4
1
Engine
Safe
Operation
Practices
Gasoline and its vapors are
extremely flammable and
explosive. Fire or explosion can
cause severe burns or death. If
gasoline is spilled on yourself
or your clothes, wash your skin
and change clothes immediately.
• Whenaddingfuel,turnengineOFFandletengine
cool at least 2 minutes before removing gas cap.
• Fillfueltankoutdoorsorinwellventilatedarea.
• Useonlyanapprovedgasolinecontainer.
• Neverfillcontainersinsideavehicleoronatruckor
trailer bed with a plastic liner. Always place contain-
ers on the ground away from your vehicle before
filling.
• Ifpossible,removegas-poweredequipmentfromthe
truckortrailerandrefuelitontheground.Ifthisis
not possible, then refuel such equipment on a trailer
with a portable container, rather than from a gasoline
dispenser nozzle.
• Keepthenozzleincontactwiththerimofthefuel
tankorcontaineropeningatalltimesuntilfuelingis
complete.Donotuseanozzlelock-opendevice.
• Donotoverfillfueltank.Filltanktoapproximately
2cmbelowlowestportionofnecktoallowforfuel
expansion.
• Keepgasolineawayfromsparks,openflames,pilot
lights, heat, and other ignition sources.
• Neverfuelequipmentindoorsbecauseflammable
vapors will accumulate in the area.
• Extinguishallcigarettes,cigars,pipes,andother
sources of ignition.
• Checkfuelline,tank,cap,andfittingsfrequentlyfor
cracksorleaks.Replaceifnecessary.
• Whenstartingengine,makesuresparkplug,muffler,
fuel cap and air cleaner are in place.
• Donotcrankenginewithsparkplugremoved.
• Iffuelspills,waituntilitevaporatesbeforestarting
engine.
• Whenoperatingequipment,donottipengineor
equipment at angle which causes gasoline to spill.
• Donotchokecarburetortostopengine.
• Whentransportingequipment,transportwithfuel
tankEMPTY.
• Whenstoringgasolineorequipmentwithfuelintank,
store away from furnaces, stoves, water heaters or
other appliances that have pilot light or other ignition
source because they can ignite gasoline vapors.
Starting engine creates spark-
ing. Sparking can ignite nearby
flammable gases. Explosion and
fire could result.
• IfthereisanaturalorLPgasleakageinarea,donot
start engine.
• Donotusepressurizedstartingfluidsbecausevapors
are flammable.
Engines give off carbon mon-
oxide, an odorless, colorless,
poisonous gas. Breathing carbon
monoxide can cause nausea,
fainting, or death.
• Startandrunengineoutdoors.
• Donotstartorrunengineinenclosedarea,evenif
doors or windows are open.
Unintentional sparking can result
in fire or electric shock. Unin-
tentional start-up can result in
entanglement, traumatic amputa-
tion, or laceration.
• Beforepeformingadjustmentsorrepairs,disconnect
sparkplugwireandkeepitawayfromsparkplug.
• Whentestingforspark,useapprovedsparkplug
tester.
• Donotcheckforsparkwithsparkplugremoved.
Running engine produces heat.
Engine parts, especially muffler,
become extremely hot. Severe
thermal burns can occur on
contact. Combustible debris,
such as leaves, grass, brush, etc.,
can catch fire.
• Allowmuffler,enginecylinder,andfinstocoolbefore
touching.
• Keepchildrenawayfromhotorrunningengines.They
can suffer burns from a hot muffler.
WARNING:Gasolineanditsvaporsareextremelyflammableandexplosive.Fireor
explosioncancausesevereburnsordeath.Ifgasolineisspilledonyourselforyour
clothes,washyourskinandchangeclothesimmediately.
WARNING
Gasoline and its vapors
areextremelyflam-
mableandexplosive.
Fireorexplosioncan
cause severe burns
or death. If gasoline is
spilled on yourself or
your clothes, wash your
skinandchangeclothes
immediately.
Starting engine creates
sparking.Sparkingcan
ignite nearby flamma-
blegases.Explosion
and fire could result.
Unintentionalsparking
can result in fire or
electricshock.Unin-
tentional start-up can
result in entanglement,
traumatic amputation,
or laceration.