Poulan HDF550M - Manual (Page 2)

SAFETY RULES
SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES FOR WALK-BEHIND POWERED ROTARY TILLERS
TRAINING
Read the Owner’s Manual carefully. Be thoroughly
familiar with the controls and the proper use of the
equipment. Know how to stop the unit and disengage
the controls quickly.
Never allow children to operate the equipment. Never
allow adults to operate the equipment without proper
instruction.
Keep the area of operation clear of all persons, par­
ticularly small children, and pets.
PREPARATION
Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment is
to be used and remove all foreign objects.
Disengage all clutches and shift into neutral before
starting the engine (motor).
Do not operate the equipment without wearing ade­
quate outer garments. Wear footwear that will improve
footing on slippery surfaces.
Handle fuel with care; it is highly flammable.
Use an approved fuel container.
Never add fuel to a running engine or hot engine.
Fill fuel tank outdoors with extreme care. Never fill fuel
tank indoors.
Replace gasoline cap securely and clean up spilled
fuel before restarting.
Use extension cords and receptacles as specified by
the manufacturer for all units with electric drive motors
or electric starting motors.
Never attempt to make any adjustments while the
engine (motor) is running (except where specifically
recommended by manufacturer).
OPERATION
Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating parts.
Exercise extreme caution when operating on or cross­
ing gravel drives, walks, or roads. Stay alert for hidden
hazards or traffic. Do not carry passengers.
After striking a foreign object, stop the engine (motor),
remove the wire from the spark plug, thoroughly inspect
the tiller for any damage, and repair the damage before
restarting and operating the tiller.
Exercise caution to avoid slipping or falling.
If the unit should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the
engine (motor) and check immediately for the cause.
Vibration is generally a warning of trouble.
Stop the engine (motor) when leaving the operating
position.
Take all possible precautions when leaving the machine
unattended. Disengage the tines, shift into neutral, and
stop the engine.
Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, shut off the
engine and make certain all moving parts have stopped.
Disconnect the spark plug wire, and keep the wire away
from the plug to prevent accidental starting. Disconnect
the cord on electric motors.
Do not run the engine indoors; exhaust fumes are
dangerous.
Never operate the tiller without proper guards, plates,
or other safety protective devices in place.
Keep children and pets away.
Do not overload the machine capacity by attempting
to till too deep at too fast a rate.
Never operate the machine at high speeds on slippery
surfaces. Look behind and use care when backing.
Never allow bystanders near the unit.
Use only attachments and accessories approved by
the manufacturer of the tiller.
Never operate the tiller without good visibility or light.
Be careful when tilling in hard ground. The tines may
catch in the ground and propel the tiller forward. If this
occurs, let go of the handlebars and do not restrain the
machine.
MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE
• Keep machine, attachments, and accessories in safe
working condition.
• Check shear pins, engine mounting bolts, and other
bolts at frequent intervals for proper tightness to be
sure the equipment is in safe working condition.
• Never store the machine with fuel in the fuel tank inside
a building where ignition sources are present, such
as hot water and space heaters, clothes dryers, and
the like. Allow the engine to cool before storing in any
enclosure.
• Always refer to the operator’s guide instructions for
important details if the tiller is to be stored for an ex­
tended period.
- IMPORTANT -
CAUTIONS, IMPORTANTS, AND NOTES ARE A MEANS OF
ATTRACTING ATTENTION TO IMPORTANT OR CRITICAL
INFORMATION IN THIS MANUAL
IMPORTANT: USED TO ALERT YOU THAT THERE IS A
POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGING THIS EQUIPMENT.
NOTE; Gives essential information that will aid you to
better understand, incorporate, or execute a particular set
of instructions.
A
Look for this symbol to point out im­
portant safety precautions. It means
CAUTION!!! BECOME ALERT!!! YOUR
SAFETY IS INVOLVED.
A
CAUTION: Always disconnect spark
plug wire and place wire where it can­
not contact spark plug in order to pre­
vent accidental starting when setting
up, transporting, adjusting or making
repairs.
^WARNING
A
The engine exhaust from this product con­
tains chemicals known to the State of Cali­
fornia to cause cancer, birth defects, or other
reproductive harm.