MTD 550 - Manual (Page 4)

b. Never fill containers inside a vehicle or on a truck
or trailer bed with a plastic liner. Always place
containers on the ground away from your vehicle
before filling.
c. Remove gas-powered equipment from the truck
ortrailerand refuel it on the ground. If this is not
possible, then refuel such equipment on a trailer
with a portable container, rather than from a
gasoline dispenser nozzle.
d. Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim of the fuel
tank or container opening atall times until fueling is
complete. Do not use a nozzle lock-open device.
e. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other
sources of ignition.
f. Never fuel machine indoors because flammable
vapors will accumulate in the area.
g. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while engine is
hot or running. Allow engine to cool at least two
minutes before refueling.
h. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more than Vi
inch below bottom of filler neck to provide for fuel
expansion.
i. Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely.
j. If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine and
equipment. Move machine to another area. Wait 5
minutes before starting engine.
k. Never store the machine or fuel container nearan
open flame, spark or pilot light as on a water heater,
space heater, furnace, clothes dryer or other gas
appliances.
l . To reduce fire hazard, keep lawn edger free of grass,
leaves, or other debris build-up. Clean up oil or fuel
spillage and remove any fuel soaked debris.
m. Allow a lawn edger to cool at least five (5) minutes
before storing..
Operation
1. Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts. Contact with
the rotating blade can amputate hands and feet.
2. The blade control handle is a safety device. Never bypass
its operation. Doing so, makes the machine unsafe and
may cause personal injury.
3. Never operate without blade guard, debris shield and
blade control handle in place and working.
4. Never operate with damaged safety devices. Failure to do
so, can result in personal injury.
5. Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated area.
Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless
and deadly gas.
6. Do not operate machine while under the influence of
alcohol or drugs.
7. Muffler and engine become hotand can cause a burn.
Do not touch.
8. Never operate this machine without good visibility or
light. Always be sure of your footing and keep a firm
hold on the handles. Walk, never run.
9. Do not operate this machine if it has been dropped or
damaged. Return machine to your nearest authorized
servicing dealer for examination and repair.
10. Do not operate this machine with a damaged or
excessively worn cutting blade.
11. Never attempt to clear material from the blade guard
while the engine is running. Shut the engine off,
disconnect the spark plug wire and ground against
the engine to prevent unintended starting.
12. Do not overload machine ca pa city by attempting to
edge at too fast of a rate.
13. Stay alert for uneven sidewalks, terrain etc. Always
push slowly over rough surfaces. Do not use this
machine on gravel surfaces.
14. Do not operate machine in rain or wet soil conditions.
15. Always operate machine from behind the handles
and position yourself where the direct line of sight to
cutting blade is blocked by guards.
16. Always stop engine when edging ortrimming is
delayed or when transporting machine from one
location to another.
17.
18.
Never leave a running machine unattended. Stop
the engine, disconnect spark plug wire and ground
against the engine to prevent unintended starting.
Only use parts and accessories made for this machine
by the manufacturer. Failure to do so, can result in
personal injury.
19. If situations occur which are not covered in this
manual, use care and good judgment. Contact
Customer Support for assistance or the name of your
nearest service dealer.
Children
Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the
presence of children. Children are often attracted to power
equipment such as lawn edgers.They do not understand
the dangers. Never assume that children will remain where
you last saw them.
1. Keep children out of the edging area and under
watchful care of a responsible adult other than the
operator.
2. Be alert and turn lawn edger off if a child enters the
area.
3. Before and while moving backwards, look behind and
down for small children.
4. Use extreme care when approaching blind corners,
doorways, shrubs, trees, or other objects that may
obscure your vision of a child who may run into the
lawn edger.
S ection 2 — I mportant S afe O peration P ractices