DR Power Walk-behind 8 - 15 HP (1998 - 2001) - Manual (Page 7)

DR
®
FIELD and BRUSH MOWER Safety & Operating Instructions 3
Safety Information
We want you to enjoy years of productive use from your DR
®
FIELD and BRUSH MOWER. We
don't want you to get injured, so please take a few moments to read the following guidelines for
safely operating your new machine.
Dress Appropriately
·
Wear safety glasses while mowing to protect your eyes from thrown objects.
·
Wear shoes with non-slip treads when using your DR
®
FIELD and BRUSH MOWER. If you
have safety shoes, we recommend that you wear them. Do not use the machine while barefoot or
wearing open sandals.
·
Wear long pants while mowing, and avoid loose clothing or jewelry, which might get caught in
brush or on the mower's moving parts.
·
Use ear muffs or ear plugs to protect your valuable hearing.
·
We recommend wearing gloves while mowing.
Preparation
·
Read these Safety & Operating Instructions as well as the engine manufacturer's owner's manual
before you use the DR
®
FIELD and BRUSH MOWER. Become familiar with the controls,
engine and service recommendations to ensure the best performance from your machine.
·
Inspect the area you'll be working in for hidden objects such as large rocks, logs, rope, wire,
garden tools, etc., and remove these obstacles before mowing. Mowing over such obstacles
could damage the machine and cause injury.
·
Mow only during the daylight hours.
·
Fill the gasoline tank outdoors with the engine off. Don't handle gasoline if you or anyone
nearby is smoking, or if you're near anything that could cause it to ignite or explode.
Operating the Machine Safely
·
Keep bystanders at least 100 feet away from your work area at all times. Objects can be thrown
far from the mower and at great speeds. To be safe, do not operate the machine near small
children or pets, and never allow children to operate the mower. Disengage the blade and stop
the engine when another person approaches.
·
Be sure all blade and wheel controls are DISENGAGED before attempting to start the engine.
Engage and disengage the blade a few times to get used to it before mowing.
·
NEVER remove the shields from the mower, or alter the deck in any way.
·
Keep your hands and feet away from the blade, belts, chains, blade pulleys, and concealed areas
while the engine is running. NEVER reach under the deck or grab hold of the deck deflector
when the engine is running.
·
ALWAYS shut off the engine and remove the spark plug wire prior to making any adjustments
to the machine. If you have to stop to remove grass or debris from the underside of the deck,
always disconnect the spark plug wire first.