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A. BLADE SAFETY
1. OPERATOR SAFETY
a. Always wear a safety face shield or gog.
gles. See "Accessories,"
b. Always wear heavy, long pants, long
sleeves, boots, gloves and safet_y leg
guards. See Accessories." Do not wear loose
clothing, jewelry, short pants, short sleeves,
sandals, or go barefoot. Secure hair so it is
above shoulder length.
c. Do not operate this tool when you are
tired, iH or under the mfluence of alco-
hol, drugs or medication.
d. Always use the handlebar and a properly
adjusted shoulder strap. See '_seml_ly."
e. Do not swing the tool with such force
that you are m danger of losing your bal-
8lice.
f. Never start or run the engine inside a
closed room or building. Breathing exhaust
fumes can kill.
g. Keep handles free of oil and fuel.
2. TOOL SAFETY
a. Inspect the entire tool before each use.
Replace damaged parts.Check for fuelle_
and make sureallfastenersareinplaceand se-
curelyfastened.
b. Be sure the metal shield is properly at-
tached. The metal shield must be installed for
:_: all bladeusage.
c. Mak_sure the blade is properly installed
and securely fastened. Refer to _'Assembly."
d. Be sure the blade stops turning when the
engine idles. See "Trouble Shooting Chart."
e. Make carburetor adjustments with the
lower end supported to prevent the blade
from contacting any object. Hold tool by
hand; do not use shoulder strap for support.
f. Keep others away when making carbure-
3. CUTTING SAFETY ....
a. Inspect the area to be cut before each
use. Remove objects (rocks, broken glass,
nails, wire, string, etc.) which can be thrown or
become entangled in the blade.
b. Always keep the engine on the right side
of your body. Hold the tool rh-mly with both
"hands.
c. Keep firm footing and balance. Do not
over-reach.
d. Keep blade below waist level.
e. Do not raisethe engine above your waist.
The bladecan come dangerouslyclosetoyour
body.
f. Cut at full throttle.
g. Cut from your right to your left.
h. Use only for jobs explained in this man-
ual. Do not use the blade as an edger. The
shield does not provide adequate protection.
B. GUARD AGAINST BLADE THRUST
• Blade Thrust isa reactionthatonlyoccurswhen
usin$ a bladedtool.This reactioncan causeseri-
ous Lr_urysuch as amputation.CarefuU__ystudy.
thissection.Itisimportantthatyou understand
••what causesbladethrust,how you can reducethe
chanceofitsoccurring,and how you canremain
incontrolofthetoolifbladethrustoccurs.
• The forward tip on the shield helps to reduce the
occurrence of blade thrust but cannot prevent the
occurrence. The operator must follow the warn-
ings and safetyinstructionsin this section_to
lessenthechance ofb!adethrustoccurringand to
maintaincontrolofthetoolifthereactiondoesoc-
cur.
le
WHAT CAUSES BLADE THRUST. B/ade
Thrust can occur when the spinningblade con-
tacts an object that it does not cut. This contact
causes the blade to stop for an instant and then
suddenly move or"thrust" away from the object
that was hit. The thrusting" reaction can oe vio-
lent enough to cause the operator to be propelled
in any direction and lose control of the tool. The
uncontrolled tool can cause serious injury if the
blade contacts the operator or others.
2. WHEN BLADE THRUST OCCURS. B_
thrust can occur without warning if the blade
snags,sta_, orbin&. The. ismo_ik_y, to_cur
inarouwhereitiadiffi_Itto_ _o ma_ oe-
ing cut. By using the tool properly,the occurrence
of blade thrust will be reduced and the operator
will be less likely to lose control.
LADE THRUST
3. REDUCE THE CHANCE OF BLADE THRUST
a_ Cut only grass, weeds and woody- brush up
to 1/2 inch diameter. DO not let the blade con-
tact material it cannot cut such as stumps, rocks,
fences, metal, etc., or clusters of hard, woody
brush havinga diameter greaterthan i/2inch.
b. Keep the blade sharp. A dullblade ismore
likelytosnag.
c. Cut only a fullthrottle.The blade_ m.axi-
mum cutting power at full throttle and is less
likely to bind or stall.
d. "INmd" the blade deliberately and not too
rapidl_ The blade can thrust away if it is fed too
rapimy.
e. Cut only from your right to left. Swingingthe
t0olinthe same direeti6nas the bladespins in.
creasesthe cuttingaction.