MTD 540 Lawn Mower User Manual


 
5sectiOn 2 — iMpOrtant safe OperatiOn practices
Service
Safe Handling Of Gasoline:
To avoid personal injury or property damage use extreme
care in handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremely flammable
and the vapors are explosive. Serious personal injury can
occur when gasoline is spilled on yourself or your clothes,
which can ignite. Wash your skin and change clothes
immediately.
Use only an approved gasoline container.
Never fill containers inside a vehicle or on a truck or trailer
bed with a plastic liner. Always place containers on the
ground away from your vehicle before filling.
Remove gas-powered equipment from the truck or
trailer and refuel it on the ground. If this is not possible,
then refuel such equipment on a trailer with a portable
container, rather than from a gasoline dispenser nozzle.
Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim of the fuel tank or
container opening at all times until fueling is complete. Do
not use a nozzle lock-open device.
Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources
of ignition.
Never fuel machine indoors because flammable vapors will
accumulate in the area.
Never remove gas cap or add fuel while engine is hot or
running. Allow engine to cool at least two minutes before
refueling.
Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more than 1 inch
below bottom of filler neck to provide for fuel expansion.
Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely.
If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine and equipment.
Move machine to another area. Wait 5 minutes before
starting engine.
Never store the machine or fuel container near an open
flame, spark or pilot light as on a water heater, space
heater, furnace, clothes dryer or other gas appliances.
To reduce fire hazard, keep machine free of grass, leaves,
or other debris build-up. Clean up oil or fuel spillage and
remove any fuel soaked debris.
Allow machine to cool at least 5 minutes before storing.
General Service:
Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated area.
Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless
and deadly gas.
Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make certain the
blade and all moving parts have stopped. Disconnect the
spark plug wire and ground against the engine to prevent
unintended starting.
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Check the blade and engine mounting bolts at frequent
intervals for proper tightness. Also, visually inspect blade
for damage (e.g., bent, cracked, worn) Replace blade with
the original equipment manufacture’s (O.E.M.) blade only,
listed in this manual. “Use of parts which do not meet the
original equipment specifications may lead to improper
performance and compromise safety!”
Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap the blade or
wear gloves, and use extra caution when servicing them.
Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure the
equipment is in safe working condition.
Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper
operation regularly.
After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, disconnect
the spark plug wire and ground against the engine.
Thoroughly inspect the mower for any damage. Repair the
damage before starting and operating the mower.
Never attempt to make a wheel or cutting height
adjustment while the engine is running.
Grass catcher components, discharge cover, and trail shield
are subject to wear and damage which could expose
moving parts or allow objects to be thrown. For safety
protection, frequently check components and replace
immediately with original equipment manufacturer’s
(O.E.M.) parts only, listed in this manual. “Use of parts
which do not meet the original equipment specifications
may lead to improper performance and compromise
safety!”
Do not change the engine’s governor setting or over-speed
the engine. The governor controls the maximum safe
operating speed of the engine.
Check fuel line, tank, cap, and fittings frequently for cracks
or leaks. Replace if necessary.
Do not crank engine with spark plug removed.
Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels, as
necessary.
Observe proper disposal laws and regulations. Improper
disposal of fluids and materials can harm the environment.
Do not modify engine
To avoid serious injury or death, do not modify engine in any
way. Tampering with the governor setting can lead to a runaway
engine and cause it to operate at unsafe speeds. Never tamper
with factory setting of engine governor.
Notice Regarding Emissions
Engines which are certified to comply with California and federal
EPA emission regulations for SORE (Small Off Road Equipment)
are certified to operate on regular unleaded gasoline, and
may include the following emission control systems: Engine
Modification (EM) and Three Way Catalyst (TWC) if so equipped.
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