530088107 11/14/01

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IDENTIFICATION (WHAT IS WHAT?)

Trigger Handle

Handlebar

ShieldMuffler

ChokeLever

Starter Handle

Spark Plug

FuelCapON/STOP

Switch

Operator ’sManual

Line Limiter Blade

TrimmerHead

IDENTIFICATION OF SYMBOLS

A. WARNING! This brushcutter can be dangerous! Careless or improper use cancause serious or even fatal injury.

B. Read and understand the instruction manual before using the brushcutter.C. WARNING! The trimmer line can throw objects violently. You can be blinded or

injured. Always wear eye protection.D. Always use:

Ear protectionProtective glasses or visor

E. Assist handle to be positioned only between the arrows.F. The operator of the machine must insure that no one comes within a 15 meter radius

while working. When several operators are working within the same area a safety dis-tance of at least 15 meters must be observed.

G. Use unleaded or quality leaded petrol and two--stroke oil.H. Engine ON/STOP Switch.

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

F. G.

H.

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SAFETY RULES

WARNING: When using gardeningappliances, basic safety precautions must al-ways be followed to reduce the risk of fire andserious injury.

DANGER: This power tool can bedangerous! This unit can cause serious injuryincluding amputation or blindness to the op-erator and others. The warnings and safetyinstructions in this manual must be followed toprovide reasonable safety and efficiency inusing the unit. The operator is responsible forfollowing the warnings and instructions in thismanual and on the unit. Read the entire in-struction manual before assembling and us-ing the unit! Restrict the use of this unit to per-sons who read, understand, and follow thewarnings and instructions in this manual andon the unit. Never allow children to operatethis unit.

SAFETY INFORMATIONON THE UNIT

INSTRUCTIONMANUAL

DANGER: Blade can thrust violentlyaway from material it does not cut. Bladethrust can cause amputation of arms or legs.Keep people and animals 15 meters away.

WARNING: Trimmer line can throwobjects violently. You and others can beblinded or injured. Wear safety glasses andleg protection.

Leg Guards

Boots

EyeProtection

ALWAYS WEAR:

ThrownObjects

WARNING: Hazard zone for thrownobjects. Blade/Trimmer line can throw objectsviolently. Others can be blinded or injured.Keep people and animals 15 meters away.

Hazard Zone

15 Meters

WARNING: Do not use trimmer headas a fastening device for the blade.

WARNING: The blade continues tospin after the throttle is released or, engine isturned off. The coasting blade can throwobjectsor seriously cut if accidentally touched. Stop theblade by contacting the right hand side of thecoasting blade with material already cut.

Stop coastingblade by contactwith cut material

OPERATOR SAFETYS Dress properly. Always wear safetyglasses or similar eye protection whenoperating, or performing maintenance onyour unit. (Safety glasses are available.)Eye protection should be marked Z87.Always wear face or dust mask if operationis dusty.

S Always wear heavy, long pants, long sleeves,boots, andgloves. Wearing safety leg guardsis recommended.

S Always wear foot protection. Do not gobarefoot or wear sandals.

S Secure hair above shoulder length. Secure orremove loose clothing and jewelry or clothingwith loosely hanging ties, straps, tassels, etc.They can be caught in moving parts.

S Being fully covered also helps protect youfrom debris and pieces of toxic plantsthrown by spinning line/blade.

S Stay alert. Do not operate unit when you aretired, ill, upset or under influence of alcohol,

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drugs, or medication. Watch what you aredoing; use common sense.

S Wear hearing protection.S Never start or run the engine inside aclosed room or building. Breathing exhaustfumes can kill.

S Keep handles free of oil and fuel.S Always use the handlebar and a properlyadjusted shoulder strap with a blade (seeASSEMBLY).

UNIT/MAINTENANCE SAFETY

WARNING: Stop unit and disconnectthe spark plug before performing mainte-nance (except carburetor adjustments).S Look for and replace damaged or looseparts before each use. Look for and repairfuel leaks before use. Keep unit in goodworking condition.

S Throw away blades that are bent, warped,cracked, broken, or damaged in any otherway. Replace trimmer head parts that arecracked, chipped, broken, or damaged inany other way before using the unit.

S Maintain unit according to recommendedprocedures. Keep blade sharp. Keep cut-ting line at the proper length.

S Use only recommended replacement line.Never use wire, rope, string, etc.

S Install required shield properly before usingthe unit. Use the metal shield for all metalblade use. Use the plastic shield for all linetrimmer use.

S Use only specified blade or trimmer head;make sure it is properly installed and se-curely fastened.

S Never start engine with clutch drum re-moved. The clutch can fly off and cause se-rious injury.

S Be sure blade or trimmer head stops turningwhen engine idles.

S Make carburetor adjustments with the low-er end supported to prevent blade or trim-mer line from contacting any object. Holdunit by hand; do not use the shoulder strapfor support.

S Keep others away when making carburetoradjustments.

S Use only recommended McCullochr ac-cessories and replacement parts.

S Have all maintenance and service not ex-plained in this manual performed by your au-thorized service dealer.

FUEL SAFETYS Mix and pour fuel outdoors.S Keep away from sparks or flames.S Use a container approved for fuel.Do not smoke or allow smoking near fuel orthe unit or while using the unit.

S Avoid spilling fuel or oil. Wipe up all fuelspills before starting engine.

S Move at least 3 meters away from fuelingsite before starting engine.

S Stop engine and allow it to cool beforeremoving fuel cap.

S Empty the fuel tank before storing or trans-porting the unit. Use up fuel left in the car-buretor by starting the engine and letting itrun until it stops.

S Store unit and fuel in area where fuel vaporscannot reach sparks or open flames fromwater heaters, electric motors or switches,furnaces, etc.

S Always store gasoline in a container ap-proved for flammable liquids.

CUTTING SAFETY

WARNING: Inspect the area to becut before each use. Remove objects (rocks,broken glass, nails, wire, string, etc.) whichcan be thrown or become entangled in theblade or trimmer head.S Keep others including children, animals,bystanders, and helpers at least 15 metersaway. Stop engine immediately if you areapproached.

S Always keep engine on the right--hand sideof your body.

S Hold the unit firmly with both hands.S Keep firm footing and balance. Do notoverreach.

S Keep blade or trimmer head below waistlevel. Do not raise engine above your waist.

S Keep all parts of your body away fromblade, trimmer head, and muffler whenengine is running. A hot muffler can causeserious burns.

S Cut from your left to your right. Cutting onright side of the shield will throw debrisaway from the operator.

S Use only in daylight or good artificial light.S Use only for jobs explained in this manual.TRANSPORTING AND STORAGES Stop the unit before carrying.S Keep muffler away from your body.S Allow the engine to cool and secure the unitbefore storing or transporting it in a vehicle.Empty the fuel tank before storing ortransporting the unit. Use up fuel left in thecarburetor by starting the engine and lettingit run until it stops.

S Store unit so the weed blade or line limiterblade cannot accidentally cause injury. Theunit can be hung by the tube.

S Always install transport guard on bladebefore transporting or storage.

S Store unit out of reach of children.SAFETY NOTICE: Exposure to vibrationsthrough prolonged use of gasoline poweredhand tools could cause blood vessel or nervedamage in the fingers, hands, and joints ofpeople prone to circulation disorders or abnor-mal swellings. Prolonged use in cold weatherhas been linked to blood vessel damage inotherwise healthy people. If symptoms occursuch as numbness, pain, loss of strength,change in skin color or texture, or loss of feelingin the fingers, hands, or joints, discontinue theuse of this tool and seek medical attention. Ananti--vibration system does not guarantee theavoidance of these problems. Users who oper-ate power tools on a continual and regular basismust monitor closely their physical conditionand the condition of this tool.

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ASSEMBLYCARTON CONTENTSCheck carton contents against the following list:S BrushcutterS Blade shield screws (4)S Cupped washerS Large nut for installing bladesS Hex wrenchS Metal shieldS Plastic shieldS Shoulder strap with warningS 4--point weed bladeS Trimmer headS HandlebarS Wing nut

WARNING: Always stop unit and dis-connect spark plug before performing any as-sembly procedures.

WARNING: If received assembled,repeat all steps to ensure your unit is properlyassembled and all fasteners are secure.Examine parts for damage. Do not use dam-aged parts.It is normal for the fuel filter to rattle in theempty fuel tank.Finding fuel or oil residue on muffler is normaldue to carburetor adjustments and testingdone by the manufacturer.TOOLS REQUIREDS Hex wrench (provided)S Adjustable wrenchATTACH THE TUBENOTE: Illustrations within this section will helpin identifying the assembly steps. Be sure toread each section and review the illustrations,before you begin.NOTE: A drive shaft is located in the center ofthe tube. Make sure this shaft does not fall out ofthe tube. Dirt on the shaft will significantly re-duce the life of the unit. If this shaft falls out,clean, relubricate , and re-install.S Insert the 2 tube assembly screws and nutsas illustrated. Keep loose at this time, youwill tighten them during a later step.

S Position locknuts in lower holes.S Tighten the screwswith the hex wrench justenough to hold the hardware together whileholding the locknuts with your other hand.

S Remove the packing cover from thestraight end of the tube (your unit may nothave a packing cover.)

S Pull about 1/2 inch of the drive shaft out ofthe inside of the tube.

Drive shaft

Tube

NOTE: The end of the drive shaft is square.This square end fits inside a square hole in ashaft inside the engine. Look inside the end ofthe engine and you will see the square hole inthe shaft.NOTE: The end of the tube has a groove thataligns with a ridge in the engine opening. Lo-cate the groove and ridge.

GrooveRidgeS Align the groove in the tube with the ridge inthe engine opening. Insert the tube into theopening.

S Firmly push the tube into engine until it will nolonger go into the opening.

S Tighten screws alternately with the hexwrench until secure.

ATTACH THE THROTTLE CABLECAUTION: Do not bend the throttle cable.S Slide the throttle trigger housing from thefoam grip about 1! to 1--1/2!.

S Insert the throttle cable through the tunnel inthe foam grip until the end of the cable ex-tends at least 2 inches beyond grip.

S Hold the trigger away from the tube; insertthe barrel end of the throttle cable into theround opening in the trigger.

NOTE: When inserting barrel end of thethrottle cable into the round opening in trigger,make sure that the barrel is completely in-serted and throttle cable is located in the splitin the arm.

Screw

NutArm

Barrel

Round hole intrigger

Throttletriggerhousing

Foam grip

Lockwasher

S Push the cable back into the split in the arm.Guide the arm into the foam grip tunnel untilthe throttle trigger housing is flush againstthe grip.

S Squeeze and hold trigger against foam grip.Install screw and nut.

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CAUTION: Do not overtighten screw.There must be at least 1/8” free play in the trig-ger. Make sure trigger will move freely so theengine can fully return to idle when the triggeris released.ATTACHING THE HANDLEBAR

DANGER: During blade usage, thebarrier portion of the handlebar must beinstalled as shown to provide a barrier be-tween operator and the spinning blade.S Locate the decal on the handlebar. Thisdecal includes two arrows. Position thehandlebar with the mounting bracketbetween these arrows.

S Position the bracket cover over thehandlebar. Again make sure the handlebaris between the arrows.

S Insert screws and hand tighten only. Besure the handlebar is installed correctly;then, tighten each screw securely with theshort hex wrench.

Bracket Cover

Screw

MountingBracket

Handlebar

ASSEMBLY OF SHOULDER STRAP1. Align shoulder strap clamp between han-

dlebar mounting bracket and engine.2. Firmly push the shoulder strap clamp

onto the tube. Be sure that the shoulderstrap clamp is installed with the hexshaped recession (on the clamp) facingthe left side of the tube as viewed from theengine.

Throttle GripShoulder Strap

Clamp

T--handleNut

HandlebarMounting Bracket

Screw

3. Drop the threaded end of the screwthrough the opening in the top of the T--handle.

4. Pull on the threaded end of the screw tobring the head of the scrw past the tab in-side the T--handle.

Before Assembly Top View Assembled

Screw

T--handle

Square HeadScrew Seated

Tab

5. Seat nut in the hex shaped recession onthe back side of the shoulder strap clamp.

6. Insert the threaded end of the screwthrough the hole in the shoulder strapclamp and tighten securely by handonly.

WARNING: Proper shoulder strapand handlebar adjustments are required beforestarting the engine.7. Try on shoulder strap and adjust for fit and

balance before starting the engine orbegin-ning a cutting operation.

8. Insert your right arm and head throughthe shoulder strap and allow it to rest onyour left shoulder. Make sure the dangersign is on your back and the hook is to theright side of your waist.

NOTE:Aone-half twist is built in the shoulderstrap to allow the strap to rest flat on theshoulder.9. Adjust the strap, allowing the hook to be

about 150 mm below the waist.10. Fasten the strap hook to the clamp located

between the trigger handle and the handle-bar clamp base and lift the tool to the oper-ating position.

CONFIGURING YOUR UNITYou can configure your unit using a cuttinghead for grass and light weeds, or a weedblade for cutting grass, weeds, and brush upto 13 mm in diameter. To assemble your unit,go to the section for the desired configurationand follow the instructions.

ASSEMBLY INFORMATION --TRIMMER HEAD

TRIMMERHEAD

NOTE: Remove the blade and metal shieldbefore attaching the plastic shield and trimmerhead. To remove blade, push in locking leverand hold. Rotate bladenut until the locking leverfalls into one of the grooves in the dust cup.Continue to hold the locking lever. This will keepthe shaft from turning while loosening the bladenut. Remove blade nut by turning clockwise.Release locking lever. Remove both washersand blade. To remove metal shield, loosen andremove the four mounting screws. See AT-TACHING THE METAL SHIELD and INSTAL-LATION OF THE METAL BLADE for illustra-tions. Be sure to store all parts and instructionsfor future use.

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ATTACHING THE PLASTIC SHIELDAND TRIMMER HEAD

WARNING: The shield must be prop-erly installed. The shield provides partialprotection from the risk of thrown objects tothe operator and others and is equipped witha line limiter blade which cuts excess line tothe proper length. The line limiter blade (onunderside of shield) is sharp and can cut you.1. Remove wing nut from shield.2. Insert bracket into slot on shield.3. Pivot shield until bolt passes through hole

in bracket.4. Tighten the wing nut securely.NOTE: If your unit has a plastic cover overthe threads on the threaded shaft, remove thecovering to expose the threads. Beforeinstalling the trimmer head, make sure thedust cup is positioned on the gearbox asshown below.

Wing Nut

Retaining Washer

Dust Cup

BracketSlot

ShieldGearbox

NOTE: Make sure all parts are properlyinstalled as shown in the illustration beforeinstalling the trimmer head.5. Push in locking lever and hold.6. Rotate dust cup until the locking lever

falls into one of the grooves.

Locking Lever

7. Continue to hold in locking lever. This willkeep the shaft from turning while tighten-ing the trimmer head.

8. Thread trimmer head onto the shaft in thedirection shown on the decal. Tighten un-til secure.

9. Release locking lever.

ASSEMBLY INFORMATION -- WEEDBLADES

WEEDBLADE

NOTE: Remove the trimmer head and plas-tic shield before attaching the metal shieldand installing the weed blade. To remove thetrimmer head, push in locking lever and hold.Rotate trimmer head until the locking leverfalls into one of the grooves in the dust cup.Continue to hold in locking lever. This willkeep the shaft from turning while looseningthe cutting head. To remove the plastic shield,loosen and remove wing nut. Pivot shield torelease bracket from slot. See INSTALLA-TION OF THE CUTTING HEAD and AT-TACHINGTHEPLASTIC SHIELD for illustra-tions. Be sure to store all parts andinstructions for future use. Never use thetrimmer head with the metal blade installed.ATTACHING THE METAL SHIELD

WARNING: The metal shield must beproperly installed on the tool anytime the tool isused with a blade. Failure to install the shield inthe position shown can result in serious injury tothe operator. The length of the shield must bealigned with the length of the tube.1. Place the metal shield under the gearbox,

and align the screw holes.

ShieldGearbox

2. Insert and thread the 4 mounting screwsthrough the holes of the gearbox and themetal shield. Tighten evenly and secure-ly with the hex wrench provided.

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INSTALLATION OF THE METALBLADE

WARNING: Wear protective gloveswhen handling or performing maintenance onthe blade to avoid injury. The blade is sharp andcan cut you even when it is not moving.

WARNING: Do not use any blades, orfastening hardware other than the washers andnuts shown in the following illustrations. Theseparts must be provided by McCulloch, andinstalled as shown below. Failure to use properparts can cause the blade to fly off and seriouslyhurt you or others.NOTE: The dust cup and retaining washer arelocated on the gearbox shaft and not in the partsbag. All other fastenersmentioned in the follow-ing assembly steps are in the parts bag.1. Remove the retaining washer from the

threaded shaft of the gearbox. Leave thedust cup on the shaft.

2. Install the blade and the retaining washerover the threaded shaft.

3. Make sure the raised part of the retainingwasher is facing the gearbox and theraised area fits into the hole in the centerof the blade.

4. Slide the blade and retaining washer ontothe shaft of the gearbox.

5. Place the cupped washer onto the shaft.Make sure the cupped side of the washeris toward the blade.

6. Install the blade nut by threading onto theshaft counterclockwise.

Shield

BladeRetainingWasher

Dust Cup

CuppedWasher

Nut

Threaded Shaft

Gearbox

NOTE: Make sure all parts are in place as il-lustrated, and the blade is sandwiched betweenthe dust cup and the retaining washer. Thereshould be no space between the blade and thedust cup or the retaining washer.7. Push in locking lever and hold.8. Rotate blade nut until the locking lever falls

into one of the grooves in the dust cup.

Locking Lever

9. Continue to hold in locking lever. This willkeep the shaft from turning while tighteningthe blade nut.

10. Tighten blade nut firmly with a wrench.11. Release locking lever.12. Turn blade by hand. If the blade binds

against the shield, or appears to beuneven,the blade is not centered, and you must re-install.

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OPERATION

BEFORE STARTING ENGINE

WARNING: Be sure to read the fuelinformation in the safety rules before you be-gin. If you do not understand the safety rules,do not attempt to fuel your unit. Contact an au-thorized service dealer.FUELING ENGINE

WARNING: Remove fuel cap slowlywhen refueling.This engine is certified to operate on un-leaded gasoline. Before operation, gasolinemust be mixed with a good quality 2-cycle air-cooled engine oil. Mix gasoline and oil at a ra-tio of 40:1 (2.5%). A 40:1 ratio is obtained bymixing 5 liters of unleaded petrol with 0,125 li-ter of oil. DO NOT USE automotive oil or boatoil. These oils will cause engine damage.When mixing fuel, follow instructions printedon container. Once oil is added to gasoline,shake container momentarily to assure thatthe fuel is thoroughly mixed. Always read andfollow the safety rules relating to fuel beforefueling your unit.IMPORTANTExperience indicates that alcohol blendedfuels (called gasohol or using ethanol ormethanol) can attract moisture which leads toseparation and formation of acids during stor-age. Acidic gas can damage the fuel systemof an engine while in storage.Toavoid engine problems, empty the fuel sys-tem before storage for 30 days or longer.Drain the gas tank, start the engine and let itrun until the fuel lines and carburetor areempty. Use fresh fuel next season.Never use engine or carburetor cleaner prod-ucts in the fuel tank or permanent damagemay occur.HOW TO STOP YOUR UNITS To stop the engine, move the ON/STOPswitch to the STOP position.

S If engine does not stop, move choke leverto FULL CHOKE position.

HOW TO START YOUR UNIT

WARNING: The trimmer head willturn while starting the engine.Avoid any contact with the muffler. A hot muf-fler can cause serious burns.STARTING A COLD ENGINE (or awarm engine after running out offuel)

Starting Position

Choke leverStarterHandle

Muffler

1. Set unit on a flat surface.2. Move the ON/STOP switch to the ON

position.3. Move choke lever to the FULL CHOKE

position.4. Squeeze the throttle trigger fully and hold

through all remaining steps.5. Pull starter rope handle sharply until en-

gine sounds as if it is trying to start, but donot pull rope more than 6 times.

6. As soon as engine sounds as if it is tryingto start, move choke lever to HALFCHOKE.

7. Pull starter rope sharply until engine runs,but no more than 6 pulls. If the enginedoesn’t start after 6 pulls (at the HALFCHOKE position), move the choke leverto the FULL CHOKE position. Squeezeand hold the throttle trigger and pull thestarter rope 2 more times. Move thechoke lever to the HALF CHOKEpositionand pull the starter rope until the engineruns, but no more than 6 pulls.NOTE: If engine still doesn’t start, it isprobably flooded. Proceed to STARTINGA FLOODED ENGINE.

8. Once the engine starts, allow it to run 10seconds, then move the choke lever toOFF CHOKE. Allow the unit to run for 30more seconds at OFF CHOKE before re-leasing the throttle trigger.NOTE: If engine dies with the choke leverin the OFF CHOKE position, move thechoke lever to the HALF CHOKE positionand pull the rope until engine runs, but nomore than 6 pulls.

STARTING A WARM ENGINE1. Move the ON/STOP switch to the ON

position.2. Move the choke lever to the HALF

CHOKE position.3. Squeeze and hold the throttle trigger.

Keep throttle trigger fully squeezed untilthe engine runs smoothly.

4. Pull starter rope sharply until engine runs,but no more than 5 pulls.

5. Allow engine to run 15 seconds, thenmove the choke lever to the OFFCHOKEposition.

NOTE: If engine has not started, pull start-er rope 5 more pulls. If engine still does notrun, it is probably flooded.

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STARTING A FLOODED ENGINEFlooded engines can be started by placingthe choke lever in the OFF CHOKE position;then, pull the rope to clear the engine of ex-cess fuel. This could require pulling the starterhandle many times depending on how badlythe unit is flooded.If the unit still doesn’t start, refer to theTROUBLESHOOTING TABLE.

OPERATING POSITION

ALWAYS WEAR:

Long Pants

Boots

Eye Protection

Cut from your left to your right.

When operating unit, clip shoulder strap ontoclamp, stand as shown and check for the fol-lowing:S Wear eye protection and heavy clothing.S Extend your left arm and hold handlebargrip with your left hand.

S Hold throttle grip with your right hand withfinger on throttle trigger.

S Keep unit below waist level.S Keep shoulder strap pad centered on yourleft shoulder and danger sign centered onyour back.

S Maintain full weight of tool on your leftshoulder.

S Without bending over, keep the blade ortrimmer head near and parallel to theground and not crowded into material beingcut.

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS FORUSE WITH TRIMMER HEAD

WARNING: Always wear eye protec-tion. Never lean over the trimmer head. Rocksor debris can ricochet or be thrown into eyesand face and cause blindness or other seriousinjury.Before trimming, bring engine to a speedsufficient to cut material to be trimmed.Do not run the engine at a higher speed thannecessary. The cutting line will cut efficientlywhen the engine is run at less than fullthrottle. At lower speeds, there is less enginenoise and vibration. The cutting line will lastlonger and will be less likely to “weld” onto thespool.Always release the throttle trigger and allowthe engine to return to idle speed when notcutting.

To stop engine:S Release the throttle trigger.S Push and release the engine ON/STOPswitch.

TRIMMER LINE ADVANCEThe trimmer line will advance approximately50 mm each time the bottom of the trimmerhead is tapped on the ground with the enginerunning at full throttle.The most efficient line length is the maximumlength allowed by the line limiter.Always keep the shield in place when the toolis being operated.To advance line:S Operate the engine at full throttle.S Hold the trimmer head parallel to and abovethe grassy area.

S Tap the bottom of the trimmer head lightlyon the ground one time. Approximately 50mm of line will be advanced with each tap.

Always tap the trimmer head on a grassyarea. Tapping on surfaces such as concreteor asphalt can cause excessive wear to thetrimmer head.If the line is worn down to 50mmor less, morethan one tap will be required to obtain themost efficient line length.CUTTING METHODS

WARNING: Use minimum speedand do not crowd the line when cutting aroundhard objects (rock, gravel, fence posts, etc.),which can damage the trimmer head, becomeentangled in the line, or be thrown causing aserious hazard.S The tip of the line does the cutting. You willachieve the best performance and mini-mum line wear by not crowding the line intothe cutting area. The right and wrong waysare shown below.

S The line will easily remove grass andweeds from around walls, fences, trees andflower beds, but it also can cut the tenderbark of trees or shrubs and scar fences.

S For trimming or scalping, use less than fullthrottle to increase line life and decreasehead wear, especially:S During light duty cutting.S Near objects around which the line canwrap such as small posts, trees or fencewire.

S For mowing or sweeping, use full throttle fora good clean job.

TRIMMING -- Hold the bottom of the trim-mer head about 80 mm above the groundand at an angle. Allow only the tip of the lineto make contact. Do not force trimmer lineinto work area.

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Trimming

80 mm aboveground

SCALPING -- The scalping technique re-moves unwanted vegetation down to theground. Hold the bottom of the trimmer headabout 80 mm above the ground and at an an-gle. Allow the tip of the line to strike theground around trees, posts, monuments, etc.This technique increases line wear.

MOWING -- Your trimmer is ideal for mow-ing in places conventional lawn mowerscannot reach. In the mowing position, keepthe line parallel to the ground. Avoid press-ing the head into the ground as this canscalp the ground and damage the tool.

SWEEPING -- The fanning action of the rotat-ing line can be used to blow away loose de-bris from an area. Keep the line parallel to andabove the area surface and swing the toolfrom side to side.

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS FORUSE WITH WEED BLADES Blade Thrust is a reaction that only occurswhen using a bladed unit. This reaction cancause serious injury such as amputation.Carefully study this section. It is important thatyou understand what causes blade thrust,how you can reduce the chance of itsoccurring, and how you can remain in controlof unit if blade thrust occurs.

S WHAT CAUSES BLADE THRUST -- BladeThrust can occur when the spinning bladecontacts an object that it does not cut. Thiscontact causes the blade to stop for an instantand then suddenly move or “thrust” awayfrom the object that was hit. The “thrusting”reaction can be violent enough to cause theoperator to be propelled in any direction andlose control of the unit. The uncontrolled unitcan cause serious injury if the blade contactsthe operator or others.

S WHEN BLADE THRUST OCCURS --Blade Thrust can occur without warning ifthe blade snags, stalls, or binds. This ismore likely to occur in areas where it isdifficult to see the material being cut. Byusing the unit properly, the occurrence ofblade thrust will be reduced and theoperator will be less likely to lose control.

S Cut only grass, weeds, and woody brush upto 13 mm in diameter with the weed blade.Do not let the blade contact material itcannot cut such as stumps, rocks, fences,metal, etc., or clusters of hard, woody brushhaving a diameter greater than 13 mm.

S Keep the blade sharp. A dull blade is morelikely to snag and thrust.

S Cut only at full throttle. The blade will havemaximum cutting power and is less likely tobind or stall.

S “Feed” the blade deliberately and not toorapidly. The blade can thrust away if it is fedtoo rapidly.

S Cut only from your left to your right. Cuttingon right side of the shield will throw debrisaway from the operator.

S Use the shoulder strap and keep a firm gripon the unit with both hands. A properlyadjusted shoulder strap will support theweight of the unit, freeing your arms andhands to control and guide the cuttingmotion.

S Keep feet comfortably spread apart andbraced for a possible sudden, rapid thrust ofunit. Do not overreach. Keep firm footing andbalance.

S Keep blade below waist level; it will beeasier to maintain control of unit.

S Do not raise the engine above your waist asthe blade can come dangerously close toyour body.

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S Do not swing unit with such force that youare in danger of losing your balance.

Bring the engine to cutting speed before en-tering the material to be cut.If the blade doesnot turn when you squeeze the throttle trigger,make sure tube is fully inserted into the en-gine.Always release the throttle trigger and allowengine to return to idle speed when not cut-ting. The blade should not turn while the en-gine is running at idle. If the blade turns at idle,do not use your unit. Refer to the CARBURE-TOR ADJUSTMENT section or contact yourauthorized service dealer.S Maintain good firm footing while using theunit. Do this by planting feet firmly in acomfortable apart position.

S Cut while swinging the upper part of yourbody from left to right.

S As youmove forward to the next area to cut,be sure to maintain your balance andfooting.

Cut using the 2o’clock to 4 o’clockposition of theblade

2 o’clock

4 o’clock

RECOMMENDED CUTTING POSITION

WARNING: The operator or othersmust not try to clear away cutmaterial with theengine running or the blade turning to avoidserious injury. Stop engine and blade beforeremoving materials wrapped around blade ortube.

MAINTENANCE

WARNING: Disconnect the sparkplug before performing maintenance exceptfor carburetor adjustments.CHECK FOR LOOSEFASTENERS AND PARTSS Spark Plug BootS Air FilterS Housing ScrewsS Assist Handle ScrewS Debris ShieldCHECK FOR DAMAGED ORWORN PARTSContact an authorized service dealer for re-placement of damaged or worn parts.S ON/STOP Switch -- Ensure ON/STOPswitch functions properly by pushing andreleasing the switch. Make sure enginestops. Wait 5 seconds before attempting torestart unit to allow switch to reset. Restartengine and continue

S Fuel Tank -- Discontinue use of unit if fueltank shows signs of damage or leaks.

S Debris Shield -- Discontinue use of unit ifdebris shield is damaged.

INSPECTANDCLEANUNIT ANDDE-CALSS After each use, inspect complete unit forloose or damaged parts. Clean the unit anddecals using a damp cloth with amild deter-gent.

S Wipe off unit with a clean dry cloth.CLEAN AIR FILTERA dirty air filter decreases engine perform-ance and increases fuel consumption andharmful emissions. Always clean after every5 hours of operation.

1. Clean the cover and the area around it tokeep dirt from falling into the carburetorchamber when the cover is removed.

2. Remove parts as illustrated.NOTE: To avoid creating a fire hazard orproducing harmful evaporative emissions, donot clean filter in gasoline or other flammablesolvent.3. Wash the filter in soap and water.4. Allow filter to dry.5. Add a few drops of oil to the filter;

squeeze the filter to distribute oil.6. Replace parts.

Air FilterCover

Screws

Air Filter

Backview ofAir FilterCover

REPLACE SPARK PLUGReplace the spark plug each year to ensurethe engine starts easier and runs better. Setspark plug gap at 0,6 mm. Ignition timing isfixed and nonadjustable.1. Twist, then pull off spark plug boot.2. Remove spark plug from cylinder and

discard.3. Replace with Champion RCJ-8Y spark

plug and tighten securely with a 19 mmsocket wrench.

4. Reinstall the spark plug boot.

13

SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENTSLINE REPLACEMENT

WARNING: Trimmer head parts thatare chipped, cracked, broken, or damaged inany other way can fly apart and cause seriousinjury. Do not use. Replace damaged partsbefore using unit.S Press the tab on the side of the trimmerhead and twist the lock ring.

S Remove the lock ring and tap button.

TabLock RingTap Button

TrimmerHead

S Pull spool out of the trimmer head.S Clean dirt and debris from all parts.S Replace with a pre-wound spool , or re-place line using 40 feet of 0.080! (2 mm)diameter line.

S When installing new line on an existing spool,insert 1/16! of the line into the anchoring holein the bed of the spool, and wrap the lineevenly and and firmly around the spool in thedirection of the arrow found on the spool.

AnchoringHole

S Insert the end of the line through the exit holein the side of the trimmer head.

NOTE: A metal insert is located in the exithole. As your unit wears from use, you can re-install this insert upside down to provide anew surface for the exit of the line from thetrimmer head.

WARNING: When installing the metalinsert, you must install from the inside of thetrimmer head. If installed on the outside of thetrimmer head, this insert can fly off and becomea dangerous missile.

Metal Insert

S Once line is passed through the exit hole,place spool in the trimmer head. Press the

spool down and turn the spool until it locksdown and does not pop up when you releasethe spool.

S Make sure the line is not caught betweenthe rim of the spool and the wall of the trim-mer head.

S Replace the tap button, and place the lockring onto the trimmer head.

S Align the lock ring over the catches on thetrimmer head. Push the ring down and turnuntil catches lock into place.

Catch

Catch

Catch

Catch

LockTab

S Make sure the lock ring is securely fas-tened by pulling on it and twisting in both di-rections.

WARNING: All catches must be fas-tened and lock tab latched in the lock ring. Ifinstalled incorrectly, lock ring can fly off and be-come a dangerous missile.S Pull the line extending from the trimmerhead. This will allow the spool to releasefrom the locked position.SPOOL REPLACEMENTS Replace the spool when the square cornerson the lugs are rounded off, reduced in size,or broken. Follow instructions under LINEREPLACEMENT for removing and installingthe spool.

WornLugNormal lug

BLADE REPLACEMENTRefer to the ASSEMBLY section for blade re-placement instructions and illustrations.CARBURETOR ADJUSTMENTYour carburetor is equipped with limiter caps.Damage will occur if you turn the needles be-yond the limiter stops. Carburetor adjustmentis a complicated task. We recommend thatyou take your unit to an authorized servicedealer.

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STORAGE

WARNING: Perform the followingsteps after each use:S Allow engine to cool before storing or trans-porting.

S Store unit and fuel in a well ventilated areawhere fuel vapors cannot reach sparks oropen flames from water heaters, electricmotors or switches, furnaces, etc.

S Store unit with all guards in place. Positionunit so that any sharp object cannot acci-dentally cause injury.

S Store unit and fuel well out of the reach ofchildren.

SEASONAL STORAGEPrepare unit for storage at end of season or ifit will not be used for 30 days or more.S If your unit is to be stored for a period oftime, clean the entire unit before lengthystorage.

ENGINES Remove spark plug and pour 1 teaspoon of40:1, 2-cycle engine oil (air cooled) throughthe spark plug opening. Slowly pull thestarter rope 8 to 10 times to distribute oil.

S Replace spark plug with new one of recom-mended type and heat range.

S Clean air filter.S Check entire unit for loose screws, nuts,and bolts. Replace any damaged, broken,or worn parts.

S At the beginning of the next season, useonly fresh fuel having the proper gasoline tooil ratio.

OTHERS Do not store gasoline from one season toanother.

S Replace your gasoline can if it starts to rust.

TROUBLE CAUSE REMEDYEngine will notstart.

1. Engine flooded.

2. Fuel tank empty.3. Spark plug not firing.4. Fuel not reachingcarburetor.

5. Carburetor requiresadjustment.

1. See “Starting a Flooded Engine” inOperation Section.

2. Fill tank with correct fuel mixture.3. Install new spark plug.4. Check for dirty fuel filter; replace.Check for kinked or split fuel line;repair or replace.

5. See “Carburetor Adjustment” inService and Adjustments Section.

Engine willnot idleproperly.

1. Carburetor requiresadjustment.

2. Crankshaft seals worn.3. Compression low.

1. See “Carburetor Adjustment” inService and Adjustments Section.

2. Contact an authorized service dealer.3. Contact an authorized service dealer.

1. Air filter dirty.2. Spark plug fouled.

3. Carburetor requiresadjustment.

4. Carbon build-up onmuffler outlet screen.

5. Compression low.

Engine will notaccelerate,lacks power,or dies undera load.

1. Clean or replace air filter.2. Clean or replace plugand regap.

3. See “Carburetor Adjustment” inService and Adjustments Section.

4. Contact an authorized service dealer.

5. Contact an authorized service dealer.

Enginesmokesexcessively.

1. Choke partially on.2. Fuel mixture incorrect.

3. Air filter dirty.4. Carburetor requiresadjustment.

1. Adjust choke.2. Empty fuel tank and refill withcorrect fuel mixture.

3. Clean or replace air filter.4. See “Carburetor Adjustment” inService and Adjustments Section.

Engine runshot.

1. Fuel mixture incorrect.

2. Spark plug incorrect.3. Carburetor requiresadjustment.

4. Carbon build-up onmuffler outlet screen.

1. See “Fueling Engine” in Operationsection.

2. Replace with correct spark plug.3. See “Carburetor Adjustment” inService and Adjustments Section.

4. Contact an authorized service dealer.

WARNING: Always stop unit and disconnect spark plug before performing all of therecommended remedies below except remedies that require operation of the unit.

TROUBLESHOOTING TABLE

15

SAFETY

16

SAFETY

JonseredSE--561 82 HuskvarnaHuskvarna, Sweden