Weed Eater FL23 - Manual (Page 8)

8
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
It is recommended that the engine not be
operated for longer than 1 minute at full
throttle.
OPERATING POSITION
Cut from your right to your left.
ALWAYS WEAR: Eye protection
Long pants
Heavy shoes
WARNING: Always wear eye protec-
tion. Never lean over the trimmer head.
Rocks or debris can ricochet or be thrown into
eyes and face and cause blindness or other
serious injury.
Do not run the engine at a higher speed than
necessary. The cutting line will cut efficiently
when the engine is run at less than full throttle.
At lower speeds, there is less engine noise and
vibration. The cutting line will last longer and will
be less likely to “weld” onto the spool.
Always release the throttle trigger and allow the
engine to return to idle speed when not cutting.
To stop engine:
S
Release the throttle trigger.
S Push and hold the STOP switch in the
STOP position until the engine stops.
TRIMMER LINE ADVANCE
The trimmer line will advance approximately 2
inches (5 cm) each time the bottom of the
trimmer head is tapped on the ground with the
engine running at full throttle.
The most efficient line length is the maximum
length allowed by the line limiter.Always keep
the shield in place when the tool is being oper-
ated.
To advance line:
S
Operate the engine at full throttle.
S Hold the trimmer head parallel to and above
the grassy area.
S Tap the bottom of the trimmer head lightly
on the ground one time. Approximately 2
inches (5 cm) of line will be advanced with
each tap.
Always tap the trimmer head on a grassy
area. Tapping on surfaces such as concrete
or asphalt can cause excessive wear to the
trimmer head.
If the line is worn down to 2 inches (5 cm) or
less, more than one tap will be required to ob-
tain the most efficient line length.
WARNING:
Use only 0.065″ (1.65
mm) diameter line. Other sizes of line will not
advance properly and will result in improper
cutting head function or can cause serious
injury. Do not use other materials such as
wire, string, rope, etc. Wire can break off dur-
ing cutting and become a dangerous missile
that can cause serious injury.
CUTTING METHODS
WARNING: Use minimum speed
and do not crowd the line when cutting around
hard objects (rock, gravel, fence posts, etc.),
which can damage the trimmer head, become
entangled in the line, or be thrown causing a
serious hazard.
S
The tip of the line does the cutting. You will
achieve the best performance and mini-
mum line wear by not crowding the line into
the cutting area. The right and wrong ways
are shown below.
Tip of the Line
Does The Cutting
Right Wrong
Line Crowded Into
Work Area
S The line will easily remove grass and
weeds from around walls, fences, trees and
flower beds, but it also can cut the tender
bark of trees or shrubs and scar fences. To
help avoid damage especially to delicate
vegetation or trees with tender bark,
shorten line to 4--5 inches (10--13 cm) and
use at less than full throttle.
S For trimming or scalping, use less than full
throttle to increase line life and decrease
head wear, especially:
S
During light duty cutting.
S Near objects around which the line can
wrap such as small posts, trees or fence
wire.
S For mowing or sweeping, use full throttle for
a good clean job.
TRIMMING -- Hold the bottom of the trimmer
head about 3 inches (8 cm) above the ground
and at an angle. Allow only the tip of the line to
make contact. Do not force trimmer line into
work area.
Trimming
3 inches (8 cm)
above ground
SCALPING -- The scalping technique re-
moves unwanted vegetationdown to the
ground. Hold the bottom of the trimmer head
about 3 inches (8 cm) above the ground and
at an angle. Allow the tip of the line to strike the
ground around trees, posts, monuments, etc.
This technique increases line wear.