhichcanresultin
severeinjury.Operationon slopesrequiresextracaution.Ifyoufeeluneasyon
a slope,donotmowit.Foryoursafety,usethe slopeguideincludedaspart of
thismanualto measureslopesbeforeoperatingthisunitona slopedor hilly
area.Iftheslopeis greaterthan 15degrees,do notmowit.
Do:
• Mowacrossthefaceof slopes; neverupanddown. Exerciseextreme
cautionwhenchangingdirectionon slopes.
• Watchfor holes,ruts,rocks, hiddenobjects,or bumpswhichcancause
youto slipor trip.Tallgrasscan hideobstacles.
• Alwaysbe sureof yourfooting.A slip andfall cancauseseriouspersonal
injury.If youfeelyouarelosingyourbalance,releasethe bladecontrol
handleimmediately,andthe bladewill stoprotatingwithin3 seconds.
Do Not:
• Do notmowneardrop-offs,ditchesorembankments,whereyoucould
loseyourfootingor balance.
• Do notmowslopesgreaterthan 15degreesasshownonthe
slopegauge.
• Do notmowonwetgrass. Unstablefootingcouldcauseslipping.
SERVICE
Safe Handling Of Gasoline:
• Toavoidpersonalinjuryor propertydamageuseextremecare in
handlinggasoline.Gasolineis extremelyflammableandthevaporsare
explosive.Seriouspersonalinjurycanoccurwhengasolineis spilledon
yourselfor yourclotheswhichcan ignite.
• Washyourskin andchangeclothesimmediately.
• Useonlyanapprovedgasolinecontainer.
• Neverfill containersinsideavehicleoron a truckor trailerbedwith a
plasticliner.Alwaysplacecontainersonthe groundawayfromyour
vehiclebeforefilling.
• Removegas-poweredequipmentfromthetruck ortrailerand refueliton
theground.If this isnot possible,then refuelsuchequipmentona trailer
witha portablecontainer,ratherthan froma gasolinedispensernozzle.
• Keepthe nozzlein contactwiththe rimofthefueltank or container
openingatalltimesuntil fuelingiscomplete.Donot usea nozzle
lock-opendevice.
• Extinguishallcigarettes,cigars, pipesand othersources
ofignition.
• Neverfuel machineindoorsbecauseflammablevaporswillaccumulate
inthe area.
• Neverremovegascapor addfuelwhile engineis hotor running.
Allowengineto cool atleasttwo minutesbeforerefueling.
• Neveroverfill fuel tank.Fill tankto no morethan V2inch belowbottom
offiller neckto provideforfuel expansion.
• Replacegasolinecapandtightensecurely.
• Ifgasolineisspilled,wipeit offthe engineand equipment.Moveunit
toanotherarea.Wait5 minutesbeforestarting engine.
• Neverstorethe machineorfuelcontainernearan openflame,spark
or pilot lightason a waterheater,spaceheater,furnace,clothesdryer,
or othergasappliances.
• Toreducefire hazard,keepmowerfreeofgrass, leaves,or other
debrisbuild-up.Cleanupoilor fuelspillageandremoveanyfuel
soakeddebris.
• Allowa mowerto cool atleast5 minutesbeforestoring.
General Service:
• Neverrunanengineindoorsorin a poorlyventilatedarea.Engine
exhaustcontainscarbon monoxide,anodorlessand deadlygas.
• Beforecleaning,repairing,or inspecting,makecertainthe bladeand
all movingpartshavestopped.Disconnectthe sparkplugwire and
groundagainsttheenginetopreventunintendedstarting.
• Checkthe bladeand enginemountingboltsat frequentintervalsfor
propertightness.Also,visuallyinspectbladefor damage(e.g.,bent,
cracked,worn)Replacebladewith theoriginalequipmentmanufac-
ture's(O.E.M.)bladeonly,listedin this manual.Use ofparts whichdo
notmeetthe originalequipmentspecificationsmayleadtoimproper
performanceandcompromisesafety!
• Mowerbladesare sharpand cancut.Wrapthe bladeor weargloves,
and useextracautionwhenservicingthem.
• Keepallnuts, bolts,andscrewstightto besurethe equipmentis in
safeworkingcondition.
• Nevertamperwith safetydevices.Checktheirproper
operationregularly.
• Afterstrikinga foreignobject, stoptheengine,disconnectthe spark
plugwireand groundagainstthe engine.Thoroughlyinspectthe
mowerfor anydamage.Repairthe damagebeforestartingand
operatingthe mower.
• Neverattempttomakea wheelor cutting heightadjustmentwhilethe
engineisrunning.
• Grasscatchercomponents,dischargecover,andtrailshieldare
subjectto wear anddamagewhichcould exposemovingpartsor
allowobjectsto bethrown.Forsafetyprotection,frequentlycheck
componentsand replaceimmediatelywithoriginalequipment
manufacturer's(O.E.M.)partsonly,listedin this manual.Use of parts
which donotmeet theoriginalequipmentspecificationsmayleadto
improperperformanceand compromisesafety!
• Donotchangetheenginegovernorsetting oroverspeedthe engine.
Thegovernorcontrolsthe maximumsafeoperatingspeedof the
engine.
• Maintainor replacesafetylabels,as necessary.
• Observeproperdisposallawsand regulations.Improperdisposalof
fluidsand materialscanharmtheenvironment.
4
