Ryobi 155VP - Manual (Page 11)

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
11
NOTE: Always keep the trimming line fully extended.
Line release becomes more difficult as cutting
line becomes shorter.
WARNING: Do not remove or alter the line
cutting blade assembly. Excessive line length
will cause the motor to overheat and may
result in serious personal injury.
Each time the head is bumped, approximately 1 inch
(25.4 mm) of trimming line is released. A blade in the
string guard will cut the line if excess line is released.
For best results, tap the head on bare ground or hard
soil. If line release is attempted in tall grass, the motor
may overheat. Always keep the trimming line fully
extended. Line release becomes more difficult as the
cutting line becomes shorter.
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
TIPS FOR BEST TRIMMING RESULTS
• The correct angle for the cutting attachment is
parallel to the ground.
NOTE: Do not rest the bump head on the ground.
• DO NOT FORCE THE UNIT. Allow the very tip of the
line to do the cutting (especially along walls). Cutting
with more than the tip will reduce cutting efficiency
and may overload the motor.
• Grass over 8 inches (200 mm) should be cut by
working from top to the bottom in small increments
to avoid premature line wear or motor drag.
• Whenever possible, cut right to left. When cutting to
the left, the unit's cutting efficiency is improved
slightly. Also, the clippings are thrown away from the
operator.
• Slowly move the trimmer into and out of the area
being cut, maintaining the trimmer at the desired
cutting height. This can be either a forward-
backward or side-to-side motion. Cutting shorter
lengths produces best results.
• Trim only when grass and weeds are dry.
• The life of your cutting line is dependent upon
following the previous trimming techniques, what is
being cut, and where the cutting is being done. For
example, the line will wear faster when trimming
against a foundation wall as opposed to trimming
around a tree. Some line breakage will occur from:
• Entanglement with foreign matter.
• Normal line fatigue.
• Attempting to cut thick, stalky weeds.
• Forcing the line into objects such as walls or
fenceposts
Bump Head
OPERATING WITH THE TRIMMER ADD-ON
ATTACHMENT
WARNING: To avoid serious personal injury,
wear goggles or safety glasses at all times
when operating this unit. Wear a face mask
or dust mask in dusty locations.
Clear the area to be cut before each use. Remove all
objects such as rocks, broken glass, nails, wire, or string
which can be thrown or become entangled in the cutting
attachment. Clear the area of children, bystanders, and
pets. At a minimum, keep all children, bystanders and
pets outside a 50 feet (15m) radius; there still may be a
risk to bystanders from thrown objects. Bystanders
should be encouraged to wear eye protection. If you are
approached, stop the motor and cutting attachment
immediately.
NOTE: Remove protective tape from the line cut-off
blade before operating trimmer.
ADJUSTING TRIMMING LINE LENGTH
The bump head allows the operator to release more
trimming line without stopping the motor. As line
becomes frayed or worn, additional line can be released
by lightly tapping the trimming head on the ground while
operating the trimmer (Fig. 13).
DECORATIVE TRIMMING
Decorative trimming is accomplished by removing
all vegetation around trees, posts, fences, etc. Use a
30-degree angle when trimming with this method
(Fig. 14).