Ryobi RY24600 - Manual (Page 11)

9 — English
OPERATION
HOLDING THE HEDGE TRIMMER
See Figure 6.
The unit has both a front and rear handle. With the blade
directed away from you, hold the unit by both handles.
WARNING:
Always keep both hands on the hedge trimmer handles.
Never hold shrubs with one hand and operate the hedge
trimmer with the other. Improper operation of the hedge
trimmer could result in serious injury.
CUTTING TIPS
See Figures 6 - 7.
DANGER:
Never cut near electric cords or lines. If blade jams on
any electrical cord or line, DO NOT TOUCH THE BLADE!
IT CAN BECOME ELECTRICALLY LIVE AND VERY
DANGEROUS. Continue to hold the hedge trimmer by
the insulated rear handle or lay it down and away from
you in a safe manner. Disconnect the electrical service
to the damaged line or cord before attempting to free
the blade from the line or cord. Contact with the blade,
other conductive parts of the hedge trimmer, or live
electric cords or lines will result in death by electrocution
or serious injury.
WARNING:
Clear the area to be cut before each use. Remove all
objects such as cords, lights, wire, or loose string which
can become entangled in the cutting blade and create a
risk of serious personal injury.
 Before starting the hedge trimmer, hold the unit with both
hands with the cutting blades directed away from you.
Always use the hedge trimmer properly.
 Do not force the hedge trimmer through heavy shrubbery.
This can cause the blades to bind and slow down. If the
blades slow down, reduce the pace.
 Do not try to cut stems or twigs that are larger than
2/3 in. thick, or those obviously too large to feed into the
cutting blade. Use a non-powered hand saw or pruning
saw to trim large stems.
 If blades do become jammed, stop the motor, allow
the blades to stop and remove the battery pack before
attempting to remove the obstruction.
 If desired, you can use a string to help cut your hedge
level. Decide how high you want the hedge. Then, stretch
a piece of string along the hedge at this height. Trim the
hedge just above this guide line of string. Trim the side
of a hedge so that it will be slightly narrower at the top.
More of the hedge will be exposed when shaped this way,
and it will be more uniform.
 Always hold hedge trimmer with both hands when
operating. Use a firm grip on the handles. The unit is used
for cutting in either direction in a slow, sweeping action
from side to side.
 Wear gloves when trimming thorny or prickly growth.
When trimming new growth, use a wide sweeping action,
so that the stems are fed directly into the cutting blade.
Older growth will have thicker stems and will be trimmed
easiest by using a sawing movement.