Bolens BL100, BL150 manual 4

OIL AND FUEL INFORMATION

OIL AND FUEL MIXING INSTRUCTIONS

Old and/or improperly mixed fuel are the main reasons for the unit not running properly. Be sure to use fresh, clean unleaded fuel. Follow the instructions carefully for the proper fuel/oil mixture.

DEFINITION OF BLENDED FUELS

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

HOLDING THE TRIMMER

WARNING: Always wear eye, hearing, foot and body protection to reduce the risk of injury when operating this unit.

Today's fuels are often a blend of gasoline and oxygenates such as ethanol, methanol, or MTBE (ether). Alcohol-blended fuel absorbs water. As little as 1% water in the fuel can make fuel and oil separate. It forms acids when stored. When using alcohol-blended fuel, use fresh fuel (less than 60 days old).

USING BLENDED FUELS

If you choose to use a blended fuel, or its use is unavoidable, follow recommended precautions:

•Always use the fresh fuel mix explained in your operator's manual

•Always agitate the fuel mix before fueling the unit

•Drain the tank and run the engine dry before storing the unit

USING FUEL ADDITIVES

The bottle of 2-cycle oil that came with your unit contains a fuel additive which will help inhibit corrosion and minimize the formation of gum deposits. It is recommended that you use our 2-cycle oil with this unit.

If unavailable, use a good 2-cycle oil designed for air-cooled engines along with a fuel additive, such as STA-BIL® Gas Stabilizer or an equivalent. Add 0.8 oz. (23 ml.) of fuel additive per gallon of fuel according to the instructions on the container. NEVER add fuel additives directly to the unit's fuel tank.

CAUTION: For proper engine operation and maximum reliability, pay strict attention to the oil and fuel mixing instructions on the 2-cycle oil container. Using improperly mixed fuel can severely damage the engine.

Before operating the unit, stand in the operating position BL150

(Fig. 9). Check for the following:

• The operator is wearing eye protection and proper clothing

• With a slightly-bent right arm, the operator’s right hand is holding the shaft grip

• The operator’s left arm is straight, the left hand holding the D-handle

• The unit is at waist level

•The cutting attachment is parallel to the ground and easily contacts the grass without the need to bend over

ADJUSTING TRIMMING LINE LENGTH BL150

The Bump Head™ cutting attachment allows you to release trimming line without stopping the engine. To release more line, lightly tap the cutting attachment on the ground (Fig. 10) while operating the trimmer at high speed.

NOTE: Always keep the trimming line fully extended. Line release becomes more difficult as cutting line becomes shorter

BL100

Fig. 9

BL100

Thoroughly mix the proper ratio of 2-cycle engine oil with unleaded gasoline in a separate fuel can. Use a 40:1 fuel/oil ratio. Do not mix them directly in the engine fuel tank. See the table below for specific gas and oil mixing ratios.

Each time the head is bumped, about 1 inch (25.4 mm) of trimming line releases. A blade in the cutting attachment

shield will cut the line to the proper length if any excess line is released.

Fig. 10

NOTE: One gallon (3.8 liters) of unleaded gasoline mixed with one 3.2 oz. (95 ml.) bottle of 2-cycle oil makes a 40:1 fuel/oil ratio.

WARNING: Gasoline is extremely flammable. Ignited vapors may explode. Always stop the engine and allow it to cool before filling the fuel tank. Do not smoke while filling the tank. Keep sparks and open flames at a distance from the area.

NOTE: Dispose of the old fuel/oil mix in accordance to Federal, State and Local regulations.

UNLEADED GAS	2 CYCLE OIL
1 GALLON US	3.2 FL. OZ.
(3.8 LITERS)	(95 ml)
1 LITER	25 ml

MIXING RATIO - 40:1

For best results, tap the bump knob on bare ground or hard soil. If you attempt a line release in tall grass, the engine may stall. Always keep the trimming line fully extended. Line release becomes more difficult when the cutting line gets shorter.

NOTE: Do not rest the Bump Head™ on the ground while the unit is running.

CAUTION: Do not remove or alter the line cutting blade assembly. Excessive line length will make the unit overheat. This may lead to serious personal injury or damage to the unit.

Some line breakage will occur from:

• Entanglement with foreign matter

WARNING: Remove fuel cap slowly to avoid injury from fuel spray. Never operate the unit without the fuel cap securely in place.

WARNING: Add fuel in a clean, well ventilated outdoor area. Wipe up any spilled fuel immediately. Avoid creating a source of ignition for spilt fuel. Do not start the engine until fuel vapors dissipate.

STARTING/STOPPING INSTRUCTIONS

WARNING: Remove fuel cap slowly to avoid injury from fuel spray. Never operate the unit without the fuel cap securely in place.

WARNING: Avoid accidental starting. Make sure you are in the starting position when pulling the starter rope (Fig. 8). To avoid serious injury, the operator and unit must be

in a stable position while starting.

STARTING INSTRUCTIONS

1.Mix gas with oil. Fill fuel tank with fuel/oil mixture. See Oil and Fuel Mixing Instructions.

2.Make sure the On/Off Stop Control in the ON ( I ) position

	(Fig. 6).
3.	Fully press and release the primer bulb 10 times,	Stop/Off (O)
	slowly. Some amount of fuel should be visible in the
	primer bulb and fuel lines (Fig. 7). If you can’t see
	fuel in the bulb, press and release the bulb as many	On/Off Stop
	times as it takes before you can see fuel in it.	Control

•	Normal line fatigue
• Attempting to cut thick, stalky weeds
•	Forcing the line into objects such as walls or fence posts

TIPS FOR BEST TRIMMING RESULTS

• Keep the cutting attachment parallel to the ground.

• Do not force the cutting attachment. Allow the tip of the line to do the cutting, especially along walls. Cutting with more than the tip will reduce cutting efficiency and may overload the engine.

• Cut grass over 8 inches (200 mm) by working from top to bottom in small increments to avoid premature line wear or engine drag.

• Cut from right to left whenever possible. Cutting to the left improves the unit's cutting efficiency. Clippings are thrown away from the operator.

• Slowly move the trimmer into and out of the cutting area at the desired height. Move either in a forward-backward or side-to-side motion. Cutting shorter lengths produces the best results.

• Trim only when grass and weeds are dry.	BL100
BL150
• The life of your cutting line is dependent upon;
• Adherence of the listed trimming techniques
• What vegetation is cut
• Where vegetation is cut
For example, the line will wear faster when trimming against a
foundation wall as opposed to trimming around a tree.
DECORATIVE TRIMMING
Decorative trimming is accomplished by removing all	Fig. 11
vegetation around trees, posts, fences, etc.

Rotate the whole unit so that the cutting attachment is at a 30° angle to the ground (Fig. 11).

MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS

4.Place the blue choke lever in Position 1 (Fig. 7).

5.Crouch in the starting position (Fig. 8) and squeeze the throttle control. Pull the starter rope briskly 5 times.

NOTE: The unit uses EZ-Pull Version 3™, which significantly reduces the effort required to start the engine.

6.Place the blue choke lever in Position 2.

7.While squeezing the throttle control, pull the starter rope briskly until the engine starts.

8.Keep the throttle squeezed and allow the engine to warm up for 15 to 30 seconds.

NOTE: Engine may take longer to warm up and reach maximum operating speed at colder temperatures.

Start/On (I)

Fig. 6

Position 1 Position 3

Position 2

Blue Choke

Lever

Primer Bulb

Fig. 7

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

Perform these required maintenance procedures at the frequency stated in the table. These procedures should also be a part of any seasonal tune-up.

NOTE: Some maintenance procedures may require special tools or skills. If you are unsure about these procedures take your unit to any non-road engine repair establishment, individual or authorized service dealer.

NOTE: Maintenance, replacement, or repair of the emission control devices and system may be performed by any non-road engine repair establishment, individual or authorized service dealer.

WARNING: To prevent serious injury, never perform maintenance or repairs with unit running. Always service and repair a cool unit. Disconnect the spark plug wire to ensure that the unit cannot start.

In order to assure peak performance of your engine, inspection of the engine exhaust port may be necessary after 50 hours of operation. If you notice lost RPM, poor performance or general lack of acceleration, this service may be required. If you feel your engine is in need of this inspection, refer service to any non-road

NOTE:	Unit is properly warmed up when engine	Starting Position
	accelerates without hesitation.
9.	Once the engine is warmed up, place the blue choke
	lever in Position 3 (Fig. 7). The unit is ready for use.
IF...	The engine hesitates, return choke lever to Position 2
	(Fig. 7) and continue warm up.	Starter
IF...	The engine does not start, go back to step 3.
		Rope
IF...	The engine fails to start after a few attempts, place the
	blue choke lever in Position 3 and squeeze the throttle
	control. Pull the starter rope briskly 3 to 8 times. The	Throttle Control
	engine should start. If not, repeat.
		Fig. 8

IF WARM... If the engine is already warm, make sure the

On/Off Stop control is in the ON position and start the unit with the blue choke lever in Position 2. After the unit starts, move the blue choke lever to Position 3.

STOPPING INSTRUCTIONS

1.Release your hand from the throttle control. Allow the engine to cool down by idling.

2.Press and hold On/Off Stop Control in the OFF (O) position until engine comes to a complete stop.

engine repair establishment, individual or authorized service dealer for repair. DO NOT attempt to perform this process yourself as engine damage may result from contaminants involved in the cleaning process for the port.

FREQUENCY	MAINTENANCE REQUIRED	SEE
Before starting engine	Fill fuel tank with fresh fuel	p. 4
Every 10 hours	Clean and re-oil air filter	p. 7
Every 25 hours	Check and clean spark arrestor	p. 8
	Check spark plug condition and gap	p. 8
Every 50 hours	Inspect exhaust port and spark arrestor screen for clogging or	p. 8
	obstruction to assure maximum performance levels.
LINE INSTALLATION

This section covers both SplitLine™ and standard single line installation.

WARNING: Never use metal-reinforced line, wire, chain or rope. These can break off and become dangerous projectiles.

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