Cub Cadet ST35 - Manual (Page 5)

4
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
STARTING: Your trimmer is a one-person machine.
1. Start and operate your trimmer without assis-
tance. When starting, place the trimmer on firm
ground or a solid surface in an open area.
Maintain good balance and secure footing.
2. To reduce the risk of injury from loss of control,
be absolutely sure that the cutting head or blade
is clear of you and all other obstructions and
objects, including the ground when starting,
because when the engine starts, the engine
speed will be fast enough for the clutch to
engage and turn the cutting head or blade.
3. When you pull the starter grip, do not wrap the
starter rope around your hand. Do not allow the
grip to snap back, but guide the starter rope to
rewind properly. Failure to follow this procedure
may result in injury to your hand or fingers and
may damage the starter mechanism.
OPERATION:
1. Work carefully.
2. To reduce the risk of injury from thrown objects
or blade contact, never operate the trimmer
without a properly mounted deflector.
3. Operate the trimmer under good visibility and
daylight conditions only.
4. Always hold the trimmer firmly with both hands.
Wrap your fingers tightly around the handles,
keeping the handles cradled between your
thumb and forefinger. Keep your hands in this
position, to have your trimmer under control at all
times.
5. Make sure your trimmer handles and grips are in
good condition and free of moisture, pitch, oil or
grease.
6. Never attempt to operate the trimmer with one
hand. You might lose control of the trimmer
resulting in serious or fatal injury.
7. To reduce the risk of bodily injury resulting from
loss of control and contact with the cutting head,
always attach and wear the shoulder harness on
those trimmers equipped with a straight shaft
and loop handle.
8. Before trimming, inspect the area for stones,
glass, pieces of metal, trash or other solid
objects. The cutting line could throw objects of
this kind.
9. This trimmer is to be used normally at ground
level with the cutting head or blade parallel to the
ground. Using the trimmer above ground level or
with the cutting head or blade perpendicular to
the ground may increase the risk of injury, since
the cutting line or blade is more fully exposed
and the trimmer may be more difficult to control.
Never use your trimmer as a hedge trimmer.
10. When using rigid blades, avoid cutting close to
fences, sides of buildings, tree trunks, stones or
other such objects that could cause the trimmer
to kick out or could cause damage to the blade.
Cub Cadet Commercial recommends use of the
nylon line heads or Polycut head for such jobs.
In addition, be alert to an increased possibility
of ricochets in such situations.
11. Do not use the starting throttle lock when you
are trimming as you do not have control of the
engine speed. For the proper use of the throttle
lock, see “Starting” in the Operation Section.
12. If the cutting tool or deflector becomes clogged
or stuck, always turn off the engine and make
sure the cutting tool has stopped, before
cleaning. Grass,weeds, etc. should be cleaned
off the cutting tool at regular intervals.
13. During cutting, check the tightness and the
condition of the cutting tool at regular intervals.
If the behavior of the tool changes, stop the
engine immediately, and check the bolt
securing the tool for tightness and the cutting
tool for cracks and damage.
14. Replace cracked, bent, warped, damaged or
dull cutting blades immediately. Such tools may
shatter at high speed and cause serious or fatal
injury.
15. A loose blade may cause the blade to crack,
vibrate, break or come off the trimmer, which
may result in serious or fatal injury. Make sure
that the blade is properly tightened. Use the
wrench supplied or one of sufficient length to
obtain the proper torque. If the blade loosens
after being properly tightened, stop work