Basic working techniques
Always slow the engine to idle speed after each working
operation. Long periods at full throttle without any load on
the engine can lead to serious engine damage.
WARNING! Sometimes branches or
!
grass get caught between the guard and
cutting attachment. Always stop the
engine before cleaning.
WARNING! Machines fitted with saw
!
blades or grass blades can be thrown
violently to the side when the blade
comes into contact with a fixed object.
This is called blade thrust. A blade thrust
can be violent enough to cause the
machine and/or operator to be propelled
in any direction, and possibly lose
control of the machine. Blade thrust can
occur without warning if the machine
snags, stalls or binds. Blade thrust is
more likely to occur in areas where it is
difficult to see the material being cut.
Avoid cutting with the area of the blade
between the 12 o'clock and 3 o'clock
positions. Because of the speed of
rotation of the blade, blade thrust can
occur if you attempt to cut thick stems
with this area of the blade.
Grass clearing using a grass blade
•
Grass blades and grass knifes must not be used on
woody stems.
•
A grass blade is used for all types of tall or coarse
grass.
•
The grass is cut down with a sideways, swinging
movement, where the movement from right-to-left is
the clearing stroke and the movement from left-to-
right is the return stroke. Let the left-hand side of the
blade (between 8 and 12 o'clock) do the cutting.
•
If the blade is angled to the left when clearing grass,
the grass will collect in a line, which makes it easier to
collect, e.g. by raking.
•
Try to work rhythmically. Stand firmly with your feet
apart. Move forward after the return stroke and stand
firmly again.
18 – English
WORKING TECHNIQUES
•
Let the support cup rest lightly against the ground. It
is used to protect the blade from hitting the ground.
•
Reduce the risk of material wrapping around the blade
by following these instructions:
1Always work at full throttle.
2Avoid the previously cut material during the return
stroke.
•
Stop the engine, unclip the harness and place the
machine on the ground before you start to collect the
cut material.
Grass trimming with a trimmer head
Trimming
•
Hold the trimmer head just above the ground at an
angle. It is the end of the line that does the work. Let
the line work at its own pace. Never press the line into
the area to be cut.
•
The line can easily remove grass and weeds up
against walls, fences, trees and borders, however it
can also damage sensitive bark on trees and bushes,
and damage fence posts.
•
Reduce the risk of damaging plants by shortening the
line to 10-12 cm (0.32-0.39 ft.) and reducing the
engine speed.
Clearing
•
The clearing technique removes all unwanted
vegetation. Keep the trimmer head just above the
ground and tilt it. Let the end of the line strike the
ground around trees, posts, statues and the like.
CAUTION! This technique increases the wear on the
line.
•
The line wears quicker and must be fed forward more
often when working against stones, brick, concrete,
metal fences, etc., than when coming into contact with
trees and wooden fences.
•
When trimming and clearing you should use less than
full throttle (80%) so that the line lasts longer and to
reduce the wear on the trimmer head.