Craftsman 987.889000 - Manual (Page 3)

SAFETY RULES
18. Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with
side shields when operating mower.
19. Watch for traffic when operating near, or when cross­
ing roadways.
20. Never attempt to carry children or other passengers
on the mower. They could fall off and be seriously in­
jured, or they could interfere with the safe operation
of the mower.
21. Check the operation of the Operator Presence Con­
trol before each use. See the Customer Responsibili­
ties Section of this manual for instructions. If the
mower blades rotate longer than three seconds after
the Operator Presence Control is released, the sys­
tem is not working properly. Immediately contact
your local Sears Service Center/Department for in­
structions. Do not use the mower until the mecha­
nism is repaired.
22. The mower is equipped with a safety discharge
chute, comes with a special mulcher cover and offers
an optional grass catcher. The safety discharge
chute must be working properly at all times. Never
attempt to disconnect or othenwise cause this dis­
charge chute to cease working. If used, mulcher
cover or grass catcher attachment must be installed
properly and function correctly. Do not use your
equipment othenwise.
23. Never run the engine in an enclosed area. Engine ex­
haust contains carbon monoxide, a deadly gas that is
odorless, colorless, and tasteless. Always run the en­
gine outdoors and make sure there is adequate
ventilation.
II. SLOPE OPERATION
Slopes are a major factor related to slip and fall acci­
dents which can result in severe injury. All slopes
require extra caution. If you feel uneasy on a slope,
do not mow it.
DO:
Mow across the face of slopes; never up and down.
Exercise extreme caution when changing direction on
slopes. Avoid slopes greater than 1 50 .
Remove objects such as rocks, tree limbs, etc.
Watch for holes, ruts, or bumps. Tall grass can hide
obstacles.
.
DO NOT:
Do not
mow near drop-offs, ditches, or embankments.
The operator could loose footing or balance.
Do not
mow excessively steep slopes.
Do not
mow on wet grass. Reduced footing could
cause slipping.
III. CHILDREN
Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert
to the presence of children. Children are often at­
tracted to the mower and to the mowing activity.
Never
assume that children will remain where you
iast saw them.
1. Keep children out of the mowing area and under the
watchful care of a responsible adult.
2. Be alert and turn mower off if children enter the area.
3. Before and while moving backwards, look behind
and down for small children.
4. Never allow children to operate the mower.
5. Use extra care when approaching blind corners,
shrubs, trees, or other objects that may obscure
vision.
IV. SERVICE
1. Use extra care in handling gasoline and other fuels.
They are flammable and their vapors are explosive.
a) Use only an approved container.
b) Never remove gas cap or add fuel when the en­
gine is running. Allow engine to cool before refu­
eling. Do not smoke.
c) Never refuel the machine indoors.
d) Never store the machine or fuel container inside
where there is an open flame, such as a water
heater, etc.
e) Move mower away from any gasoline fumes be­
fore starting the engine.
2. Never run an engine inside a closed area.
3. Never make adjustments or repairs with the engine
running. Disconnect the spark plug wire and keep
the wire away from the plug to prevent accidental
starting.
4. Keep all nuts and bolts, especially the blade attach­
ment bolts, tight and keep equipment in good condi­
tion.
5. Never tamper with safety devices. Check their opera­
tion regularly. .