Troy-Bilt TB554 Operation Manual - Page 5

5. Keep children away from hot or running engines. They can suffer burns from a hot muffler. 6. Never allow children under 14 years of age to operate this machine. Children 14 and over should read and understand the instructions and safe operation practices in this manual and on the machine and be trained and supervised by an adult. Maintenance and Storage 1. Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated area. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless and deadly gas. 2. 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. 3. 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!" 4. Lawn edger blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap the blade or wear gloves, and use extra caution when servicing them. 5. Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure the equipment is in safe working condition. 6. Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper operation regularly. 7. After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, disconnect the spark plug wire and ground against the engine. Thoroughly inspect the lawn edger for any damage. Repair the damage before starting and operating the lawn edger. 8. Never attempt to make a wheel adjustment while the engine is running. 9. Many components on your new edger can wear with continued use. For safety protection, frequently check all edger 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!" 10. Do not change the engine governor setting or overspeed the engine. The governor controls the maximum safe operating speed of the engine. 11. Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels, as necessary. 12. Observe proper disposal laws and regulations for used gas, oil, etc.. Improper disposal of fluids and materials can harm the environment. 13. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this product has an Average Useful Life of seven (7) years, or 70 hours of operation. At the end of the Average Useful Life have the machine inspected annually by an authorized service dealer to ensure that all mechanical and safety systems are working properly and not worn excessively. Failure to do so can result in accidents, injuries or death. Spark Arrestor WARNING! This machine is equipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be used on or near any unimproved forest-covered, brushcovered or grass-covered land unless the engine's exhaust system is equipped with a spark arrestor meeting applicable local or state laws (if any). If a spark arrestor is used, it should be maintained in effective working order by the operator. In the State of California the above is required by law (Section 4442 of the California Public Resources Code). Other states may have similar laws. Federal laws apply on federal lands. A spark arrestor for the muffler is available through your nearest engine authorized service dealer or contact the service department, P.O. Box 361131 Cleveland, Ohio 44136-0019. Section 2 - Important Safe Operation Practices 5