INTRODUCTION Safety Cautions Fire and explosion :$51,1* Keep flames away Store fuel and engine oil in a well ventilated designated area. Make sure that the caps of fuel and engine oil containers are tightly closed. Do not use flames, do not smoke, and do not work near a heater or other fire hazard where fuel or oil is handled or when cleaning solvent is being used for washing parts. Wipe off spilled fuel, oil and LLC immediately and thor- oughly. Spilled fuel, oil and LLC may ignite and cause a fire. Care about fuel, oil and exhaust gas leakage If any fuel, oil or exhaust gas leakage is found, immedi- ately take corrective measures to stop it.
Such leakages, if left uncorrected, can cause fuel or engine oil to reach hot engine surfaces or hot exhaust gas to contact flammable materials, possibly leading to personal injury and/or damage to equipment. Use explosion-proof lighting apparatus When inspecting fuel, engine oil, coolant, battery elec- trolyte, etc., use a flameproof light. An ordinary light, if accidentally broken, may ignite and cause an explo- sion. Keep surrounding area tidy and clean Do not leave combustible or explosive materials, such as fuel, engine oil and LLC, near the engine. Such sub- stances can cause fire or explosion.
Remove dust, dirt and other foreign materials accumu- lated on the engine and surrounding parts thoroughly. Such materials can cause fire or the engine to over- heat. In particular, clean the top surface of the battery thoroughly. Dust can cause a short-circuit. Always operate the engine at a position at least 1 m [3.28 ft.] away from buildings and other equipment to prevent possible fire caused by engine heat. Prevent electrical wires from short-circuit- ing Avoid inspecting or servicing the electrical system with the ground cable connected to the battery. Otherwise, a fire could result from short-circuiting.
Be sure to dis- connect the battery cable from the negative (-) terminal before beginning with the work procedure. Short-circuits, possibly resulting in fire, may be caused by a loose terminal or damaged cable/wire. Inspect the terminals, cables and wires, and repair or replace the faulty parts before beginning with the service proce- dure. Keep fire extinguishers and first-aid kit handy Keep fire extinguishers handy, and become familiar with their usage. Keep a first-aid kit at the designated place where it is easily accessible by anyone at any time. Establish response procedures to follow in the event of fire or accident.
Provide an emer- gency evacuation route, contact points, and means of communication in case of emergency. Avoid accessing crankcase until engine cools Do not attempt to open the side cover of the crankcase before the engine cools down. Wait at least 10 minutes after stopping the engine. Opening the cover when the engine is hot allows fresh air to flow into the crankcase, which can cause oil mist to ignite and explode. III