Operation - MTD 550 Series Operator's Manual

Operation

Starting the Engine
To start the edger's engine, proceed as follows:
1. Attach the spark plug wire to the spark plug. Make certain
the metal cap on the end of the spark plug wire is fastened
securely over the metal tip on the spark plug.
2. Move the blade depth control lever back to the START
position in the adjacent (top) notch.
3. Depress the primer bulb three times, pausing two to three
seconds between each push. In cold weather (below 50°F
/19°C), it may be necessary to depress the primer bulb four
or five times.
NOTE: Using the primer to restart a warm engine after a
short shutdown is usually not necessary. Doing so may
result in a flooded engine.
4. Standing behind the edger, depress the blade control and
hold it against the upper handle with your left hand.
WARNING!
This blade control mechanism is a
safety device. Never attempt to bypass its operation.
5. With your right hand, grasp the recoil starter handle and
slowly pull the rope outward until engine reaches the start
of its compression cycle (the rope will pull slightly harder at
this point).
6. After slowly allowing the rope to recoil, pull the rope with
a rapid, continuous, full arm stroke. Keep a firm grip on
starter handle throughout the entire stroke.
7. Allow the starter handle to slowly return to the eyebolt.
NOTE: If the engine fails to start after three pulls, depress
the primer an additional two times before pulling the
starter rope again.
Stopping The Engine
To stop the edger's engine, release the blade control.
Edging
WARNING!
The rotating cutting blade may throw
objects and cause personal injury. Keep the area
clear of bystanders and do not operate it without
the guards in place.
WARNING!
Do not lower the blade if it is over
concrete, asphalt, rocks or the like. The blade can
strike the supporting surface, resulting in personal
injury or property damage.
To begin edging, proceed as follows:
1. Move the edger to an area to be edged, making sure that
the left rear wheel is on a hard surface and the blade is over
the area to be cut. See Fig. 5–1.
Figure 5-1
2. With blade control lever in START position, make a pass
along the area to be edged before proceeding to the next
notch. The further forward blade depth control lever is
moved, the deeper or lower the blade will cut into the
ground. Several passes may be necessary to obtain the
desired depth of cut. Do not lower the blade more than
one depth notch at a time without making a pass.
3. For best results, proceed slowly along the path being
edged. Slowly moving edger back and forth through the
cutting area, again making sure to keep the left rear wheel
on the hard surface and the blade in the cutting path, close
to but not touching the edge of the hard surface.
4. Once you have finished edging the selected area, raise the
blade control lever back into the START position, move to
the next area to be edged, and proceed again from step 1.
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