• Your DR® Trimmer/Mower carries prominent labels as reminders for its proper and safe use. Your Owner's Manual shows copies of all the labels that appear on the equipment. Take a moment to study them and make a note of their location on your DR® Trimmer/Mower as you assemble and before you operate the machine. Replace damaged or missing safety and information labels immediately.

• Always wear protective goggles or safety glasses with side shields while mowing to protect your eyes from possible thrown debris.
• Avoid wearing loose clothing or jewelry, which can catch on the mower's moving parts.
• We recommend wearing gloves while mowing. Be sure your gloves fit properly and do not have loose cuffs or drawstrings.
• Wear shoes wtih non-slip treads when using your DR® Trimmer/Mower. If you have safety shoes, we recommend wearing them. Do not use the machine while barefoot or wearing open sandals.
• Wear long pants while operating the DR® Trimmer/Mower.
• We recommend the use of ear protectors or ear plugs rated for at least 20 DBA to protect your hearing.
• Never allow people who are unfamiliar with these instructions to use the DR® Trimmer/Mower. Allow only responsible individuals who are familiar with these rules of safe operation to use your machine.
• Never place your hands, feet, or any part of your body on or under the mower deck in the path of the spinning cords, belt, pulleys, or near the discharge opening while the engine is running. Keep area of discharge clear of people, animals, buildings, glass, or anything else that will obstruct clear discharge, cause injury, or damage.
• Keep bystanders at least 50 feet away from your work area at all times. The tips of the cutting cords on the DR® Trimmer/Mower can throw sticks, small stones, gravel, and bits of debris over long distances at great velocity. Do not travel over loose materials such as gravel or mulch with the trimmer head spinning. Doing so could cause personal injury or property damage from thrown objects. Release the bail bar to stop the spinning cords and shut off the engine when another person or pet approaches.
• To be safe, do not operate the machine near small children or pets, and never allow children to operate the DR® Trimmer/Mower.
• Do not operate the engine with the air cleaner or cover over the carburetor air-intake removed, except for adjustment. Removal of such parts could create a fire hazard. Do not use flammable solutions to clean air filter.
• Always operate the mower from behind the handlebar. Never pass or stand on the discharge side of the machine when the engine is running or cutting cords are spinning.
• The muffler and engine become very hot and can cause a severe burn; do not touch.
• Never under any conditions, remove, bend, cut, fit, weld, or otherwise alter standard parts on the DR® Trimmer/Mower. This includes all shields and guards. Modifications to your machine could cause personal injuries and property damage and will void your warranty.
  

• Keep children and pets out of the working area and under the watchful care of a responsible adult.
• Be alert and turn the machine off if children or pets enter the work area.
• Before and while moving backwards, look behind, and down for small children and pets.
• Never allow children to operate the DR® Trimmer/Mower.
• Use extra care when approaching blind corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects that may obscure your vision.

• Never run the engine in an enclosed area or without proper ventilation as the exhaust from the engine contains carbon monoxide, which is an odorless, tasteless, and deadly poisonous gas.
• Store all fuel and oil in containers specifically designed and approved for this purpose and keep away from heat and open flame, and out of the reach of children.
• Fill the gasoline tank outdoors with the engine off and allow the engine to cool completely. Do not handle gasoline if you or anyone nearby is smoking, or if you are near anything that could cause it to ignite or explode. Reinstall the fuel tank and fuel container caps securely.
• If you spill gasoline, do not attempt to start the engine. Move the mower away from the area of the spill and avoid creating any source of ignition until the gas vapors have dissipated. Wipe up any spilled fuel to prevent a fire hazard and properly dispose of the waste.
• Allow the engine to cool completely before storing in any enclosure. Never store the machine with gas in the tank or a fuel container, near an open flame or spark such as a water heater, space heater, clothes dryer or furnace.
• Never make adjustments or repairs with the engine running. Stop the engine, wait five (5) minutes to make certain all moving parts have come to a complete stop and cool. Disconnect the spark plug wire, keeping it away from the spark plug to prevent accidental starting.
• Never check for an ignition spark with the spark plug or spark plug wire(s) removed. Always use an approved spark plug tester.
• Never tamper with the engine's governor setting or modify the engine speed. The governor controls the maximum safe operating speed and protects the engine. Over-speeding the engine is dangerous and will cause damage to the engine and to the other moving parts of the machine. If required, see your authorized engine dealer for engine governor adjustments.
• To reduce fire hazard, keep the engine and muffler area free of debris build-up such as leaves, grass, oil, grease, or any other combustible material. Clean the engine area after each use.
• Always check fuel lines and fittings frequently for cracks or leaks, replace if necessary.

• Keep in mind that the operator or user is responsible for accidents or hazards occurring to the other people, their property and themselves.
• Your DR® Trimmer/Mower is a powerful tool, not a plaything. Exercise extreme caution at all times. The design of your machine is for trimming and mowing grass, weeds, and other growth as specified in this manual. Do not use it for any other purpose.
• Know how to stop the mower quickly; see your Owner's Manual for information.
• Never operate your unit on a slippery, wet, or muddy surface. Exercise caution to avoid slipping or falling.
• Keep your face and body back from the discharge area.
• Be cautious when using your DR® Trimmer/Mower around fencing, wires, ropes, and hoses. It is possible that these and other debris can become wound around the line plates of the machine, potentially damaging the bearings or injuring you.
• Whenever you leave the operating position to make adjustments, change cords or if you have to remove grass or debris from the underside of the deck, always shut off the engine and wait five (5) minutes to make certain all moving parts have come to a complete stop and cool. Remove the key, if so equipped, and disconnect the spark plug wire and keep the wire away from the spark plug to prevent accidental starting.
• The exhaust area on the engine becomes very hot with use. Allow the engine to cool before refueling, doing maintenance, or making adjustments.
• Keep combustible substances away from the engine when it is hot.
• Never cover the machine while the muffler is still hot.
• See manufacturer's instructions for proper operation and installation of accessories. Only use accessories approved by DR® Power Equipment, Inc.
• If the cutting cords strike a foreign object or if your machine should start making an unusual noise or vibration, stop the engine and wait five (5) minutes for all moving parts to come to a complete stop and cool. Vibration is generally a warning of trouble. Disconnect the spark plug wire and inspect for damage. Clean and repair and/or replace damaged parts.
• Never tamper with safety devices. Regularly check their proper operation.
• Do not mow in the rain. Water on the spark plug may cause the engine to stall.
• Do not operate the DR® Trimmer/Mower on slopes greater than 20 degrees.
• When operating over uneven terrain and slopes, use extreme caution to ensure solid and firm footing.
• While using the DR® Trimmer/Mower, do not hurry or take things for granted. When in doubt about the equipment or your surroundings, stop the machine and take the time to look things over. Make sure that you have 100% control of the mower at all times.
• Do not operate the machine when under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication.
• Use the machine only in daylight and give complete, undivided attention to the job at hand.
• Disengage the Trimmer Head and exercise extreme caution when on or crossing drives, walks, or roads. Stay alert for hidden hazards or traffic.
• Watch for traffic when mowing near roadways.
• Always keep the machine in good safe operating condition. Always make certain nuts and bolts are tight and always use the supplied self-locking hardware. Do not use substitute hardware.
• Never, under any conditions, remove, bend, cut, fit, weld, or otherwise alter standard parts on the DR® Trimmer/Mower This includes all shields and guards. Modifications to your machine could cause personal injuries and property damage and will void your warranty.

Under California law, and the laws of some other states, you are not permitted to operate an internal combustion engine using hydrocarbon fuels without an engine spark arrester. This also applies to operation on US Forest Lands. We provide all DR® Trimmer/Mowers shipped to California and Washington State with spark arresters. Failure of the owner/operator to maintain this equipment in compliance with state regulations is a misdemeanor under California law and may be in violation of other state and/or federal regulations. Contact your local fire marshal or forest service for specific information in your area.

DR® Power Equipment, Inc. reserves the right to discontinue, change, and improve its products at any time without notice or obligation to the purchaser. The descriptions and specifications contained in this manual were in effect at printing. Equipment described within this manual may be optional. Some illustrations may not be applicable to your machine.