MTD 08M - Manual (Page 5)

5 s
ectiOn
2 — i
MpOrtant
s
afe
O
peratiOn
p
ractices
Service
Safe Handling Of Gasoline:
To avoid personal injury or property damage use extreme 1.
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. Wash your skin and change clothes
immediately.
Use only an approved gasoline container.
2.
Never fill containers inside a vehicle or on a truck or trailer 3.
bed with a plastic liner. Always place containers on the
ground away from your vehicle before filling.
Remove gas-powered equipment from the truck or
4.
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.
Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim of the fuel tank or
5.
container opening at all times until fueling is complete. Do
not use a nozzle lock-open device.
Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources
6.
of ignition.
Never fuel machine indoors because flammable vapors will
7.
accumulate in the area.
Never remove gas cap or add fuel while engine is hot or
8.
running. Allow engine to cool at least two minutes before
refueling.
Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more than 1 inch
9.
below bottom of filler neck to provide for fuel expansion.
Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely.
10.
If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine and equipment. 11.
Move machine to another area. Wait 5 minutes before
starting engine.
Never store the machine or fuel container near an open
12.
flame, spark or pilot light as on a water heater, space
heater, furnace, clothes dryer or other gas appliances.
To reduce fire hazard, keep machine free of grass, leaves,
13.
or other debris build-up. Clean up oil or fuel spillage and
remove any fuel soaked debris.
Allow machine to cool at least 5 minutes before storing.
14.
General Service:
Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated area. 1.
Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless
and deadly gas.
Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make certain the
2.
blade and all moving parts have stopped. Disconnect the
spark plug wire and ground against the engine to prevent
unintended starting.
Check the blade and engine mounting bolts at frequent 3.
intervals for proper tightness. Also, visually inspect blade
for damage (e.g., bent, cracked, worn) Replace blade with
the original equipment manufacture’s (O.E.M.) blade only,
listed in this manual. “Use of parts which do not meet the
original equipment specifications may lead to improper
performance and compromise safety!”
Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap the blade or
4.
wear gloves, and use extra caution when servicing them.
Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure the
5.
equipment is in safe working condition.
Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper
6.
operation regularly.
After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, disconnect
7.
the spark plug wire and ground against the engine.
Thoroughly inspect the mower for any damage. Repair the
damage before starting and operating the mower.
Never attempt to make a wheel or cutting height
8.
adjustment while the engine is running.
Grass catcher components, discharge cover, and trail shield
9.
are subject to wear and damage which could expose
moving parts or allow objects to be thrown. For safety
protection, frequently check components and replace
immediately with original equipment manufacturer’s
(O.E.M.) parts only, listed in this manual. “Use of parts
which do not meet the original equipment specifications
may lead to improper performance and compromise
safety!”
Do not change the engine’s governor setting or over-speed
10.
the engine. The governor controls the maximum safe
operating speed of the engine.
Check fuel line, tank, cap, and fittings frequently for cracks
11.
or leaks. Replace if necessary.
Do not crank engine with spark plug removed.
12.
Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels, as 13.
necessary.
Observe proper disposal laws and regulations. Improper
14.
disposal of fluids and materials can harm the environment.
According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission
15.
(CPSC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
this product has an Average Useful Life of seven (7) years,
or 140 hours of operation. At the end of the Average Useful
Life have the machine inspected annually by an authorized
service dealer to ensure that all mechanical and safety
systems are working properly and not worn excessively.
Failure to do so can result in accidents, injuries or death
Do not modify engine
To avoid serious injury or death, do not modify engine in any
way. Tampering with the governor setting can lead to a runaway
engine and cause it to operate at unsafe speeds. Never tamper
with factory setting of engine governor.