MTD TMO-33849A - Manual (Page 3)

IMPORTANT
Safe Operation Practices for Snow Throwers
TRAINING
1. Read the owner's guide instruction manual careful­
ly. Be thoroughly familiar with the controls and
proper use of the equipment. Know how to stop the
unit and disengage the controls quickly.
2. Never allow children to operate equipment. Never
allow adults to operate equipment without proper
instruction.
3. Keep the area of operation clear of all persons, es­
pecially small children and pets.
4. Exercise caution to avoid slipping or falling, es­
pecially when operating in reverse.
PREPARATION
1. Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment
is to be used and remove all door mats, sleds,
boards, wires and other foreign objects.
2. Disengage all clutches and shift into neutral before
starting engine or motor.
3. Do not operate equipment without wearing ade­
quate winter outer garments. Wear footwear which
will improve footing on slippery surfaces.
4. Handle fuel with care, it is highly flamamble.
(A) Use approved fuel container.
(B) Never add fuel to a running engine or hot en­
gine.
(C) Fill fuel tank outdoors with extreme care. Never
fill fuel tank indoors.
(D) Replace gasoline cap securely and wipe up
spilled fuel.
(E) Open doors if engine is run in the garage—ex­
haust fumes are dangerous.
5. Adjust coilector housing height to clear gravel or
crushed rock surface.
6. Never attempt to make any adjustments while en­
gine or motor is running (except where specifically
recommended by manufacturer).
7. Never operate the snow thrower without good vis­
ibility or light.
8. Let engine and machine adjust to outdoor tempera­
tures before starting to clear snow.
OPERATION
1. Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts. Keep
clear of discharge opening at all times.
2. Exercise extreme caution when operating on or
crossing a gravel drive, walks, or roads. Stay alert
for hidden hazards and traffic. Do not carry pas­
sengers.
3. After striking a foreign object, stop the engine
(motor), remove wire from spark plug, thorough­
ly inspect the snow thrower for any damage, and
repair
the damage before restarting and operat­
ing the snow thrower.
4. If the unit should start to vibrate abnormally, stop
the engine (motor) and check immediately for the
cause. Vibration is generally a warning of trouble.
5. Stop engine (motor) whenever you leave the oper­
ating position, before unclogging the collector/
impeller housing or discharge guide, and making
any repairs, adjustments, or inspections.
6. Take ail possible precaution when leaving the ve­
hicle unattended, disengage the power take-off,
lower the attachment, shift into neutral, set the
parking brake, stop the engine, remove the key.
/. When cleaning, repairing, or inspecting make cer­
tain collector/impeller, and all moving parts have
stopped.
Disconnect spark plug wire and keep
wire away from plug to prevent accidental start­
ing. Disconnect cord on electric motors.
8. Do not run engine indoors, exhaust fumes are
dangerous.
9. Do not clear snow across the face of slopes. Ex­
ercise extreme caution when changing direction
on slopes. Do not attempt to clear steep slopes.
10. Never operate snow thrower without guards,
plates, or other safety protective devices in place.
n. Never operate snow thrower near glass enclosure,
automobiles, window wells, drop-offs, etc., with­
out proper adjustment of snow discharge angle.
Keep children and pets away.
12. Do not overload machine capacity by attempting
to clear snow at too fast a rate.
13. Never operate machine at high transport speeds
on slippery surfaces. Use care when backing.
14. Never direct discharge at bystanders or allow any­
one in front of unit.
15. Disengage power to collector/impeller when
transporting or not in use.
16. Only use attachments and accessories approved by
manufacturer of snow thrower (such as wheel
weights, counter weights, cabs, etc.).
MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE
1. Check shear bolts, engine mounting bolts, etc. at
frequent intervals for proper tightness to be sure
equipment is in safe working condition.
2. Never store machine with fuel in the fuel tank in­
side a building where open flame or spark are pres­
ent. Allow engine to cool before storing in any
enclosure.
3. Always refer to owner's guide instructions for im­
portant details if snow thrower is to be stored for
an extended period.
4. Ron machine a few minutes after throwing snow
to prevent freeze up of collector/impeller.