10Section 4: Operation
WARNING
THROWN OBJECT HAZARD
•Objects such as rocks, pebbles, and small debris will be thrown violently by the cutting head, resulting in significant hazard to eyes and exposed body parts.
•Always wear
•Keep children, pets and bystanders 50 feet away from machine while operating.
•Be alert to hidden obstacles.
Failure to comply could result in injury or property damage.
ADDITIONAL OPERATING TIPS AND TECHNIQUES
TIPS FOR PRECISION CUTTING
For the most precise cutting possible, be sure to select the appropriate line cutting height and trimmer line size (thickness) for the conditions at hand.
When mowing, let the cutting head rest lightly on the ground and do not lift up on the handlebars. This allows the cutting head to follow the ground contour closely, resulting in the most even cut possible. Also, be sure to ease into heavy growth to prevent overwhelming the machine.
TRIM WHEN WET OR DRY
Grass and most other materials are most efficiently trimmed when dry. But, the trimmer/mower will do a fine job even with damp or wet materials. When con- ditions are moist or damp, be sure to clean debris off the machine regularly to keep cutting efficiency high. And watch your footing!
CLEAN THE TRIMMER/MOWER ON A REGULAR BASIS
Clean under the mower deck frequently to remove any grass buildup. Also clean around the muffler and on top of engine. See the cleaning instructions in Section
5:Maintenance and in the separate Engine Owner’s Manual.
DO NOT LET THE TRIMMER LINES BECOME TOO SHORT
Once the trimmer lines are worn to less than 1/2 their original length, trimming jobs begin to take far longer than they should.
As a general guideline, once the line length becomes half of its original length, it’s time to change to new lines.
USE EXTREME CAUTION ON SLOPES
When operating on sloping ground, use extreme caution and common sense to avoid possible injury or property damage.
Do not mow on excessively steep slopes! Avoid slopes if greater than 150 or wher- ever footing is unsure. If a slope is diffi- cult to stand on, it is probably too steep to trim or mow. In this case, it may be wiser to establish a permanent ground cover on this area.
Do not trim on slopes when the ground is slippery. Trim across the face of a slope, not up and down. Slow down and exer- cise caution when changing direction on slopes.
USE CORRECT WALKING SPEED
Use a walking speed that is suitable for the conditions at hand. For example, you’ll get better trimming and mowing results at slower walking speeds if the grass is tall or lush. Shorter grass or less dense growth can be cut at faster travel speeds.
VARY THE THROTTLE SETTING ACCORDING TO CONDITIONS
The majority of trimming and mowing jobs will yield the best results if the Engine Throttle Control is set at the fastest engine speed.
Less demanding jobs that require very precise cutting will yield better results if the engine throttle is backed off some- what to reduce engine speed. (For example, damage to trees and ornamen- tals can be avoided by reducing the engine speed; using the lighter .130" diameter line; and by keeping a safe dis- tance away.)
Again, once you begin a particular job and get a “feel” for the conditions, you will be able to make adjustments for the best possible results.
KEEP THE MOWED SIDE TO YOUR RIGHT AS YOU MOVE AHEAD
The trimmer/mower feeds cut materials to the right side. Stay on the right side of unmowed growth as you move along.
NOTE: If the trimmer is operated in a stationary position with the wear cup in contact with dry vegetation, significant heat will result that may deform the plastic spindle or scorch vegetation.