Idle Speed Screw
Fig. 40

AIR FILTER MAINTENANCE

WARNING: To avoid serious personal injury, always turn your unit off and allow it to cool before you clean or service it.

Removing the Air Filter/Muffler Cover

1.Remove the four (4) screws securing the air filter/muffler cover (Fig. 34). Use a flat blade or T20 Torx bit screwdriver.

2.Place the blue choke lever in Position 2 (Fig. 34) and pull the cover from the engine. Do not force.

Cleaning the Air Filter

Clean and re-oil the air filter every 10 hours of operation. It is an important item to maintain. Failure to maintain your air filter properly can result in poor performance or can cause permanent damage to your engine.

1.Remove air filter/muffler cover. Refer to Removing the Air Filter/Muffler Cover.

2.Turn cover over and look inside to locate the air filter. Remove the air filter from inside the air filter/muffler cover (Fig. 35).

 

Blue

Inside Muffler Cover

 

Choke

 

 

 

Lever

 

Screws

Screws

 

 

 

 

 

Air filter

2.Release the throttle trigger and let the engine idle. If the engine stops, insert a small phillips screwdriver into the hole in the air filter/muffler cover (Fig. 40). Turn the idle speed screw in, clockwise, 1/8 of a turn at a time (as needed) until the engine idles smoothly.

NOTE: The cutting attachment should not rotate when the engine idles.

3.If the cutting attachment rotates when the engine idles, turn the idle speed screw counterclockwise 1/8 of a turn at a time (as needed), to reduce idle speed.

Checking the fuel mixture, cleaning the air filter, and adjusting the idle speed should solve most engine problems. If not and all of the following are true:

•The engine will not idle

•The engine hesitates or stalls on acceleration

•There is a loss of engine power

Have the carburetor adjusted by an authorized service dealer.

WARNING: To prevent serious personal injury, make sure the cutting attachment has stopped rotating before you turn it off and set it down.

REPLACING THE SPARK PLUG

WARNING: Do not sand blast, scrape or clean electrodes. Grit in the engine could damage the cylinder.

Use a Champion RDJ7Y spark plug (or equivalent). The correct air gap is 0.025 inch (0.635 mm). Remove the plug after every 25 hours of operation and check its condition.

Fig. 35

Fig. 34

3. Wash the filter in detergent and water (Fig. 36). Rinse the filter thoroughly. Squeeze out excess water. Allow it to dry completely.

4. Apply enough clean SAE 30 oil to lightly coat the filter (Fig. 37).

5. Squeeze the filter to spread and remove excess oil (Fig. 38).

6. Replace the air filter inside the air filter/muffler cover (Fig. 35). NOTE: Operating the unit without the air filter and air filter/muffler

cover assembly will VOID the warranty.

Reinstalling the Air Filter/Muffler Cover

1.Stop the engine and allow it to cool. Grasp the plug wire firmly and pull it from the spark plug.

2.Clean around the spark plug. Remove the spark plug from the cylinder head by turning a 5/8 in. socket counterclockwise.

3.Replace a cracked, fouled or dirty spark plug. Set the air gap at 0.025 in. (0.635 mm) using a feeler gauge (Fig. 41).

4.Install a correctly-gapped spark plug in the cylinder head. Tighten by turning the 5/8-inch socket clockwise until snug.

If using a torque wrench torque to:

110-120 in.•lb. (12.3-13.5 N•m) Do not over tighten.

CLEANING

0.025 in.

(0.635 mm)

Fig. 41

1.

Place the air filter/muffler cover over the back of the

 

 

 

carburetor and muffler. Align the screw holes.

 

 

2.

Insert the four (4) screws into the holes in the air

 

 

 

Fig. 36

 

filter/muffler cover (Fig. 34) and tighten. Do not over tighten.

 

 

 

Fig. 37

Fig. 38

WARNING: To avoid serious personal injury, always turn your unit off and allow it to cool before you clean or service it.

Use a small brush to clean off the outside of the unit. Do not use strong detergents. Household cleaners that contain aromatic oils such as pine and lemon, and solvents such as kerosene, can damage plastic housing or handle. Wipe off any moisture with a soft cloth.

STORAGE

•Never store the unit with fuel in the tank where fumes may reach an open flame or spark.

•Allow the engine to cool before storing.

•Store the unit locked up to prevent unauthorized use or damage.

•Store the unit in a dry, well-ventilated area.

•Store the unit out of the reach of children.

LONG TERM STORAGE

If the unit will be stored for an extended time, use the following storage procedure:

1. Drain all fuel from the fuel tank into a container with the same 2-cycle fuel mixture. Do not use fuel

that has been stored for more than 60 days. Dispose of the old fuel/oil mix in accordance to Federal,

State and Local regulations.

SPARK ARRESTOR MAINTENANCE

1.Remove air filter/muffler cover. Refer to Removing the Air Filter/Muffler Cover.

2.Locate the muffler, but do not remove it. Find the screw on the bottom of the muffler (Fig. 39). Remove the screw using either a torx #20 or flat blade screwdriver.

3.Carefully pry up the left side spark arrestor hood. Two tabs act as hinges on the right side of the hood. Flip open the spark arrestor hood like a door and then pull its tabs out of the muffler slots.

4.Using a small flat blade screwdriver, carefully pry the spark arrestor screen out from the inside of the spark arrestor hood.

5.Clean the spark arrestor screen with a wire brush. Replace it if it is damaged, or if you are unable to clean it thoroughly.

6.Reinstall the spark arrestor screen snugly back into the spark arrestor hood.

Engine

Spark Arrestor

Slots

Hood

 

Screw

Spark

 

Arrestor

Muffler

Tabs

Screen

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fig. 39

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.

Start the engine and allow it to run until it stalls. This ensures that all fuel has been drained from the

 

carburetor.

3.

Allow the engine to cool. Remove the spark plug and put 1 oz. (30 ml) of any high quality motor oil or

 

2-cycle oil into the cylinder. Pull the starter rope slowly to distribute the oil. Reinstall the spark plug.

NOTE: Remove the spark plug and drain all of the oil from the cylinder before attempting to start the trimmer after storage.

4.Thoroughly clean the unit and inspect it for any loose or damaged parts. Repair or replace damaged parts and tighten loose screws, nuts or bolts. The unit is ready for storage.

TRANSPORTING

•Allow the engine to cool before transporting.

•Drain fuel from unit.

•Tighten fuel cap before transporting.

•Secure the unit while transporting.

7.Reinstall the two hood tabs into the two muffler slots and flip the spark arrestor hood closed.

8.Replace the screw you removed in Step 2 and tighten it securely.

9.Reinstall the air filter/muffler cover.

WARNING: If the exhaust deflector assembly is not tightened securely, it could fall off causing damage to the unit and possible serious personal injury.

CARBURETOR ADJUSTMENT

The idle speed of the engine is adjustable through the air filter/muffler cover (Fig. 40). NOTE: Careless adjustments can seriously damage your unit. An

authorized service dealer should make carburetor adjustments.

Check Fuel Mixture Old and/or improperly mixed fuel is usually the reason for improper unit performance. Drain and refill the tank with fresh, properly-mixed fuel prior to making any adjustments. Refer to Oil

and Fuel Information.

Clean Air Filter The condition of the air filter is important to the operation of the unit. A dirty air filter will restrict air flow and change the air/fuel mixture. This is often mistaken for an out of adjustment carburetor.

Check the condition of the air filter before adjusting the idle speed screw. Refer to Air Filter Maintenance.

Adjust Idle Speed Screw

WARNING: The cutting attachment may spin during idle speed adjustments. Wear protective clothing and observe all safety instructions to prevent serious personal injury.

If, after checking the fuel mixture and cleaning the air filter, the engine still will not idle, adjust the idle speed screw as follows:

1.Start the engine and let it run at a high idle for a minute to warm up. Refer to Starting/Stopping Instructions.

8