MTD 312-980I000 - Manual (Page 2)

IMPORTANT SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES
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THIS SYMBOL POINTS OUT IMPORTANT SAFETY I^STRUCTIONS WHICH, IF NOT FOLLOWED, COULD ENDANGER THE PERSONAL
SAFETY AND/OR PROPERTY OF YOURSELF AND CTHERS. READ AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL BEFORE
AHEMPTING TO OPERATE YOUR SNOWTHROWEIL FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PER­
SONAL INJURY. WHEN YOU SEE THIS SYMBOL—
A HEED ITS WARNING.
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A Your snow thrower was t uilt to be operated according to the rules for safe operation in this manual.
DANGER; As with any type of power equipment, careiessness or error on the part of the operator can result in
serious injury. If you violi ite any of these rules, you may cause serious injury to yourself or others.
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TRAINING
1. Read this owner’s guide carefully. Be thorc ughly famil­
iar with the controls and proper use of the equipment.
Know how to stop the unit and disengage the controls
quickly.
2. Never allow children to operate equipment. Never allow
adults to operate equipment without proper nstructions.
3. No one should operate this unit while in oxicated or
while taking medication that impairs the senses or reac­
tions.
4. Keep the area of operation clear of all peisons, espe­
cially small children and pets.
5. Exercise caution to avoid slipping or fallinn, especially
when operating in reverse.
PREPARATION
1. Thoroughly inspect the area where the eqt ipment is to
be used and remove all door mats, sleds, bDards, wires
and other foreign objects.
2. Disengage all clutches and shift into ne Jtral before
starting engine.
3. Do not operate equipment without wearing adequate
winter outer garments. Wear footwear which will
improve footing on slippery surfaces.
4. Check the fuel before starting the engine. Gasoline is
an extremely flammable fuel. Do not fill tie gasoline
tank indoors, while the engine is running, or while the
engine is still hot. Replace gasoline cap securely and
wipe off any spilled gasoline before startinci the engine
as it may cause a fire or explosion.
5. Use a grounded three wire plug-in for all un ts with elec­
tric drive motors or electric starting motors.
6. Adjust collector housing height to clear gravel or
crushed rock surface.
7. Never attempt to make any adjustments wh He engine is
running (except where specifically recorr mended by
manufacturer).
8. Let engine and machine adjust to outdoor :emperature
before starting to clear snow.
9. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields Juring oper­
ation or while performing an adjustment or repair, to
protect eyes from foreign objects that ma r be thrown
from the machine in any direction.
OPERATION
1. Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts. Keep clear
of discharge opening at all times.
2. Exercise extreme caution when operating in or cross­
ing gravel drives, walks, or roads. Stay ale 1 for hidden
hazards or traffic. Do not carry passengers.
3. After striking a foreign object, stop the enc ine, remove
wire from spark plug, and thoroughly inspect the snow
thrower
for any damage. Repair the damage before
restarting and operating the snow thrower.
4. If the snow thrower should start to vibrate abnormally,
stop the engine and check immediately fo ■ the cause.
Vibration is generally a warning of trouble.
5. Stop engine whenever you leave the operating position,
before unclogging the collector/impeller housing or dis­
charge guide, and making any repairs, adjustments, or
inspections.
6. Take all possible precautions when leaving the unit
unattended. Disengage the collector/impeller, shift into
neutral, stop the engine, and remove the key.
7. When cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make certain
collector/impeller and all moving parts have stopped.
Disconnect spark plug wire and keep away from plug to
prevent accidental starting.
8. Do not run engine indoors, except when starting engine
and transporting snow thrower in or out of building.
Open doors. Exhaust fumes are dangerous.
9. Do not clear snow across the face of slopes. Exercise
extreme caution when changing direction on slopes. Do
not attempt to clear steep slopes.
10. Never operate snow thrower without guards, plates, or
other safety protection devices in place.
11. Never operate snow thrower near glass enclosure,
automobiles, window wells, drop off, etc., without prop­
er adjustments of snow thrower discharge angle. Keep
children and pets away.
12. Do not overload machine capacity by attempting to
clear snow at too fast a rate.
13. Never operate the machine at high transport speeds on
slippery surfaces. Look behind and use care when
backing.
14. Never direct discharge at bystanders or allow anyone in
front of unit.
15. Disengage power to collector/impeller when transport­
ing or not in use.
16. Use only attachments and accessories approved by the
manufacturer of snow thrower (such as wheel weights,
counter weights, cabs, etc.).
17. Never operate the snow thrower without good visibility
or light. Always be sure of your footing and keep a firm
hold on the handles. Walk, never run.
A MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE
1. Check shear bolts, engine mounting bolts, etc., at fre­
quent intervals for proper tightness to be sure equip­
ment is in safe working condition.
2. 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 engine to cool before storing in any enclo­
sure.
3. Always refer to owner’s guide instructions for important
details if snow thrower is to be stored for an extended
period.
4. Run machine a few minutes after throwing snow to pre­
vent freeze up of collector/impeller.