12
12
26128
Ten
O’Clock
Seven
O’Clock
OK To Cut
Blade
Rotation
D
O
N
O
T
C
U
T
Five
O’Clock
26127
WARNING!
n Before working with a blade-
equipped unit, always inspect and
clean the area of objects that could
interfere with or damage the blade.
n Never use a blade near sidewalks,
fence posts, buildings or other
objects that could cause injury or
damage.
n Never use a blade for purposes
other than those for which it was
designed.
n Whenever you strike a hard object
with a blade, always stop the
brushcutter and carefully inspect
the blade for damage. NEVER
OPERATE THE BRUSHCUTTER
WITH A DAMAGED BLADE!
n A blade-equipped unit must be
equipped with a bicycle-type
handlebar or barrier bar as well as
a harness or shoulder strap.
n Always make sure the cutting
attachment shield is properly
installed before operating
this unit.
Using a Blade T261X

Blade Thrust

‘Blade thrust’ is a sudden sideways or
backward motion of the brushcutter.
Such motion may occur when the blade
jams or catches on an object 18568980
such as a sapling tree or tree stump. BE
CONSTANTLY ALERT FOR BLADE
THRUST AND GUARD AGAINST ITS
EFFECTS!

Brushcutter Handlebar

A brushcutter handlebar or barrier bar
helps prevent the operator from moving
forward, or the unit moving rearward,
thus preventing inadvertent bodily
contact with the blade. ALWAYS KEEP
THE HANDLEBAR OR BARRIER BAR
SECURELY IN PLACE ON THE UNIT!

Brushcutter Shoulder Strap

A shoulder strap provides additional pro-
tection against blade thrust. In addition,
a shoulder strap gives significant support
and comfort to help ensure safe and ef-
ficient operation.
When operating a T261X with a blade,
make sure both the handle and shoulder
strap are adjusted to the size of the opera-
tor using the unit.

Engine Operating Speeds

Operate the unit at full throttle while cut-
ting. Best fuel efficiency is obtained by
releasing the throttle when swinging back
after a cut.
n To prevent possible engine dam-
age, do not allow the brushcutter to
run at high speeds without a load.
n Avoid operating the engine at low
speeds. Doing so can lead to rapid
clutch wear. In addition, slow-speed
operation tends to cause grass and
debris to wrap around the cutting
head.
The blade rotates counter-clockwise. For
best performance and to minimize being
stuck by debris, move the blade from right
to left while advancing on your work.
Position the blade so cuts are made be-
tween the blade’s 7 o’clock and 10 o’clock
positions (as viewed from above). DO
NOT cut between the 10 o’clock and 5
o’clock positions. See Figure 26.
WARNING!
When cutting wood with a
saw, feed the blade slowly
— never strike or “slam” a spinning
blade against the wood.
WARNING!
DO NOT use 2-tooth or
non-Shindaiwa approved 4-
tooth cutting blades with Shindaiwa
trimmers and brushcutters.

Vertical Cuts

Hold the brushcutter with the blade at
a 90° angle to the ground so the blade’s
bottom edge rotates toward the opera-
tor. Move the blade from top to bottom
through the cut, and cut only with the bot-
tom edge of the blade. See Figure 27.
Figure 26
Cut on the left side
of the blade. KEEP
YOUR BODY OUT-
SIDE THE PATH OF
BLADE ROTATION
Figure 27
WARNING!
When making vertical cuts,
never allow the blade to
exceed waist height.