Dolmar MS290.4U Original Instruction Manual page 5

Operation
1. Only use the machine in good light and visi-
bility. Use in the dark or in areas of poor visibility
may cause unexpected accidents.
2. During the winter season, beware of slippery or
wet areas, ice and snow so as to avoid slipping.
3. If you are approached, stop the engine. The
rotating cutting tool may hit the bystander and
result in a serious injury.
4. Clear the working area before operation.
Remove all objects such as rocks, broken
glass, nails, wire, or string, which can be
thrown or become entangled in the cutting
attachment. Foreign particles may damage the
cutting tool and can cause a dangerous kickback.
5. To control the machine steadily, do the follow-
ing during operation:
— Hold the machine with both hands firmly
on your right side.
— Hang the machine on your shoulder(s)
using the shoulder harness.
— Ensure safe footing. Never work on a
ladder or in a tree.
Avoid over-reach.
—
— Keep the cutting tool below waist level.
— Keep all parts of your body away from the
rotating cutting tool and hot surfaces.
These actions reduce the risk of injury.
6. If weeds or branches get caught between the
cutting tool and guard, always stop the engine
before clearing. Unintentional blade rotation may
cause a serious injury.
7. Never drop or throw the machine, except an
emergency. If the machine drops or hits some-
thing, immediately check safety devices, and for
fuel leaks or other damages. Operating a malfunc-
tioning machine may cause an injury and/or fire.
8. Inspect the cutting tool frequently, or immedi-
ately after it hits a stone or other hard objects.
If the cutting tool breaks during operation, the
broken piece may fly off and cause an injury.
9. Stop the engine when inspecting, cleaning or
replacing the cutting tool. The cutting tool may
rotate unexpectedly and result in a serious injury.
10. Maintain proper control until the cutting tool
stops completely, when stopping the engine or
releasing the throttle trigger. A coasting blade
can cause an injury.
Before starting the cutting operation, wait
11.
until the cutting tool attains sufficient speed
for cutting. This reduces the risk of kickback and
entangling weeds.
12. Rest occasionally to prevent loss of control
caused by fatigue. We recommend that you take
a 10- to 20-minute break every hour.
13. Stop the engine and place it in safe location
when on a break or when leaving the equip-
ment. Doing so prevents unexpected accidents.
14. Do not touch the engine and its muffler and do
not place them on top of combustible mate-
rials while the engine is running or just after
stopping it, as they are hot. Burns and/or a fire
may result.
Cutting Tools
1. Use a suitable cutting tool for your work.
— Nylon cutting heads (string trimmer heads)
are suitable for trimming lawn grass.
— Metal blades are suitable for cutting weeds,
high grasses, bushes, shrubs, underwood,
thickets, and the like.
Always use the cutting tool guard properly
suited for the cutting tool used.
2. When using a nylon cutting head, use only
flexible, nonmetallic line recommended in this
manual. Never use wire or wire rope. These can
break off and become a dangerous projectile.
3. Never use metal multi-piece pivoting chains,
flail blades or blades not recommended in this
manual. Serious injuries may result.
4. When handling metal blades, always wear
gloves and put the blade cover on the blade.
The blade can cut bare hands.
5. When using metal blades, avoid kickback.
Always prepare for an accidental kickback.
See the section "Kickback".
Kickback (blade thrust)
Kickback (blade thrust) may occur when the spin-
ning blade contacts an object that it can not imme-
diately cut. It can be violent enough to cause the
unit and/or operator to be propelled in any direc-
tion, and possibly lose control of the unit, resulting
in a serious injury. Kickback can occur without
warning if the blade snags, stalls or binds and is
more likely to occur in areas where it is difficult to
see the material being cut.
Kickback occurs particularly when applying the
blade segment between 12 and 2 o'clock to hard
objects, bushes and trees with a diameter of 3 cm
or larger.
To avoid kickback:
1. Apply the segment between 8 and 11 o'clock.
Swing the tool evenly in a half-circle from
2.
right to left, like using a scythe. This allows the
proper segment of the blade to contact plants to
be cut.
Never apply the segment between 12 and 2
3.
o'clock.
5 ENGLISH