Poulan PR550Y22R3 Owner Manual - Page 3

STORAGE Operator presence control bar FOLD FORWARD FOR STORAGE MOWING POSITION Upper handle Upper handle "quick-adjust" knob Lower handle Lower handle "standard" knob ENGINE OIL Drain oil (with engine warm) and replace with clean oil. (See "ENGINE" in the Maintenance section of this manual). NOTE (B&S W26 engines with Synthetic oil ONLY): An oil change is not required but if you desire to change the oil follow the procedure below. CYLINDER • Remove spark plug. • Pour one ounce (29 ml) of oil through spark plug hole into cylinder. • Pull starter handle slowly to distribute oil. • Replace with new spark plug. ENGINE FUEL SYSTEM IMPORTANT: It is important to prevent gum deposits from forming in essential fuel system parts such as carburetor, fuel filter, fuel hose, or tank during storage. Alcohol blended fuels (called gasohol or using ethanol or methanol) can attract moisture which leads to separation and formation of acids during storage. Acidic gas can damage the fuel system of an engine while in storage. • Drain the fuel tank. • Start the engine and let it run until the fuel lines and carburetor are empty. • Never use engine or carburetor cleaner products in the fuel tank or permanent damage may occur. • Use fresh fuel next season. NOTE: Fuel stabilizer is an acceptable alternative in minimizing the formation of fuel gum deposits during storage. Add stabilizer to gasoline in fuel tank or storage container. Always follow the mix ratio found on stabilizer container. Run engine at least 10 minutes after adding stabilizer to allow the stabilizer to reach the carburetor. Do not drain the gas tank and carburetor if using fuel stabilizer. BATTERY (IF EQUIPPED) Disconnect the battery from the engine connector and charge battery 48 hours. OTHER • Do not store gasoline from one season to another. • Replace your gasoline can if your can starts to rust. Rust and/or dirt in your gasoline will cause problems. • If possible, store your unit indoors and cover it to protect it from dust and dirt. • Cover your unit with a suitable protective cover that does not retain moisture. Do not use plastic. Plastic cannot breathe, which allows condensation to form and will cause your unit to rust. IMPORTANT: Never cover mower while engine and exhaust areas are still warm. CAUTION: Never store the lawn mower with gasoline in the tank inside a building where fumes may reach an open flame or spark. Allow the engine to cool before storing in any enclosure. 34 SAFETY RULES • Do not pull mower backwards unless absolutely necessary. Always look down and behind before and while moving backwards. • Never direct discharged material toward anyone. Avoid discharging material against a wall or obstruction. Material may richochet back toward the operator. Stop blade when crossing gravel surfaces. • Do not operate the mower without proper guards, plates, grass catcher or other safety protective devices in place. • See manufacturer's instructions for proper operation and installation of accessories. Only use accessories ap- III. SLOPE OPERATION Slopes are a major factor related to slip & fall accidents, which can result in severe injury. All slopes require extra caution. If you feel uneasy on a slope, do not mow it. DO: • Mow across the face of slopes: never up and down. Exercise extreme caution when changing direction on slopes. • Remove obstacles such as rocks, tree limbs, etc. • Watch for holes, ruts, bumps or hidden objects. Uneven terrain could cause a slip and fall accident. Tall grass can hide obstacles. DO NOT: proved by the manufacturer. • Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or • Stop the blade(s) when crossing gravel embankments. You could lose your foot- drives, walks, or roads. ing or balance. • Never leave a running machine unat- • Do not mow on wet grass or excessively tended. steep slopes. Poor footing could cause • Stop the engine (motor) and wait until a slip and fall accident. the blade comes to a complete stop before cleaning the machine, removing the grass catcher, or unclogging the discharge chute. • Mow only in daylight or good artificial light. • Do not operate the machine while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. • Never operate machine in wet grass. Always be sure of your footing: keep a firm hold on the handle; walk, never run. • Disengage the drive system, if so equipped, before starting the engine (motor). • If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the engine (motor) and check immediately for the cause. Vibration is generally a warning of trouble. • Always wear eye protection when operating machine. • Use extra care when approaching blind corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects that may obscure vision. • When loading or unloading this ma- chine, do not exceed the maximum recommended operation angle of 15°. • Wear proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while operating this machine, including (at a minimum) sturdy footwear, eye protection, and hearing protection. Do not mow in shorts or open toed footwear. Always let someone know you are outside mowing. IV. 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. • Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources of ignition. • Use only an approved container. • Never remove gas cap or add fuel with the engine running. • Allow engine to cool before refueling. • Never refuel the machine indoors. • Never store the machine or fuel contain- er where there is an open flame, spark or pilot light such as a water heater or on other appliances. • Never fill containers inside a vehicle, 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 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. • If fuel is spilled on clothing, change clothing immediately. • Never overfill fuel tank. Replace gas cap and tighten securely. 3