9
en
Operator Safety
WARNING
Fuel and its vapors are extremely fl ammable
and explosive. Always handle fuel with extreme
care.
Failure to observe these safety instructions can
cause a fi re or explosion which will result in
severe burns or death.
WHEN ADDING FUEL
• Turn off engine and let cool at least 2 minutes before
removing the fuel cap and adding fuel.
• Fill fuel tank outdoors or in a well ventilated area.
• Do not overfill the fuel tank. To allow for the expansion of
gasoline, do not fill above the bottom of the fuel tank neck.
• Keep fuel away from sparks, open flames, pilot lights, heat,
and other ignition sources.
• Check fuel lines, cap, and fittings frequently for cracks or
leaks. Replace if necessary.
• Use an approved fuel container.
• If fuel spills, wait until it evaporates before starting engine.
WHEN STARTING ENGINE
• Ensure that spark plug, muffler, fuel cap, and air cleaner (if
equipped) are in place and secured.
• Do not crank the engine with the spark plug removed.
• If fuel is spilled, do not attempt to start the engine, but move
the snowthrower away from the area of the spill, and avoid
creating any source of ignition, until the fuel vapors have
dissipated.
• Do not over-prime the engine. Follow the engine starting
instructions in this manual.
• If the engine floods, set choke (if equipped) to OPEN/RUN
position, move throttle (if equipped) to FAST position and
crank until engine starts.
WHEN OPERATING EQUIPMENT
• Do not tip the snowthrower at an angle which causes the fuel
to spill.
• Do not choke the carburetor to stop the engine.
• Never run the engine with the air cleaner assembly (if
equipped) or the air filter (if equipped) removed.
WHEN CHANGING OIL
• If you drain the oil from the top oil fill tube, the fuel tank must
be empty or fuel can leak out and result in a fire or explosion.
WHEN TRANSPORTING EQUIPMENT
• Transport with fuel tank EMPTY, or with fuel shut-off valve
OFF.
WHEN STORING GASOLINE OR EQUIPMENT WITH FUEL
IN TANK
• Store away from furnaces, stoves, water heaters, or other
appliances that have pilot light or other ignition source
because they can ignite fuel vapors.
WARNING
Safe operation of the snowthrower requires the
proper care and maintenance of the engine.
• Disengage all clutches and shift into neutral before starting
the engine may cause personal injury.
• Let the engine adjust to outdoor temperatures before starting
to clear snow.
• Use a grounded three-wire plug for all snowthrowers
equipped with electric drive motors or electric starting
motors.
WARNING
Starting engine creates sparking.
Sparking can ignite nearby fl ammable gases.
Explosion and fi re could result.
• If there is natural or LP gas leakage in area, do not start
engine.
• Do not use pressurized starting fluids because vapors are
flammable.
WARNING
Running the engine produces heat. Engine
parts, especially muffl er, become extremely
hot.
Failure to observe these safety instructions
could result in severe thermal burns on contact.
• Never touch a hot engine or muffler. Allow muffler, engine
cylinder, and fins to cool before touching.
• Remove debris from muffler area and cylinder area.
• Install and maintain in working order a spark arrester before
using equipment on forest-covered, grass-covered, or brush-
covered unimproved land.
• It is a violation of California Public Resource Code,
Section 4442, to use or operate the engine on any forest-
covered, brush-covered, or grass-covered land unless the
exhaust system is equipped with a spark arrester, as defined
in Section 4442, maintained in effective working order. Other
states or federal jurisdictions may have similar laws. Contact
the original equipment manufacturer, retailer, or dealer to
obtain a spark arrester designed for the exhaust system
installed on this engine.