then suddenly
move or"thrust" away
from the object that was hit. T he
"thrusting"
reaction
can beviolent
enough tocause the operator
tobe
propelled
inany direction
and lose
control ofthe unit. The uncontrolled
unit c an cause serious injury ifthe
blade c ontacts
the operator
orothers.
•
WHEN BLADE THRUST
OCCURS
- 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. By using the unit
properly, the occurrence
of blade
thrust will be reduced
and the opera-
tor will be less likely to lose control.
• Cut only grass, weeds,
and woody
brush
up to 1/2 inch (1 cm) in diame-
ter with the brush blade.
Do not let the
blade contact
material it cannot cut
such as stumps,
rocks, fences,
metal,
etc., or clusters
of hard, woody brush
having a diameter
greater
than 1/2
inch (1 cm).
• A dull blade is likely to snag and
thrust. Ensure that the blade is
sharp. Replacement
blades are
available
at Sears.
• Cut only at full throttle. The blade will
have maximum
cutting power and is
less likely to bind or stall.
• "Feed" the blade deliberately
and
not too rapidly. The blade can thrust
away if it is fed too rapidly.
• Cut only from your left to your right.
Cutting on right side of the shield will
throw debris away from the operator.
• Use the shoulder strap and keep a
firm grip on the unit with both hands.
A properly adjusted
shoulder strap
will support the weight of the unit,
freeing your arms and hands to con-
trol and guide the cutting motion.
• Keep feet comfortably spread apart
and braced for a possible sudden,
rapid thrust of unit. Do not overreach.
Keep firm footing and balance.
• Keep blade below waist level; it will
be easier to maintain
control of unit.
• Do not raise the engine above your
waist as the blade can come dan-
gerously
close to your body.
• Do not swing unit with such force
that you are in danger of losing your
balance.
Bring the engine to cutting speed be-
fore entering the material to be cut.
Always
release the throttle trigger and
allow engine to return to idle speed
when not cutting. The blade should
not turn while the engine is running at
idle. If the blade turns at idle, do not
use your unit. Refer to the CARBURE-
TOR ADJUSTMENT section or contact
your Sears Service Center.
• Maintain good firm footing while using
the unit. Do this by planting feet firmly
in a comfortable apart position.
• Cut while swinging
the upper part of
your body from left to right.
• As you move forward to the next
area to cut, be sure to maintain
your
balance
and footing.
RECOMMENDED CUTTING POSITION
Cut using the 2
Jl"i_
..(,_...,_..,}2
o'clock
o'clock to 4 o'clock
V"rf
V,'
position of the
_'
_ _ "_"t"4o'clock
blade
--iF
&WARNING:
The operator or oth-
ers must not try to clear away cut mate-
rial with the engine running or the blade
turning to avoid serious injury. Stop en-
gine and blade before removing materi-
als wrapped around blade or shaft.
13