machine.Bethoroughlyfamiliarwiththecontrols
andtheproperuseofthemachine.Knowhowto
stopthemachineanddisengagethecontrolsquickly.
•Neverallowchildrentooperatethemachine.Never
allowadultstooperatethemachinewithoutproper
instruction.
•Keeptheareaofoperationclearofallpersons,
particularlysmallchildren.
•Exercisecautiontoavoidslippingorfalling.
Preparation
•Thoroughlyinspecttheareawherethemachineis
tobeusedandremovealldoormats,sleds,boards,
wires,andotherforeignobjects.
•Donotoperatethemachinewithoutwearing
adequatewintergarments.Avoidloosetting
clothingthatcangetcaughtinmovingparts.Wear
footwearthatwillimprovefootingonslippery
surfaces.
•Handlefuelwithcare;itishighlyammable.
–Useanapprovedfuelcontainer.
–Neveraddfueltoarunningengineorhotengine.
–Fillfueltankoutdoorswithextremecare.Never
llfueltankindoors.
–Neverllcontainersinsideavehicleorona
truckortrailerbedwithaplasticliner.Always
placecontainersontheground,awayfromyour
vehicle,beforelling.
–Whenpractical,removegas-poweredmachinery
fromthetruckortrailerandrefuelitonthe
ground.Ifthisisnotpossible,thenrefuelsuch
machineryonatrailerwithaportablecontainer,
ratherthanfromagasolinedispensernozzle.
–Keepthenozzleincontactwiththerimofthe
fueltankorcontaineropeningatalltimes,until
refuelingiscomplete.Donotuseanozzle
lock-opendevice.
–Replacegasolinecapsecurelyandwipeupspilled
fuel.
–Iffuelisspilledonclothing,changeclothing
immediately.
•Useextensioncordsandreceptaclesasspecied
bythemanufacturerforallmachineswithelectric
startingmotors.
•Donotattempttoclearsnowfromagravelor
crushedrocksurface.Thismachineisintendedfor
useonlyonpavedsurfaces.
•Neverattempttomakeanyadjustmentswhile
theengineisrunning(exceptwhenspecically
recommendedbymanufacturer).
•Alwayswearsafetyglassesoreyeshieldsduring
operationorwhileperforminganadjustmentor
repairtoprotecteyesfromforeignobjectsthatmay
bethrownfromthemachine.
Operation
•Donotputhandsorfeetnearorunderrotatingparts.
Keepclearofthedischargeopeningatalltimes.
•Exerciseextremecautionwhenoperatingonor
crossinggraveldrives,walks,orroads.Stayalertfor
hiddenhazardsortrafc.
•Afterstrikingaforeignobject,stoptheengine,
removetheignitionkey,thoroughlyinspectthe
machineforanydamage,andrepairthedamage
beforerestartingandoperatingthemachine.
•Ifthemachineshouldstarttovibrateabnormally,
stoptheengineandcheckimmediatelyforthecause.
Vibrationisgenerallyawarningoftrouble.
•Stoptheenginewheneveryouleavetheoperating
position,beforeuncloggingtherotorbladehousing
ordischargechute,andwhenmakinganyrepairs,
adjustmentsorinspections.
•Whencleaning,repairing,orinspectingthemachine,
stoptheengineandmakecertainthattherotor
bladesandallmovingpartshavestopped.
•Donotruntheengineindoors,exceptwhenstarting
theengineandfortransportingthemachineinor
outofthebuilding.Opentheoutsidedoors;exhaust
fumesaredangerous.
•Exerciseextremecautionwhenoperatingonslopes.
•Neveroperatethemachinewithoutproperguards
andothersafetyprotectivedevicesinplaceand
working.
•Neverdirectthedischargetowardpeopleorareas
wherepropertydamagecanoccur.Keepchildren
andothersaway.
•Donotoverloadthemachinecapacitybyattempting
toclearsnowattoofastarate.
•Lookbehindandusecarewhenbackingupwiththe
machine.
•Disengagepowertotherotorbladeswhenmachine
istransportedornotinuse.
•Neveroperatethemachinewithoutgoodvisibility
orlight.Alwaysbesureofyourfooting,andkeepa
rmholdonthehandles.Walk;neverrun.
•Nevertouchahotengineormufer(
Figure3).
2