STARTING AND STOPPING

WARNING: Operate this unit only in a well-ventilated outdoor area.

Off (O) / Stop

 

Carbon monoxide exhaust fumes can be lethal in a confined area.

On ( I ) / Start

WARNING: Avoid accidentally starting the unit. To avoid serious

 

injury, the operator and the unit must be in a stable position when

 

pulling the starter rope (Fig. 9).

Throttle

 

 

Control

STARTING INSTRUCTIONS

Fig. 7

1.Mix gasoline with oil. Refer to Oil and Fuel Mixing Instructions.

2. Fill the fuel tank. Refer to Fueling the Unit.

Choke Lever

Primer Bulb

NOTE:

There is no need to turn the unit on. The On/Off switch is in the ON ( I )

 

 

 

position at all times (Fig. 7).

 

 

3. Slowly press and release the primer bulb 10 times (Fig. 8). If fuel cannot be seen in the primer bulb, press and release the primer bulb until fuel is visible.

4. Move the choke lever to Position 1 (Fig. 8).

5. Crouch in the starting position (Fig. 9).

6.

Squeeze the throttle control (Fig. 7) and pull the starter rope with a controlled and

 

Fig. 8

 

steady motion 5 times (Fig. 9).

 

 

 

 

NOTE:

SQUEEZE and HOLD the throttle control for ALL further steps.

Starter

Starting

7.

Continue to squeeze the throttle control. Move the choke lever to Position 2 (Fig. 8).

Rope

Position

8.

Continue to squeeze the throttle control. Pull the starter rope with a controlled and

Grip

 

 

steady motion 3 to 5 times to start the engine.

 

 

MAINTENANCE

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

WARNING: To prevent serious injury, never perform maintenance or repairs while the unit is running. Always allow the unit to cool before servicing or repairing the unit. Disconnect the spark plug wire to prevent the unit from starting accidentally.

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.

NOTE: Please read the California/EPA statement that came with the unit for a complete listing of terms and coverage for the emissions control devices, such as the spark arrestor, muffler, carburetor, etc.

FREQUENCY

MAINTENANCE REQUIRED

 

 

Every 10 hours

Clean and re-oil the air filter. Refer to Maintaining the Air Filter.

 

 

Every 25 hours

Check the spark plug condition and gap. Refer to Maintaining the Spark Plug.

 

 

9. Continue to squeeze the throttle control. Allow the engine to warm up for 30 to 60 seconds.

10. Continue to squeeze the throttle control. Move the choke lever to Position 3 (Fig. 8) and continue warming the engine for an additional 60 seconds. The unit may be used during this time.

NOTE: The engine is properly warmed up when it accelerates without hesitation.

Fig. 9

LINE INSTALLATION

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

Only use the trimming line described in the Specifications section. Other types of trimming line may cause the engine to overheat or fail.

Outer Spool

Bump Knob

 

Bolt

IF... the engine hesitates, return the choke lever to Position 2 (Fig. 8) and continue the warm-up.

IF... the engine does not start, begin the starting procedure with step 3.

IF... the engine fails to start after a few attempts, move the choke lever to Position 3 and squeeze the throttle control. Pull the starter rope with a controlled and steady motion 3 to 8 times. The engine should start. If it does not, repeat this instruction.

IF... the engine is already warm, begin the starting procedure with step 7.

STOPPING INSTRUCTIONS

1.Release the throttle control and allow the engine to idle.

2.Press and hold the On/Off switch in the OFF (O) position until the engine comes to a complete stop (Fig. 7).

OPERATION

HOLDING THE TRIMMER

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

• Stand in the operating position (Fig. 10).

• Hold the shaft grip with the right hand. Keep the right arm slightly bent.

• Hold the handle with the left hand. Keep the left arm straight.

• Hold the unit at waist level.

• Keep the cutting head parallel to the ground so that it easily contacts the grass without the need for bending over.

Fig. 10

ADJUSTING THE TRIMMING LINE LENGTH

This unit is equipped with a Bump Head. Trimming line can be released from the cutting head without stopping the engine.

To release more line, lightly tap the bump knob on the ground (Fig. 11) while operating the unit at high speed. For best results, tap the bump knob on bare ground or hard soil. Attempting to release line in tall grass may stall the engine.

NOTE: Do not rest the cutting head on the ground while the unit is running.

Each time the bump knob is tapped, about 1 inch (25.4 mm) of trimming line is released.

NOTE:

Always keep the trimming line fully extended. Line release becomes more

 

 

 

difficult when the cutting line gets shorter.

 

Fig. 11

 

 

A blade in the cutting head shield will cut the line to the proper length if any excess line is released.

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.

TIPS FOR BEST TRIMMING RESULTS

•Keep the cutting head parallel to the ground.

•Cut from left to right whenever possible. This improves the unit's cutting efficiency and throws clippings away from the operator.

•Do not trim wet grass or weeds.

NOTE: Some line breakage will occur from:

•Entanglement with foreign matter

•Normal line fatigue

•Attempting to cut thick vegetation

NOTE: Always use the correct line length when installing trimming line. The line may not release properly if the line is too long.

Part 1 - Removing the Inner Reel

1.Hold the outer spool with one hand and unscrew the bump knob counterclockwise (Fig. 13).

NOTE: The outer spool will remain attached to the unit.

2.Inspect the bolt inside the bump knob to make sure it moves freely. Replace the bump knob if it is damaged.

3.Remove the inner reel from the outer spool (Fig. 14).

4.Remove the spring from the inner reel (Fig. 14).

5.Use a clean cloth to clean the inner reel, spring, shaft and inner surface of the outer spool.

6.Check the indexing teeth and holding slots for wear (Fig. 15). If necessary, remove burrs or replace the inner reel and outer spool.

Proceed to Part 2 - Winding New Trimming Line onto the Inner Reel.

Part 2 - Winding New Trimming Line onto the Inner Reel

•If using single line, refer to Winding Single Line.

•If using split line, refer to Winding Split Line.

•If using a prewound inner reel, proceed to Part 3 - Installing the Inner Reel.

Winding Single Line

1. Cut two 8-foot (2.4 m) lengths of new single trimming line.

2.Insert the end of one line into the top hole in the inner reel (Fig. 16). Wind the line tightly in the direction shown on the bottom of the inner

reel until about 6 inches (150 mm) of line remains. Keep the line above the split wall. Insert the 6-inch section into the nearest 0.095 holding slot (Fig. 17).

3. Insert the end of the other line into the bottom

 

 

 

hole in the inner reel (Fig. 18). Wind the line

Split Wall

 

Top Hole

tightly in the direction shown on the bottom of

 

 

 

 

the inner reel until about 3 to 9 inches (75 to

 

Fig. 16

 

 

 

225 mm) of line remains. Keep the line below

 

 

 

the split wall. Insert the 3 to 9-inch section into

 

 

 

the opposite 0.095 holding slot (Fig. 19).

 

 

 

NOTE: Failure to wind the line in the direction indicated will cause the cutting head to operate incorrectly.

Proceed to Part 3 - Installing the Inner Reel.

Winding Split Line

Split Wall

Bottom Hole

1. Cut one 6-foot (1.8 m) length of new split line

 

Fig. 18

trimming line. Split each end about 6 inches

 

 

 

(150 mm).

 

Top Hole

2. Using one split end, insert one line into the top

 

 

 

hole and the other line into the bottom hole in

 

 

the inner reel (Fig. 20).

 

 

3. Wind the line tightly in the direction shown on

 

 

the bottom of the inner reel. The split wall will

 

 

automatically divide the line. Wind the line until

 

 

it is completely divided and about 6 inches

Split Wall

Bottom Hole

(150 mm) of line remains.

NOTE: Failure to wind the line in the direction

 

Fig. 20

indicated will cause the cutting head to operate incorrectly.

4.Insert the two 6-inch sections into the two 0.095 holding slots (Fig. 21). Proceed to Part 3 - Installing the Inner Reel.

Part 3 - Installing the Inner Reel

1.Pass the two line ends through the eyelets in the outer spool. Place the spring inside the inner reel. Insert the inner reel into the outer spool. Push the inner reel and outer spool together (Fig. 22).

NOTE: The spring must be assembled on the inner reel before reassembling the cutting head.

2.While holding the inner reel and outer spool together, firmly pull the two line ends to release them from the holding slots.

Fig. 13

Outer Spool

Inner Reel

Spring

Shaft

Fig. 14

Indexing Teeth

Holding Slots

Fig. 15

Split Wall

Holding Slot

Fig. 17

Split Wall

Holding Slot

Fig. 19

Holding Slots

Fig. 21

Outer Spool Spring Inner Reel

Eyelets Bump Knob

Fig. 22

• Forcing the line into objects such as walls or fence posts

DECORATIVE TRIMMING

 

When trimming around trees, posts, fences, etc., rotate the whole unit so that the

 

cutting head is at a 30° angle to the ground (Fig. 12).

Fig. 12

3.While holding the inner reel and outer spool together, screw the bump knob on clockwise. Tighten the bump knob securely.

MAINTAINING THE AIR FILTER

WARNING: To avoid serious personal injury, always stop the engine and allow it to cool before cleaning or maintaining the unit.

Failure to maintain the air filter can result in poor performance or can cause

Air Filter Cover

permanent damage to the engine. Engine failure due to improper air filter

Lock

maintenance is not covered by the product warranty.

Tab

Cleaning the Air Filter

1.

Open the air filter cover: press in the lock tab and swing the air filter cover to the

 

 

right (Fig. 23).

 

2.

Remove the air filter from inside the air filter cover (Fig. 23).

 

3.

Wash the air filter in detergent and water. Rinse the air filter thoroughly and allow it

Air Filter

 

to dry.

Fig. 23

4.

Lightly coat the air filter with clean SAE 30 oil.

 

5.

Squeeze the air filter to spread and remove excess oil.

 

6.

Reinstall the air filter inside the air filter cover (Fig. 23).

 

NOTE: Operating the unit without the air filter and air filter cover will VOID the warranty.

7.Close the air filter cover: swing the air filter cover to the left and press it closed until the lock tab snaps into place (Fig. 23).

4