MTD 246-632-000 - Manual (Page 3)

A WARNING
To reduce the potential for any injury, comply with the following safety instructions. Failure to comply with
the instructions may result in personal injury.
SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES FOR LOG SPILLTERS
TRAINING
1. Before operating this splitter, read and under­
stand this manual completely. Become familiar
with it for your own safety. To fail to do so may
cause serious injury. Do not allow anyone to
operate your splitter who has not read this
manual. Keep this manual in a safe place for
future and regular reference and for ordering
replacement parts.
2. Never use your splitter for any other purpose
than splitting wood. It is designed for this use
and any other use may cause an injury. Your log
splitter is a precision piece of power equipment,
not a playtoy. Therefore, exercise extreme
caution at all times.
3. Never allow children to operate your log
splitter. Do not allow adults to operate it without
proper instruction. Only persons well acquainted
with these rules of safe operation should be
allowed to use your log splitter.
4. Only the operator is to be near your log splitter
during use. Keep all others, including pets and
children, a minimum of 20 feet away from your
work zone. Flying wood can be hazardous. If a
helper is assisting in loading logs, never activate
the control until the helper is clear of the area.
More accidents occur when more than one
person operates the log splitter than at any other
time.
5. No one should operate this unit while intoxicated
or while taking medication that impairs the
senses or reactions. A clear mind is essential for
safety. Never allow a person who is tired or
otherwise not alert to use your splitter.
PREPARATION
1. Never wear loose clothing or jewelry that can
be caught by moving parts of your log splitter
and pull you into it. Keep clothing away from ail
moving parts of your log splitter.
2. Wear proper head gear to keep hair away from
moving parts. Always wear protective hearing
devices as needed.
3. Always wear safety shoes. A dropped log can
seriously injure your foot.
.4. Always wear safety glasses or goggles while
operating your splitter. A piece of splitting log
could fly off and hit your eyes.
5. If you wear gloves, be sure they are tight fitting
without loose cuffs or draw strings.
6. Use your log splitter in daylight, or under good
artificial light.
7. Never operate your splitter on slippery, wet,
muddy or icy surfaces. Safe footing is essen­
tial in preventing accidents. Never operate your
splitter while attached to a towing vehicle.
8. Only operate your splitter on level ground and
not on the side of a hill. It could tip, or rolling
logs or poor footing could cause an accident.
9. Never attempt to move the log splitter over
hilly or uneven terrain without adequate help.
10. Always block the wheels to prevent movement
of log splitter while in operation.
11. Both ends of each log must be cut as square
as possible to help prevent the log from riding
out of the splitter during operation.
OPERATION
1. When loading the log splitter, place your hands
on the side of the log, not at the ends. Never
place hands or feet between log and splitting
wedge or between log and push plate while
operating. To do so may result in crushed or
amputated fingers or toes, or worse, you may
lose an arm or foot.
2. Do not straddle the splitter when using it. A slip
in any position could result in a serious injury.
3. Never try to split two logs on top of each other.
One may fly out and injure you.
4. Only use your hand to operate the ram or con­
trol lever. Never use your foot or a rope or any
other extension device. This could result in your
inability to stop your splitter quickly enough and
cause an injury.
5. Always keep fingers away from any cracks that
open in the log during splitting operation. They
can quickly close and pinch or amputate your
fingers.
6. Never attempt to split wood across the grain.
Some types of wood may burst or fly out of your
splitter and result in injury to you or a bystander.
7. For logs that are not cut square, the longest
portion of the log should be rotated down and
the most square end placed against the ram.
8. Keep your work area clean. Immediately remove
split wood around your splitter so that you do
not stumble over it.
MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE
1. Do not operate your splitter in poor mechanical
condition or when in need of repair.