Craftsman 247.372900 - Manual (Page 2)

IMPORTANT
SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES
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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.
A
A
Your lawn mower was built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation in this manual. As
DANGER:
with any type of power equipment, carelessness or error on the part of the operator can result in serious
injury. This lawn mower is capable of amputating hands and feet and throwing objects. Failure to observe
the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death.
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 opera­
tion. 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 replace­
ment 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 not
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 indi­
viduals 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 objects injury, keep children, ani­
mals, bystanders and helpers at least 75 feet from the mower
while it is in operation.
Always wear safety glasses with side shields 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.
' Disengage the self-propelled mechanism or drive clutch on units
so equipped before starting the engine.
• The blade control handle is a safety device. Never attempt to
bypass its operation. Doing so makes the safety device inopera­
tive and may result in personal injury through contact with the
rotating blade. The blade control handle must operate easily in
both directions and automatically return to the disengaged posi­
tion 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 general­
ly a warning of trouble.
• Shut the engine off and wait until the blade comes to a complete
stop before removing the grass catcher 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, grass catcher,
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 manufac­
turer. Read, understand, and follow all 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.
kll. 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°, as shown on the slope gauge,
do not operate this unit on that area or serious injury could result.
DO:
• Mow across the face of slopes; never up and down. Exercise
extreme caution when changing direction on slopes.
• Watch for holes, ruts, hidden objects, or bumps. Tall grass can
hide obstacles.
• Always be sure of your footing. A slip and fall can cause serious
personal injury.
DO NOT:
• Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embankments. The opera­
tor could loose footing or balance.
• Do not mow slopes greater than 15° as shown on the slope
gauge.
• Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced footing could cause slipping.
,111. CHILDREN
’Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the
presence of children. Children are often attracted to the mower and
the mowing activity. Never assume that children will remain where
you last saw them.
• Keep children out of the mowing area and under the watchful
care of a responsible adult other than the operator.
• Be alert and turn mower off if a child enters the area.
• Before and while moving backwards, look behind and down for
small children.
• Never allow children under age 14 to operate the mower.