Craftsman 247.370160 - Manual (Page 4)

SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
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Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close-fitting slacks
and shirts. Shirts and pants that cover the arms and legs and
steel-toed shoes are recommended. Never operate this machine
in bare feet, sandals, slippery or light weight (e.g. canvas) shoes.
Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts or under cutting deck.
Contact with blade can amputate hands and feet.
A missing or damaged discharge chute can cause blade contact
or thrown object injuries.
Many injuries occur as a result of the mower being pulled over the
foot during a fall caused by slipping or tripping. Do not hold on to
the mower it you are falling; release the handle immediately.
Never pull the mower back toward you while you are walking. If
you must back the mower away from a wall or obstruction first
look down and behind to avoid tripping and then follow these
steps:
Step back from mower to fully extend your arms.
Be sure you are well balanced with sure footing.
Pull the mower back slowly, no more than half way toward you.
Repeat these steps as needed.
Do not operate the mower while under the influence of alcohol or
drugs.
Stay alert — Watch what you are doing. Use common sense. Do
not operate lawn mower when you are tired.
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.
Never operate the mower in the rain or in damp 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 motor/blade when crossing gravel drives, walks or roads.
If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the
engine and check immediately for the cause. Vibration is gener­
ally 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 trail shield, discharge
chute, 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.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection should be
provided on the circuit(s) or outlet(s) to be used for the lawn
mower. Receptacles are available having built-in GFCI protection
and may be used tor this measure of safety.
To prevent electric shock use only with a UL listed extension
cord set suitable for outdoor use, such as Type SW-A, SOW-A,
STW-A, STOW-A, SJW-A, SJOW-A, SJTW-A, or SJTOW-A.
Extension Cord—Make sure your extension cord set is in good
condition and is heavy enough to carry the current load your lawn
mower will draw. If in doubt, use the next heavier gauge cord. The
smaller the gauge number, the heavier the cord. An undersized
cord will cause a drop in line voltage resulting in loss of power and
overheating.
MINIMUM WIRE SIZE FOR EXTENSION CORDS
FOR 120 VOLT APPLIANCES USING 10 -12 AMPS
Cord Length (ft.) 25 50 100 150
Wire Size (AWG) 16 16 14 12
To reduce the likelihood of disconnection of the extension cord set
from the mower, be sure to use the cord restraint provided as well
as a modern, tightly fitting extension cord.
To reduce the risk of electric shock, this lawn mower has a
polarized plug (one blade is wider than the other) and will require
the use of a polarized extension cord. The mower plug will only
fit into the polarized extension cord one way. If the plug does not
fit fully into the extension cord, reverse the plug. If the plug still
does not tit, obtain a correct polarized extension cord. A polarized
extension cord will require the use of a polarized wall outlet. This
plug will fit into the polarized outlet only one way. If the plug does
not fit fully into the wall outlet, reverse the plug. If the plug still
does not tit, contact a qualified electrician to install the proper
wall outlet. Do not change the equipment plug, extension cord
receptacle, or extension cord plug in any way.
If extension cord is damaged in any manner during use, discon­
nect extension cord from house receptacle
before unplugging
mower.
Circuit Breaker/Fuses—The mower should be operated on a 15
AMP or 20 AMP circuit. If difficulty in starting is experienced with
a standard 15 AMP fuse or circuit breaker or the mower's built-in
overload protection switch frequently trips, contact your nearest
authorized service dealer. Do not use a higher rated circuit
breaker or fuse without consulting your power company.
Do not abuse the cord by pulling the mower by the cord or yank­
ing it to disconnect it from the receptacle. Keep cord from heat,
oil, and sharp edges.
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 Customer Support for assistance or
the name of the nearest service dealer.