Sears 247.37638 - Manual (Page 2)

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W A R N I N f ^ ' Engine Exhaust from this product contains chemicals known to the
■ State of Cal fornia to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.
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 AN! 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— ^ H EED ITS WARNING.
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A Your lawn mower was luilt to be operated according to the rules for safe operation in this manual. As
DANGER: with any type of power jquipmenf, carelessness or error on the part of the operator can result in serious
injury. This lawn mowe is capable of amputating hands and feet and throwing objects. Failure to observe
the following safety ins ructions could result in serious injury or death.
iki. GENERAL OPERATION
• Read this owner’s guide carefully in its entirety befoi 3 attempting
to assemble this machine. Read, understand, aid follow all
instructions on the machine and in the manual(s) t3fore opera­
tion, Be completely familiar with the controis and th i proper use
of this machine before operating it. Keep this man lal in a safe
piace for future and reguiar reference and for orde ing repiace-
ment parts.
• Your rotary mower is a precision piece of power equi iment, not a
plaything. Therefore, exercise extreme caution at ali times. Your
unit has been designed to perform one job; to mow c 'ass. Do not
use it for any other purpose.
• Never aliow chiidren under 14 years oid to oper te a power
mower. Children 14 years old and over should cniy operate
mower under close parental supervision. Only resp msible indi­
viduals who are familiar with these rules of safe oper ition should
be allowed to use your mower.
• Keep the area of operation clear of all persons, partii ularly small
children and pets. Stop engine when they are in thi vicinity of
your mower fo help prevent blade contact or thiown object
injury. Although the area of operation should be completely
cleared of foreign objects, an object may have beer overlooked
and could be accidentally thrown by the mower in a ly direction
and cause serious personal injury to the operator o 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 o her foreign
objects which could be picked up and thrown by tf 3 mower in
any direction and cause serious personal injury to the operator or
any others allowed in the area. Plan your mowing patt irn to avoid
discharge of material toward roads, sidewalks, bys anders and
the like. To help avoid a thrown objects injury, keep c lildren, 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 safity goggles
during operation or while performing an adjustment ir repair, to
protect eyes from foreign objects that may be throv n from the
machine in any direction.
• Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close-fittini slacks and
shirts. Shirts and pants that cover the arms and leg: and steel­
toed shoes are recommended. Do not wear loose fit ing clothes
or jewelry. They can be caught in moving parts. Nevi r 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 blad' can cause
injury.
• Many injuries occur as a result of the mower being aulled over
the foot during a fall. Do not hang on to the mowe if you are
falling; release the handle immediately.
• Never pull the mower toward you while you are wal ing. If you
must back the mower away from a wall or obstructic n first look
down and behind, and then follow these steps;
• Step back from the mower to fully extend your arr is.
• Be sure you are well balanced with sure footing.
• Pull the mower back slowly, no more than half' ray 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 instrucfions 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.
II. 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.