Craftsman 917.28927 - Manual (Page 4)

SAFETY RULES
II. SLOPE OPERATION
Slopes are a m ajor factor related to loss of
control and tip-over accidents, w hich can
result in severe injury or death. O pera­
tion on all slopes requires extra caution. If
you cannot back up the slope or if you feel
uneasy on it, do not m ow it.
• M ow up and down slopes, not across.
• W atch for holes, ruts, bum ps, rocks, or
other hidden objects. Uneven terrain
could overturn the m achine. Tall grass
can hide obstacles.
• Choose a low ground speed so that
you will not have to stop or shift w hile
on the slope.
• Do not m ow on w et grass. Tires m ay
lose traction.
Alw ays keep the m achine in gear when
going dow n slopes. Do not shift to
neutral and coast dow nhill.
• Avoid starting, stopping, or turning on
a slope. If the tires lose traction, dis­
engage the blades and proceed slow ly
straight down the slope.
• Keep all m ovem ent on the slopes slow
and gradual. Do not m ake sudden
changes in speed or direction, w hich
could cause the m achine to roll over.
• Use extra care w hile operating m a­
chine w ith grass catchers or other at­
tachm ents; they can affect the stability
of the m achine. Do no use on steep
slopes.
• Do not try to stabilize the m achine by
putting your foot on the ground.
• Do not m ow near drop-offs, ditches,
or em bankm ents. The m achine could
suddenly roll over if a wheel is over the
edge or if the edge caves in.
III. CHILDREN
Tragic accidents can occur if the operator
is not alert to the presence of children.
Children are often attracted to the m achine
and the m ow ing activity. Never assum e
that children w ill rem ain where you last
saw them .
• Keep children out of the m ow ing area
and in the w atchful care of a respon­
sible adult other than the operator.
• Be alert and turn m achine off if a child
enters the area.
• Before and w hile backing, look behind
and down for sm all children.
• Never carry children, even w ith the
blades shut off. They m ay fall off and
be seriously injured or interfere with
safe m achine operation. Children w ho
have been given rides in the past m ay
suddenly appear in the m ow ing area
for another ride and be run over or
backed over by the m achine.
• Never allow children to operate the
m achine.
• Use extra care w hen approaching blind
corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects
that m ay block your view of a child.
IV. TOWING
• Tow only w ith a m achine that has a
hitch designed for tow ing. Do not at­
tach tow ed equipm ent except at the
hitch point.
• Follow the m anufacturer’s recom ­
m endation for w eight lim its for tow ed
equipm ent and tow ing on slopes.
• Never allow children or others in or on
tow ed equipm ent.
• O n slopes, the w eight of the towed
equipm ent m ay cause loss of traction
and loss of control.
• Travel slow ly and allow extra distance
to stop.
V. SERVICE
SAFE HANDLING OF GASOLINE
To avoid personal injury or property
dam age, use extrem e care in handling
gasoline. G asoline is extrem ely flam m able
and the vapors are explosive.
• Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes,
and other sources of ignition.
• Use only approved gasoline container.
• Never rem ove gas cap or add fuel w ith
the engine running. Allow engine to
cool before refueling.
• Never fuel the m achine indoors.
• Never store the m achine or fuel con­
tainer w here there is an open flam e,
spark, or pilot light such as on a water
heater or other appliances.
• Never fill containers inside a vehicle
or on a truck or trailer bed w ith plastic
liner. Alw ays place containers on the
ground away from your vehicle w hen
filling.