Optional Blade Usage
WARNING
■CONTROLLING BLADE BOUNCE
•Blade thrust can cause serious personal injury. Carefully study this section. It is important that you understand what causes blade thrust, how you can reduce the chance of blade thrust and how you can remain in control of the unit if blade thrust does occur.
1. What causes blade thrust:
•Blade thrust can occur when the moving blade contacts an object that it cannot cut. This contact causes the blade to stop for an instant and then suddenly move or ”bounce” away from the object that was hit. The operator can lose control of the unit and the blade can cause serious personal injury to the operator or any person nearby if the blade contacts any part of the body.
2.How you can reduce the chance of blade thrust:
a.Recognize that blade thrust can happen. By understanding and knowing about bounce, you can help eliminate the element of surprise.
b.Cut fibrous weeds and grass only. Do not let the blade contact materials it cannot cut such as hard, woody vines and brush or rocks, fences, metal, etc
c.Be extra prepared for bounce if you must cut where you cannot see the blade making contact such as in areas of dense growth.
d.Keep the blade sharp. A dull blade increase the chance of bounce.
e.Avoid feeding the blade too rapidly. The blade can bounce away from material being cut if the blade is fed faster than its cutting capability.
f.Cut only from your right to your left.
g.Keep your path of advance clear of material that has been cut and other debris.