WORKING TECHNIQUES
General working instructions
IMPORTANT!
This section describes the basic safety pre- cautions for working with trimmers. If you encounter a situation where you are uncer- tain how to proceed you should ask an ex- pert. Contact your servicing dealer.
Avoid all usage which you consider to be beyond your capability.
You must understand the difference between forestry clearing, grass clearing and grass trimming before use.
Basic safety rules
1. Look around you:
STo ensure that people, animals or other things cannot affect your control of the
machine.
STo ensure that people, animals, etc., do not come into contact with the cut- ting attachment or loose objects that are thrown out by the cutting attach- ment.
SCAUTION! Do not use the machine unless you are able to call for help in the event of an accident.
2.Do not use the machine in bad weather, such as dense fog, heavy rain, strong wind, intense cold, etc. Working in bad weather is tiring and often brings added risks, such as icy ground, unpredictable felling direction, etc.
3.Make sure you can move and stand safely. Check the area around you for possible ob- stacles (roots, rocks, branches, ditches, etc.) in case you have to move suddenly. Take great care when working on sloping ground.
4.Switch off the engine before moving to another area.
5.Never put the machine down with the engine running or while the cutting attachment is rotating.
545196741 Rev. 2 4/30/09
WARNING: Neither the operator of the machine nor anyone else may attempt to remove the cut ma- terial while the engine is running or the cutting equipment is rotating, as this can result in serious injury. Stop the engine and cutting equip- ment before you remove material that has wound around the blade shaft as otherwise there is a risk of injury. The bevel gear can get hot during use and may remain so for a while afterwards. You could get burned if you touch it.
WARNING: Watch out for thrown objects. Always wear ap- proved eye protection. Never lean over the cutting attachment guard. Stones, rubbish, etc. can be thrown up into the eyes causing blindness or serious injury. Keep unautho- rised persons at a distance. Chil- dren, animals, onlookers and help- ers should be kept outside the safety zone of 15 m. Stop the ma- chine immediately if anyone ap- proaches. Never swing the ma- chine around without first checking behind you to make sure noone is within the safety zone.
Basic working techniques
SAlways slow the engine to idle speed after each working operation. Long periods at full throttle without any load on the engine can lead to serious engine damage.
WARNING: Sometimes branches or grass get caught between the guard and cutting attachment. Always stop the engine before cleaning.
Grass trimming with a trimmer head
Trimming
SHold the trimmer head just above the ground at an angle. It is the end of the trimmer line that does the work. Let the trimmer line work at its own pace. Never press the trimmer line into the area to be cut.
SThe trimmer line can easily remove grass and weeds up against walls, fences, trees and borders, however it can also damage sensitive bark on trees and bushes, and damage fence posts.