4 SectioN 2 — iMportaNt Safe operatioN practiceS
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.a.
Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other b.
sources of ignition.
Never fuel machine indoors. c.
Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the engine is d.
hot or running.
Allow engine to cool at least two minutes before e.
refueling.
Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more than ½ f.
inch below bottom of filler neck to provide space for
fuel expansion.
Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely.g.
If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine and h.
equipment. Move machine to another area. Wait 5
minutes before starting the engine.
Never store the machine or fuel container inside i.
where there is an open flame, spark or pilot light
(e.g. furnace, water heater, space heater, clothes
dryer etc.).
Allow machine to cool at least 5 minutes before j.
storing.
Never fill containers inside a vehicle or on a truck k.
or trailer bed with a plastic liner. Always place
containers on the ground away from your vehicle
before filling.
If possible, remove gas-powered equipment from l.
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 m.
tank or container opening at all times until fueling is
complete. Do not use a nozzle lock-open device.
Operation
Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts, in the auger/1.
impeller housing or chute assembly. Contact with the
rotating parts can amputate hands and feet.
The auger/impeller control lever is a safety device. Never 2.
bypass its operation. Doing so makes the machine unsafe
and may cause personal injury.
The control levers must operate easily in both directions 3.
and automatically return to the disengaged position when
released.
Never operate with a missing or damaged chute assembly. 4.
Keep all safety devices in place and working.
Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated area. 5.
Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless
and deadly gas.
Do not operate machine while under the influence of 6.
alcohol or drugs.
Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a burn. Do 7.
not touch. Keep children away.
Exercise extreme caution when operating on or crossing 8.
gravel surfaces. Stay alert for hidden hazards or traffic.
Exercise caution when changing direction and while 9.
operating on slopes.
Plan your snow-throwing pattern to avoid discharge 10.
towards windows, walls, cars etc. Thus, avoiding possible
property damage or personal injury caused by a ricochet.
Never direct discharge at children, bystanders and pets or 11.
allow anyone in front of the machine.
Do not overload machine capacity by attempting to clear 12.
snow at too fast of a rate.
Never operate this machine without good visibility or light. 13.
Always be sure of your footing and keep a firm hold on the
handles. Walk, never run.
Disengage power to the auger/impeller when transporting 14.
or not in use.
Never operate machine at high transport speeds on 15.
slippery surfaces. Look down and behind and use care
when backing up.
If the machine should start to vibrate abnormally, stop 16.
the engine, disconnect the spark plug wire and ground it
against the engine. Inspect thoroughly for damage. Repair
any damage before starting and operating.
Disengage all control levers and stop engine before you 17.
leave the operating position (behind the handles). Wait
until the auger/impeller comes to a complete stop before
unclogging the chute assembly, making any adjustments,
or inspections.
Never put your hand in the discharge or collector openings. 18.
Always use the clean-out tool provided to unclog the
discharge opening. Do not unclog chute assembly while
engine is running. Shut off engine and remain behind
handles until all moving parts have stopped before
unclogging.
Use only attachments and accessories approved by the 19.
manufacturer (e.g. wheel weights, tire chains, cabs etc.).
When starting engine, pull cord slowly until resistance 20.
is felt, then pull rapidly. Rapid retraction of starter cord
(kickback) will pull hand and arm toward engine faster than
you can let go. Broken bones, fractures, bruises or sprains
could result.
If situations occur which are not covered in this manual, use 21.
care and good judgment. Contact Customer Support for
assistance and the name of your nearest servicing dealer.