4
•
A bladed unit can kickout, causing serious injury to helpers,
bystanders or animals. Keep people and animals at least 15-
meters (approximately 50 feet) away. Use proper procedures
to keep control of the unit.
•
The blade can push, pull or kickout, causing the operator to
lose his balance or lose control of the unit.
•
Keep blades clear of fences, wires, posts, rocks, etc. to
prevent kick out and blade damage.
•
Do not operate when under the influence of alcohol, medica-
tions or substances which can affect your vision, dexterity
and judgment. You must be in good physical and mental
health in order to operate safely.
•
Do not operate where the unit could contact electrical
conduits, house wiring, or any power lines.
•
Handle flammable fuel with care. Use an approved type can.
Do not smoke or bring sparks or flame near the fuel supplies.
Use proper fueling procedures as recommended in the
operator’s manual.
•
Never refuel while the engine is running or hot. Move at least
10 feet from the fueling spot before starting the engine.
•
Do not store the unit with fuel in the tank, because a fuel leak
could start a fire.
•
Do not run the engine indoors or where there is poor
ventilation. Engine fumes contain deadly poisonous carbon
monoxide.
•
Never operate the unit without the proper debris shield and
other protective devices in place. Replace damaged or
broken debris shields.
•
Do not operate a semi-automatic feed type line head if the
debris shield is not equipped with a cut-off knife.
•
Never operate without good visibility and light.
•
Never start the engine if the drive shaft is not in place to
prevent the engine from over speeding or the clutch from
flying apart.
•
For starting position, lay the unit down in a clear area so the line
or blade cannot contact the ground or any other obstruction.
•
Hold the unit down firmly so you will not lose control during
cranking. If not held down properly, the engine could pull
you off balance or swing the cutting line or blade into an
obstruction of your body.
•
Do not crank the engine while the unit is harnessed to you or
otherwise suspended above ground level.
•
Always keep both hands on the control handles. Do not
operate one-handed. Do not hold material you are cutting.
•
Keep the unit and attachments in good working condition.
Tighten fastening parts at regular intervals. Check the
cutting head assembly before each use.
•
After shutting down the engine, keep fingers and feet away
from the cutting line or blade until all rotation stops. If the
cutting head coasts for a long time instead of stopping right
away, adjust the carburetor per instructions in your
operator’s manual, or have the adjustment made by your
ECHO servicing dealer.
•
Shut down immediately if the unit starts to shake or vibrate.
This could be a sign of danger from a broken part or missing
fasteners.
•
Disconnect spark plug wire before you work on the unit or
leave it unattended.
•
Do not cut with dull blades which can increase the risk of
kickout and breakage.
Before operating unit, thoroughly inspect blades for damage
and cracks. Do not use a damaged blade.
•
Replace dull 80-tooth Brush Blades if you cannot have them
sharpened professionally. Do not try to resharpen them
yourself.
•
Sharpen dull 8-tooth Grass/Weed Blades at the proper angles
with a flat file. Do not file down into the gullet (bottom) are of
the tooth. The gullets must be rounded, with no sharp
corners or filing nicks which could be the start of stress
cracks and blade failure.
•
ECHO may produce new design attachments and blades from
time to time. If you purchase such an item, follow the
installation, operation and maintenance instructions supplied
with it.
•
Do not mount any ordinary circular saw blade, a lawnmower
or edge/trimmer blade, or a grinding type cut-off wheel on
your Grass/Weed Trimmer or Weed/Brush Cutter.
•
Do not use any blade or attachment not authorized for your
unit by ECHO, Inc.
•
All maintenance given in the operator’s manual should be
performed by you or an ECHO servicing dealer. Any service
or repair work for which the operator’s manual does not give
instructions must be done only by an authorized ECHO
servicing dealer.
•
The debris shield, also known as a cutting attachment shield,
located at the lower rotating head, is intended to reduce the
chance of thrown objects hitting the leg. Do not rely on the
debris shield to protect the eyes from thrown objects. Wear
eye protection goggles conforming to the ANSI Z87.1 Safety
Standard (Z87 is stamped on the goggles).
•
Secure hair above shoulders.
•
Never use wire or wire rope in place of nylon monofilament
cutting line.
•
Spark arrester mufflers are standard on ECHO units to reduce
the possibility of forest fires. Do not operate the unit with a
loose or defective muffler. Do not remove the spark arrester
screen.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS (CONTINUED)
