Ryobi RYAC700 Operation Manual - Page 7

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS  Use safety equipment. Always wear eye protection. Dust mask, non-skid safety shoes, hard hat, or hearing protection must be used for appropriate conditions.  Dress properly - Do not wear loose clothing, scarves, or jewelry. They can be caught in moving parts.  Use of rubber gloves and substantial footwear is recommended when working outdoors.  Secure long hair so it is above shoulder level to prevent entanglement in any moving parts.  Check for misalignment or binding of moving parts, breakage of parts, and any other condition that may affect the cultivator's operation. If damaged, have the cultivator serviced before using. Many accidents are caused by poorly maintained cultivators.  Keep the cultivator and its handle dry, clean, and free from oil and grease. Always use a clean cloth when cleaning. Never use brake fluids, gasoline, petroleumbased products, or any strong solvents to clean your cultivator. Following this rule will reduce the risk of loss of control and deterioration of the enclosure plastic.  Always wear safety glasses with side shields. Everyday glasses have only impact resistant lenses. They are NOT safety glasses. Following this rule will reduce the risk of eye injury.  Always wear eye protection with side shields marked to comply with ANSI Z87.1 along with hearing protection when operating this equipment. Following this rule will reduce the risk of serious personal injury.  Protect your lungs. Wear a face or dust mask if the operation is dusty. Following this rule will reduce the risk of serious personal injury.  Don't expose cultivators to rain. Water entering a cultivator will increase the risk of electric shock.  Never spray water directly into the motor compartment of the cultivator.  Wear heavy long pants, long sleeves, boots, and gloves. Avoid loose garments or jewelry that could get caught in moving parts of the machine or its motor.  Wear rubber boots when operating the cultivator. Protective footwear will protect your feet and improve your footing on slippery surfaces. Do not go barefoot or wear sandals.  Keep firm footing and balance. Do not overreach. Overreaching can result in loss of balance.  Store Idle Cultivators Indoors - When not in use, cultivator should be stored indoors in a dry, locked up place - unplugged and out of the reach of children.  Do not hang unit so that the switch trigger is depressed.  Cultivator service must be performed only by qualified repair personnel. Service or maintenance performed by unqualified personnel may result in a risk of injury.  When servicing a cultivator, use only identical replacement parts. Replace or repair damaged cords. Follow instructions in the Maintenance section of this manual. Use of unauthorized parts or failure to follow Maintenance instructions may create a risk of shock or injury.  Check the work area before each use. Remove all objects such as rocks, broken glass, nails, wire, or string which can be thrown or become entangled in the machine.  For household use only.  Use the right appliance - Do not use the cultivator for any job except that for which it is intended.  Do not force the cultivator - It will do the job better and safer at the rate for which it was designed.  Do not use near underground electric cables, telephone lines, pipes, or hoses. If in doubt, contact your utility or telephone company to locate underground services.  Rotating tines can cause severe injury; do not allow hands, feet, or any other part of the body or clothing near the rotating tines or any other moving part. The tines begin to rotate once the lock-out button is depressed and switch trigger is pulled. The tines continue to rotate until the switch trigger is released.  Maintain a firm grip on both handles while cultivating. Use extreme caution when reversing or pulling the machine towards you. Never operate the equipment on a slope.  If the cultivator should start to vibrate abnormally or become noisy, stop the motor and check immediately for the cause. Abnormal noise is generally a warning of trouble.  Keep all fasteners tight to be sure the cultivator is in safe working condition.  Check that the lock pins are fully inserted into the tine shaft before each use.  Exercise extreme caution when crossing gravel surfaces. Stay alert for hidden hazards or traffic.  Be extremely careful when tilling in hard ground. The equipment may unexpectedly bounce upward or jump forward if the tines should strike buried obstacles such as large stones, roots, or stumps.  Do not overload the capacity of the machine by attempting to till too deep or at too fast a speed. 3 - English