MTD Series 521 - Manual (Page 4)

4
2
Safe
Operation
Practices
WARNING: Engine Exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle compo-
nents contain or emit chemicals known to State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive harm.
WARNING
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
this machine. Failure
to comply with these
instructions may result
in personal injury.
When you see
this symbol.
HEED ITS WARNING
Your
Responsibility
Restrict the use
of this power machine
to persons who read,
understand
and follow the warnings
and instructions
in this manual
and on the machine.
DANGER: This machine was built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation in this
manual. As with any type of power equipment, carelessness or error on the part of the operator can
result in serious injury. This machine is capable of amputating hands and feet and throwing objects.
Failure to observe the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death.
8. Never fuel machine indoors because flammable
vapors will accumulate in the area.
9. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while
engine is hot or running. Allow engine to
cool at least two minutes before refueling.
10. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no
more than ½ inch below bottom of filler
neck to provide for fuel expansion.
11. Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely.
12. If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine
and equipment. Move unit to another area.
Wait 5 minutes before starting engine.
13. Never store the machine or fuel container
near an open flame, spark or pilot light as
on a water heater, space heater, furnace,
clothes dryer or other gas appliances.
14. To reduce fire hazard, keep lawn edger free of
grass, leaves, or other debris build-up. Clean up oil
or fuel spillage and remove any fuel soaked debris.
15. Allow a lawn edger to cool at least 5
minutes5 minutes before storing.
General Operation:
1. Read this operator’s manual 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 operation. 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 replacement parts.
2. This machine 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 edge
lawn. Do not use it for any other purpose.
3. Never allow children under 14 years old to operate
this machine. Children 14 years old and over
should read and understand the instructions in
this manual and should be trained and supervised
by a parent. Only responsible individuals who
are familiar with these rules of safe operation
should be allowed to use this machine.
4. To help avoid blade contact or a thrown object
injury, stay in operator zone behind handles
and keep children, bystanders, helpers and pets
at least 75 feet from lawn edger while it is in
operation. Stop machine if anyone enters area.
5. 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 tripped over or picked
Children
Tragic accidents can occur if operator is not
alert to presence of children. Children are
often attracted to power equipment such
as lawn edgers. They do not understand
the dangers. Never assume that children
will remain where you last saw them.
1. Keep children out of the mowing area
and under watchful care of a responsible
adult other than the operator.
2. Be alert and turn lawn edger off
if a child enters the area.
3. Before and while moving backwards, look
behind and down for small children.
4. Use extreme care when approaching blind
corners, doorways, shrubs, trees, or other
objects that may obscure your vision of a
child who may run into the lawn edger.
5. Keep children away from hot or running engines.
They can suffer burns from a hot muffler.
6. Never allow children under 14 years old to
operate an edger. Children 14 years old and
over should read and understand operation
instructions and safety rules in this manual and
should be trained and supervised by a parent.
Operation
Safe Handling Of Gasoline:
1. To avoid personal injury or property damage
use extreme care in handling gasoline.
Gasoline is extremely flammable and the
vapors are explosive. Serious personal
injury can occur when gasoline is spilled on
yourself or your clothes which can ignite.
2. Wash your skin and change clothes immediately.
3. Use only an approved gasoline container.
4. Never fill containers inside a vehicle or on
a truck or trailer bed with a plastic liner.
Always place containers on the ground
away from your vehicle before filling.
5. Remove gas-powered equipment from the
truck or trailer and refuel it on the ground. If
this is not possible, then refuel such equipment
on a trailer with a portable container, rather
than from a gasoline dispenser nozzle.
6. Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim
of the fuel tank or container opening at
all times until fueling is complete. Do
not use a nozzle lock-open device.
7. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes
and other sources of ignition.