Section 3

OPERATION

Fig. 3-1

Fig. 3-2

HOLDING THE UNIT

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

Before operating the unit, stand in the operating position (Fig. 3-1). Check for the following:

•The operator is wearing eye protection and proper clothing.

•The right arm is slightly bent, and the hand is hold- ing the shaft grip.

•The left arm is straight, and the hand is holding the J-handle.

•The unit is at waist level.

•The cutting attachment is parallel to the ground and easily contacts the vegetation to be cut without the operator having to bend over.

USING THE CUTTING BLADE

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

Do not use the cutting blade for edging or as an edger, severe personal injury to yourself or others can occur.

Before operating the unit with the cutting blade stand in the operating position (Figs. 5-4). Refer to Holding the Unit.

Cutting Blade Operating Tips:

To establish a rhythmic cutting procedure:

•Plant feet firmly, comfortably apart.

•Bring the engine to full throttle before entering the material to be cut. The blade has maximum cutting power at full throttle and is less likely to bind, stall, or cause blade thrust, which can result in serious per- sonal injury to the operator or others.

Blade thrust may occur when the spinning blade contacts an object that it does not immediately cut. Blade thrust can be violent enough to cause the unit and/or operator to be propelled in any direction, and possibly lose control of the unit. Blade thrust can occur without warning if the blade snags, stalls or binds. This is more likely to occur in areas where it is difficult to see the material being cut.

•Cut while swinging the upper part of your body from right to left.

•Always release the throttle trigger and allow the engine to return to idle speed when not cutting.

•When done always unsnap unit from harness before taking harness off.

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