WARNING: Trimmer line throws ob- jects violently. You and others can be blinded/ injured. Wear safety glasses, boots, and leg protection. Keep body parts clear of rotating line. Keep children, bystanders, and animals 50 feet (15 meters) away. If approached stop unit immediately.
If situations occur which are not covered in this manual, use care and good judgement. If you need assistance, call 1-800-554-6723.
OPERATOR SAFETY
S Dress properly. Always wear safety glasses or similar eye protection when op- erating, or performing maintenance on your unit. (Safety glasses are available.) Always wear face or dust mask if operation is dusty. Always wear heavy, long pants, long sleeves, boots, and gloves. Do not go bare- foot or wear sandals.
SSecure hair above shoulder length. Secure or remove loose clothing and jewelry or clothing with loosely hanging ties, straps,
tassels, etc. They can be caught in moving parts.
SBeing fully covered also helps protect you from debris and pieces of toxic plants
thrown by spinning line.
SStay alert. Do not operate unit when you are tired, ill, upset or under influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication. Watch what you are doing; use common sense.
S Avoid unintentional starting of the unit. Never carry unit with your finger on the switch. Be sure the switch is in the OFF position and never touch the switch when connecting extension cord.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
WARNING: Avoid a dangerous envi- ronment. To reduce the risk of electrical shock, do not use in rain, in damp or wet loca- tions, or around swimming pools, hot tubs, etc. Do not expose to snow, rain, or water to avoid the possibility of electrical shock.
SUse a voltage supply as shown on unit.
SAvoid dangerous situations. Do not use in the presence of flammable liquids or gases to avoid creating a fire or explosion and/or
causing damage to unit.
STo reduce the risk of electrical shock, this equipment has a polarized plug (one blade is wider than the other) and will require the use of a polarized extension cord. The ap- pliance plug will fit into a polarized exten- sion cord only one way. If the plug does not fit fully into the extension cord, reverse the plug. If the plug still does not fit, obtain a correct polarized extension cord. A polar- ized extension cord will require the use of a polarized wall outlet. This plug will fit into the polarized wall outlet only one way. If plug does not fit fully into the wall outlet, re- verse the plug. If it still does not fit, contact a qualified electrician to install the proper wall outlet. Do not change the equipment plug, extension cord receptacle, or extension cord plug in any way.
STo reduce risk of electrical shock, use exten- sion cords specifically marked as suitable for outdoor appliances having electrical rating not less than the rating of unit. Cord must be marked with suffix “W--A” (in Canada “W”). Make sure your extension cord is in good condition. Inspect extension cord before use and replace if damaged. Do not use a dam- aged cord. Cord insulation must be intact with no cracks or deterioration. Plug connectors must be undamaged. An undersized exten- sion cord will cause a drop in line voltage re- sulting in loss of power and overheating. If in doubt, use the next heavier gauge. The lower the gauge number, the heavier the cord (see SELECT AN EXTENSION CORD in the OP- ERATION section).
SDo not use multiple cords.
SDo not abuse cord. Never carry the unit by the extension cord or yank extension cord to disconnect unit.
SUse cord retainer to prevent disconnection of extension cord from unit and possible damage to the unit due to plug movement (see ATTACH THE EXTENSION CORD TO YOUR TRIMMER in the OPERATION
section).
SDo not use the unit if the switch does not turn the unit on and off properly. Repairs to the switch must be made by your autho- rized service dealer.
SKeep the extension cord clear of operator and obstacles at all times. Do not expose
cords to heat, oil, water, or sharp edges. S To avoid the possibility of electric shock,
avoid body contact with any grounded con- ductor, such as metal fences or pipes.
S Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection should be provided on circuit or outlet to be used. Receptacles are avail- able having built-in GFCI protection and may be used for this measure of safety.
UNIT SAFETY
SInspect unit before use. Replace damaged parts. Make sure all handles, guards, and fasteners are in place and securely fas- tened. Parts that are damaged must be re- paired or replaced by an authorized service dealer These include head parts that are cracked, or chipped, guards, and any other
part that is damaged.
SDo not repair unit yourself.
S Use only 0.065 inch (1.65 mm) diameter recommended trimmer line (see USER RE- PLACEABLE SERVICE PARTS in the SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENTS section). Never use wire, rope, string, etc.
S Use specified trimmer spool. Make sure spool is properly installed and all parts are securely fastened.
SUse only WEED EATER replacement parts and accessories as recommended.
CUTTING SAFETY
WARNING: Inspect area to be cut. Remove objects (rocks, broken glass, nails, wire, string, etc.) which can be thrown or be- come entangled in cutting head.
4