Craftsman 247.370480 - Manual (Page 4)

SAFETY INSTRUCTION
I
• The motor/blade control handle is a safety device. Never attempt to
bypass its operation. Doing so makes the safety device inoperative and
may result in personal injury through contact with the rotating blade. The
motor/blade control handle must operate easily in both directions and
automatically return to the disengaged position when released.
• Do not charge the mower in rain, or in wet conditions.
• Never operate the mower in rain or wet grass. Always be sure of your
footing. A slip and fall can cause serious personal injury. If you feel
you are losing your footing, release the motor/blade control handle
immediately and the blade will stop rotating within three seconds.
• Mow only in daylight or good artificial light. Walk, never run.
• Stop the blade when crossing gravel drives, walks or roads.
• If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the motor and
check immediately for the cause. Vibration is generally a warning of
trouble.
• Shut the motor off and wait until the blade comes to a complete stop
before removing the grass catcher or unclogging the chute. The cutting
blade continues to rotate for a few seconds after the motor is shut off.
Never place any part of the body in the blade area until you are sure the
blade has stopped rotating.
• Never operate mower without proper trailing shield, discharge cover,
grass catcher, motor/blade control handle or other safety protective
devices in place and working. Never operate mower with damaged
safety devices. Failure to do so, can result in personal injury.
• Only use parts and accessories made for this machine by manufacturer.
Failure to do so can result in personal injury.
• If situations occur which are not covered in this manual, use care and
good judgment. Contact your Sears Service Center for assistance.
Slope Operation:
Slopes are a major factor related to slip and fall accidents which can result in
severe injury. Operation on slopes requires extra caution. If you feel uneasy on
a slope, do not mow it. For your safety, use the slope gauge included as part
of this manual to measure slopes before operating this unit on a sloped or hilly
area. If the slope is greater than 15 degrees, do not mow it.
Do:
• Mow across the face of slopes; never up and down. Exercise extreme
caution when changing direction on slopes.
• Watch for holes, ruts, rocks, hidden objects, or bumps which can cause
you to slip or trip. Tall grass can hide obstacles.
• Always be sure of your footing. A slip and fall can cause serious personal
injury. If you feel you are losing your balance, release the motor/blade
control handle immediately, and the blade will stop rotating within three
(3) seconds.
Do Not:
• Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embankments, you could lose
your footing or balance.
• Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees as shown on the slope
gauge.
• Do not mow on wet grass. Unstable footing could cause slipping.
Service
If the mower’s built-in overload protection switch frequently trips, contact
your nearest Sears Service Center for repair.
Remove key and store idle lawn mower indoors when not in use. Allow
motor to cool before storing in any inclosure. Lawn mower should be
stored indoors in a dry, high, or locked-up place, out of reach of children.
When servicing use only identical replacement parts listed in this
manual. “Use of parts which do not meet the original equipment specifi­
cations may lead to improper performance and compromise safety!”
Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make certain the blade and
all moving parts have stopped. Remove the key to prevent accidental
starting.
Remove key before servicing, cleaning, or removing material from the
lawn mower.
Follow instructions for lubricating and changing accessories.
Keep handles dry, clean and free from oil and grease.
To reduce a fire hazard, keep the motor cover free of grass, leaves and
debris build-up.
Check the blade and motor mounting bolts at frequent intervals
for proper tightness. Also, visually inspect blade for damage (e.g.,
bent, cracked, and worn). Replace blade with the original equipment
manufacturer’s (OEM) blade only, listed in this manual.
Maintain your mower with care — Keep mower blade sharp and clean for
best and safest performance. Mower blades are sharp and can cut, wrap
the blade or wear gloves and use extra caution when servicing them.
Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure the equipment is in safe
working condition.
Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper operation regularly.
Never attempt to make wheel or cutting height adjustments while the
motor is running.
After striking a foreign object, stop the motor, remove the key, and
thoroughly inspect the mower for any damage. Repair the damage
before operating the mower.
Grass catcher components, discharge cover, and trailing shield are
subject to wear and damage which could expose moving parts or allow
objects to be thrown. For safety protection, frequently check components
and replace immediately with original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM)
parts only, listed in this manual.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!