S WHEN BLADE THRUST OCCURS - Blade Thrust can occur without warning if
the blade snags, stalls, or binds. This is more likely to occur in areas where it is diffi- cult to see the material being cut. By using the unit properly, the occurrence of blade thrust will be reduced and the operator will be less likely to lose control.
SCut only grass, weeds, and woody brush up to 1/2 inch in diameter with weed blade. Do not let blade contact material it cannot cut such as stumps, rocks, fences, metal, etc., or clusters of hard, woody brush with a diameter greater
than 1/2 inch.
SUse a sharp blade. A dull blade is more likely to snag and thrust.
SCut only at full throttle. The blade will have
maximum cutting power and is less likely to bind or stall.
S “Feed” the blade deliberately and not too rapidly. The blade can thrust away if it is fed too rapidly.
SCut only from your left to your right. Cutting on right side of the shield will throw debris away from the operator.
SUse the shoulder strap and keep a firm grip on the unit with both hands. A properly ad- justed shoulder strap will support the weight of the unit, freeing your arms and hands to control and guide the cutting motion.
S Keep feet comfortably spread apart and braced for a possible sudden, rapid thrust of unit. Do not overreach. Keep firm footing and balance.
SKeep blade below waist level. It will be eas- ier to maintain control of unit.
SDo not raise the engine above your waist as the blade can come dangerously close to
your body.
SDo not swing the unit with such force that
you are in danger of losing your balance. Bring the powerhead engine to cutting speed before entering the material to be cut.
If the blade does not turn when you squeeze the throttle trigger of the powerhead, make sure the attachment is fully inserted into the coupler.
Always release the throttle trigger and allow powerhead engine to return to idle speed when not cutting. The blade should not turn while the engine is running at idle. If the blade turns at idle, do not use your unit. Refer to the CARBURETOR ADJUSTMENT section of the powerhead manual or contact your autho- rized service dealer.
S Maintain good firm footing while using the unit. Do this by planting feet firmly in a com- fortable apart position.
S Cut while swinging the upper part of your body from left to right.
SAs you move forward to the next area to cut, be sure to maintain your balance, and footing.
RECOMMENDED CUTTING POSITION
| 2 o’clock |
Cut using the 2 |
|
o’clock to 4 o’clock | 4 o’clock |
position of the | |
blade |
|
WARNING: The operator or others must not try to clear away cut material with the engine running or the blade turning to avoid serious injury. Stop engine and blade before removing materials wrapped around blade or tube.
WARNING: Always stop unit and dis- connect spark plug wire before performing maintenance.
CHECK FOR DAMAGED OR
WORN PARTS
Contact an authorized service dealer for re- placement of damaged or worn parts.
SBlade Shield
CHECK FOR LOOSE FASTENERS AND PARTS
SBlade nut S Fasteners
INSPECT AND CLEAN UNIT AND DECALS
S After each use, inspect complete unit for loose or damaged parts. Clean the unit and decals using a damp cloth with a mild deter- gent.
S Wipe off unit with a clean dry cloth.
BLADE MAINTENANCE
WARNING: The blade will continue to spin after the engine stops or after the throttle trigger has been released. To avoid serious injury, make sure the blade has stopped coasting and disconnect the spark plug before performing work on the blade.
WARNING: Always replace a blade that is bent, warped, cracked, broken, or dam- aged in any other way. Never attempt to straighten and reuse a damaged blade. Use only specified replacement blade. Wear pro- tective gloves when handling or performing maintenance on the blade to help avoid injury. S Check blade for flatness periodically. Lay
the blade on a flat surface to inspect for flat- ness. Throw away a blade that is not flat.
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