Craftsman 88998 Lawn Mower User Manual


 
Iftheequipmentshouldstartto vibrateabnormally,stoptheengineand
checkimmediatelyforthe cause.Vibrationisgenerallya warningof
trouble.
Shutthe engineoff andwait untilthe bladecomesto acompletestop
beforeremovingthe grasscatcheror uncloggingthe chute.
Thecuttingbladecontinuestorotateforafewsecondsafterthe engine
isshut off.Neverplaceanypartofthe bodyinthebladearea untilyou
aresurethe bladehasstoppedrotating.
Neveroperatemowerwithoutpropertrailshield,dischargecover,grass
catcher,bladecontrolhandle,orothersafetyprotectivedevicesinplace
andworking.Neveroperatemowerwithdamagedsafetydevices.Failure
todosocan resultin personalinjury.
Mufflerandenginebecomehotandcancauseaburn.Do nottouch.
Onlyusepartsandaccessoriesmadeforthismachinebymanufacturer.
Failureto dosocanresultin personalinjury. Forrecommendedacces-
sories,call 1-800-659-5917.
Ifsituationsoccurwhich arenotcoveredinthismanual,usecareand
goodjudgment.ContactyourSearsServiceCenterforassistance.
SLOPE OPERATION
Slopesareamajorfactorrelatedto slipandfall accidentswhichcanresultin
severeinjury.Operationon slopesrequiresextracaution.Ifyoufeeluneasyon
aslope,donotmowit.Foryoursafety,usethe slopeguideincludedaspartof
thismanualto measureslopesbeforeoperatingthis unitonaslopedor hilly
area.Iftheslopeis greaterthan15degrees,do notmowit.
Do:
Mowacrossthefaceofslopes; neverupanddown. Exerciseextreme
cautionwhenchangingdirectionon slopes.
Watchfor holes,ruts,rocks,hiddenobjects,or bumpswhichcancause
youto slipor trip.Tallgrasscan hideobstacles.
Alwaysbe sureofyourfooting.Aslip andfall cancauseseriouspersonal
injury.If youfeelyouarelosingyourbalance,releasethe bladecontrol
handleimmediately,andthebladewill stoprotatingwithin3 seconds.
Do Not:
Donotmowneardrop-offs,ditchesorembankments,whereyoucould
loseyourfootingor balance.
Donotmowslopesgreaterthan15degreesasshownonthe
slopegauge.
Donotmowonwetgrass.Unstablefootingcouldcauseslipping.
SERVICE
Safe Handling Of Gasoline:
Toavoidpersonalinjuryor propertydamageuseextremecarein
handlinggasoline.Gasolineis extremelyflammableandthevaporsare
explosive.Seriouspersonalinjurycanoccurwhengasolineis spilledon
yourselfor yourclotheswhichcan ignite.
Washyourskinandchangeclothesimmediately.
Useonlyanapprovedgasolinecontainer.
Neverfill containersinsidea vehicleoron atruckor trailerbedwith a
plasticliner.Alwaysplacecontainersonthe groundawayfromyour
vehiclebeforefilling.
Removegas-poweredequipmentfromthetruckortrailerandrefueliton
theground.If thisisnot possible,thenrefuelsuchequipmentonatrailer
witha portablecontainer,ratherthanfroma gasolinedispensernozzle.
Keepthe nozzlein contactwiththerimofthefueltank or container
openingatalltimesuntilfuelingiscomplete.Donot usea nozzle
lock-opendevice.
Extinguishallcigarettes,cigars,pipesandothersources
ofignition.
Neverfuel machineindoorsbecauseflammablevaporswillaccumulate
inthearea.
Neverremovegascapor addfuelwhile engineis hotorrunning.
Allowengineto coolatleasttwominutesbeforerefueling.
Neveroverfillfuel tank.Fill tanktono morethanV2inch belowbottom
offiller neckto provideforfuel expansion.
Replacegasolinecapandtightensecurely.
Ifgasolineisspilled,wipeit offthe engineandequipment.Moveunit
toanotherarea.Wait5minutesbeforestarting engine.
Neverstorethe machineorfuelcontainernearan openflame,spark
or pilotlightason awaterheater,spaceheater,furnace,clothesdryer,
or othergasappliances.
Toreducefire hazard,keepmowerfreeofgrass,leaves,or other
debrisbuild-up.Cleanupoilor fuelspillageandremoveanyfuel
soakeddebris.
Allowamowerto coolatleast5minutesbeforestoring.
General Service:
Neverrunanengineindoorsorin a poorlyventilatedarea.Engine
exhaustcontainscarbon monoxide,anodorlessand deadlygas.
Beforecleaning,repairing,orinspecting,makecertainthe bladeand
all movingpartshavestopped.Disconnectthe sparkplugwireand
groundagainsttheenginetopreventunintendedstarting.
Checkthe bladeandenginemountingboltsatfrequentintervalsfor
propertightness.Also,visuallyinspectbladefordamage(e.g.,bent,
cracked,worn)Replacebladewiththeoriginalequipmentmanufac-
ture's(O.E.M.)bladeonly,listedinthis manual.Useofpartswhichdo
notmeetthe originalequipmentspecificationsmayleadtoimproper
performanceandcompromisesafety!
Mowerbladesaresharpand cancut.Wrapthe bladeor weargloves,
anduseextracautionwhenservicingthem.
Keepallnuts,bolts,andscrewstightto besurethe equipmentis in
safeworkingcondition.
Nevertamperwith safetydevices.Checktheirproper
operationregularly.
Afterstrikinga foreignobject,stoptheengine,disconnectthe spark
plugwireand groundagainstthe engine.Thoroughlyinspectthe
mowerforanydamage.Repairthe damagebeforestartingand
operatingthe mower.
Neverattempttomakea wheelor cuttingheightadjustmentwhilethe
engineisrunning.
Grasscatchercomponents,dischargecover,andtrailshieldare
subjecttowear anddamagewhichcould exposemovingpartsor
allowobjectsto bethrown.Forsafetyprotection,frequentlycheck
componentsandreplaceimmediatelywithoriginalequipment
manufacturer's(O.E.M.)partsonly,listedinthis manual.Useofparts
whichdonotmeettheoriginalequipmentspecificationsmayleadto
improperperformanceand compromisesafety!
Donotchangetheenginegovernorsettingoroverspeedthe engine.
Thegovernorcontrolsthe maximumsafeoperatingspeedofthe
engine.
Maintainor replacesafetylabels,as necessary.
Observeproperdisposallawsand regulations.Improperdisposalof
fluidsandmaterialscanharmtheenvironment.
4