Craftsman 247.203721 - Safety Instructions; General Operation Safety

Thissymbolpointsoutimportantsafety instructionswhich,if not
followed, couldendangerthe personalsafetyand/orproperty of
yourselfandothers. Readandfollow all instructionsinthis manual
beforeattempting to operatethis machine.Failureto complywith these
instructionsmayresultinpersonalinjury.Whenyouseethis symbol,HEED
ITSWARNING!
CALiFORNiA PROPOSITION 65
EngineExhaust,someof itsconstituents,andcertainvehidecomponents
containoremit chemicalsknowntoStateof Californiato causecancerand
birth defectsor other reproductiveharm.
Battery posts,terminals,and relatedaccessoriescontain leadand lead
compounds,chemicalsknownto the Stateof Californiatocausecancerand
reproductiveharm.Washhandsafter handling.
Thismachinewasbuilt to beoperatedaccordingto thesafeoperation
practicesinthis manual.Aswith anytype of powerequipment,
carelessnessorerroronthe partof theoperatorcanresultinseriousinjury.
Thismachineiscapableof amputating fingers, hands,toesandfeet and
throwingdebris.Failureto observethefollowing safety instructionscould
resultinseriousinjuryor death.
Your Responsibility--Restrict theuseof this powermachineto
personswho read,understandandfollow thewarningsand instructionsin
thismanualandonthemachine.
SAVETHESEINSTRUCTIONS!
GENERAL OPERATION
Read,understand,andfollowall instructionsonthemachineandinthe
manual(s)beforeattemptingtoassembleandoperate.Keepthismanualin
asafeplaceforfutureandregularreferenceandfor orderingreplacement
parts.
Befamiliarwith allcontrolsandtheir properoperation.Knowhowto stop
themachineanddisengagethemquickly.
Neverallowchildrenunder14yearsold to operatethismachine.Children14
yearsoldandovershouldreadandunderstandtheoperationinstructions
andsafetyrulesinthismanualandshouldbetrainedandsupervisedbya
parent.
Neverallowadultsto operatethismachinewithout properinstruction.
Tohelpavoidbladecontactora thrownobjectinjury,keepbystanders,
helpers,childrenandpetsat least75feetfromthemachinewhileitisin
operation.Stopmachineifanyoneentersthearea.
Thoroughlyinspecttheareawheretheequipmentisto beused.Remove
allstones,sticks,wire,bones,toys,andotherforeignobjectswhichcould
bepickedupandthrownbytheblade(s).Thrownobjectscancauseserious
personalinjury.
Planyourmowingpatterntoavoiddischargeof materialtowardroads,
sidewalks,bystandersandthelike.Also,avoiddischargingmaterialagainst
awall orobstructionwhichmaycausedischargedmaterialto ricochetback
towardtheoperator.
Alwayswearsafetyglassesorsafetygogglesduringoperationandwhile
performinganadjustmentor repairtoprotectyoureyes.Thrownobjects
whichricochetcancauseseriousinjuryto theeyes.
Wearsturdy,rough-soledworkshoesandclose-fittingslacksandshirts.
Loosefitting clothesandjewelrycanbecaughtin movableparts.Never
operatethis machineinbarefeetorsandals.
Beawareof themowerandattachmentdischargedirectionanddonotpoint
itat anyone.Donotoperatethemowerwithoutthedischargecoverorentire
grasscatcherinitsproperplace.
Donotput handsorfeetnearrotatingpartsor underthecuttingdeck.
Contactwiththe blade(s)canamputatehandsandfeet.
Amissingordamageddischargecovercancausebladecontactorthrown
objectinjuries.
Stoptheblade(s)whencrossinggraveldrives,walks,orroadsandwhilenot
cuttinggrass.
Watchfortrafficwhenoperatingnearorcrossingroadways.Thismachineis
not intendedforuseonanypublicroadway.
Donotoperatethemachinewhileunderthe influenceofalcoholordrugs.
Mowonly indaylightorgoodartificiallight.
Nevercarrypassengers.
Disengageblade(s)beforeshiftingintoreverse.Backupslowly.Alwayslook
downandbehindbeforeandwhilebackingto avoidaback-overaccident.
Slowdownbeforeturning.Operatethemachinesmoothly.Avoiderratic
operationandexcessivespeed.
Disengageblade(s),setparkingbrake,stopengineandwait untilthe
blade(s)cometo acompletestopbeforeremovinggrasscatcher,emptying
grass,uncloggingchute,removinganygrassordebris,ormakingany
adjustments.
Neverleavea runningmachineunattended.Alwaysturnoffblade(s),set
parkingbrake,stopengineandremovekeybeforedismounting.
Useextracarewhenloadingor unloadingthemachineintoa trailerortruck.
Thismachineshouldnotbedrivenupordownramp(s),becausethemachine
couldtip over,causingseriouspersonalinjury.Themachinemustbepushed
manuallyonramp(s)to loadorunloadproperly.
Mufflerandenginebecomehotandcancausea burn.Donottouch.