Troy-Bilt TB20CS Operator's Manual page 5

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Some line breakage will occur from:
• Entanglement with foreign matter
• Normal line fatigue
• Attempting to cut thick, stalky weeds
• Forcing the line into objects such as walls or fence posts
TIPS FOR BEST TRIMMING RESULTS
• Keep the cutting attachment parallel to the ground.
• Do not force the cutting attachment. Allow the tip of the line to do the cutting, especially along walls.
Cutting with more than the tip will reduce cutting efficiency and may overload the engine.
• Cut grass over 8 inches (200 mm) by working from top to bottom in small increments to avoid
premature line wear or engine drag.
• Cut from right to left whenever possible. Cutting to the left improves the unit's cutting efficiency.
Clippings are thrown away from the operator.
• Slowly move the trimmer into and out of the cutting area at the desired height. Move either in a
forward-backward or side-to-side motion. Cutting shorter lengths produces the best results.
• Trim only when grass and weeds are dry.
• The life of your cutting line is dependent upon:
• Following the trimming techniques
• What vegetation is being cut
• Where vegetation is cut
For example, the line will wear faster when trimming against a
foundation wall as opposed to trimming around a tree.
DECORATIVE TRIMMING
Decorative trimming is accomplished by removing all vegetation
around trees, posts, fences and more.
Rotate the whole unit so that the cutting attachment is at a 30°
angle to the ground (Fig. 12).
MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE
Perform these required maintenance procedures at the frequency stated in the table. These procedures
should also be a part of any seasonal tune-up.
NOTE: Some maintenance procedures may require special tools or skills. If you are unsure about
these procedures take your unit to any non-road engine repair establishment, individual or
authorized service dealer.
NOTE: Maintenance, replacement, or repair of the emission control devices and system may be
performed by any non-road engine repair establishment, individual or authorized service dealer.
WARNING: To prevent serious injury, never perform maintenance or repairs with unit
running. Always service and repair a cool unit. Disconnect the spark plug wire to ensure
that the unit cannot start.
In order to assure peak performance of your engine, inspection of the engine exhaust port may be necessary after
50 hours of operation. If you notice lost RPM, poor performance or general lack of acceleration, this service may
be required. If you feel your engine is in need of this inspection, refer service to any non-road engine repair
establishment, individual or authorized service dealer for repair. DO NOT attempt to perform this process yourself
as engine damage may result from contaminants involved in the cleaning process for the port.
FREQUENCY MAINTENANCE REQUIRED
Before starting engine Fill fuel tank with fresh fuel
Every 10 hours Clean and re-oil air filter
Every 25 hours Check and clean spark arrestor
Check spark plug condition and gap
Every 50 hours Inspect exhaust port and spark arrestor screen for clogging or
obstruction to assure maximum performance levels.
LINE INSTALLATION
WARNING:
Never use metal-reinforced line, wire, chain or rope. These can break off
and become dangerous projectiles.
This section covers both SplitLine™ and standard single line installation.
Always use original equipment manufacturer 0.095 in. (2.41 mm)
replacement line. Line other than the specified may make the
engine overheat or fail.
There are two methods to replace the trimming line:
• Wind the inner reel with new line
• Install a prewound inner reel
Removing the Existing Inner Reel
1. Hold the outer spool with one hand and unscrew the Bump
Knob™ counterclockwise (Fig. 13). Inspect the bolt inside
the Bump Knob to make sure it moves freely. Replace the
Bump Knob if damaged.
2. Remove the inner reel from the outer spool (Fig. 14).
3. Remove spring from the inner reel (Fig. 14).
4. Use a clean cloth to clean the the inner reel, spring, shaft,
and inner surface of the outer spool.
5. Check the indexing teeth on the inner reel and outer spool
for wear (Fig. 15). If necessary, remove burrs or replace the
reel and spool.
NOTE: SplitLine™ can only be used with the inner reel with the
slotted holes. Single line can be used on either type of
inner reel. Use Figure 16 to identify the inner reel you have.
NOTE: Always use the correct line length when installing
trimming line on the unit. The line may not release
properly if the line is too long.
Single Line Installation
Go To Step 8 for SplitLine™ Installation
6. Take approximately 16 feet (4.9 m) of new trimming line, loop it
into two equal lengths. Insert each end of the line through one
of the two holes in the inner reel (Fig. 17). Pull the line through
the inner reel so that the loop is as small as possible.
7. Wind the lines in tight even layers, onto the reel (Fig. 18).
Wind the line in the direction indicated on the inner reel. Place your index finger between the two
lines to stop the lines from overlapping. Do not overlap the ends of the line. Proceed to step 11.
Fig. 10
SEE
p. 4
p. 5
p. 6
p. 6
p. 6
Bump Knob™
Bolt
Fig. 13
Outer Spool
Spring
Inner Reel
Fig. 14
Indexing Teeth
Fig. 15
MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS
SplitLine™ Installation
8. Take approximately 8 feet (2.43 m) of new trimming line. Insert
one end of the line through one of the two holes in the inner
reel (Fig. 19). Pull the line through the inner reel until only about
4 inches is left out.
9. Insert the end of the line into the open hole in the inner reel and
pull the line tight to make the loop as small as possible (Fig. 19).
10. Before winding, split the line back about 6 inches.
11. Wind the line in tight even layers in the direction indicated
on the inner reel.
NOTE: Failure to wind the line in the direction indicated will
cause the cutting attachment to operate incorrectly.
12. Insert the ends of the line into the two holding slots (Fig. 20).
13. Insert the ends of the line through the eyelets in the outer
spool and place inner reel with spring inside the outer spool
(Fig. 21). Push the inner reel and outer spool together.
While holding the inner reel and outer spool, grasp the ends
and pull firmly to release the line from the holding slots in
the reel.
NOTE: The spring must be assembled on the inner reel
before reassembling the cutting attachment.
14. Hold the inner reel in place and install the bump knob by
turning clockwise. Tighten securely.
INSTALLING A PREWOUND REEL
1. Hold the outer spool with one hand and unscrew the bump knob
counterclockwise (Fig. 13). Inspect the bolt inside the bump knob
to make sure it moves freely. Replace the bump knob if damaged.
2. Remove the old inner reel from the outer spool (Fig. 14).
3. Remove the spring from the old inner reel (Fig. 14).
4. Place the spring in the new inner reel.
NOTE: The spring must be assembled on the inner reel
before reassembling the cutting attachment.
5. Insert the ends of the line through the eyelets in the outer
spool (Fig. 21).
6. Place the new inner reel inside the outer spool. Push the
inner reel and outer spool together. While holding the inner
reel and outer spool, grasp the ends and pull firmly to
release the line from the holding slots in the spool.
7. Hold the inner reel in place and install the bump knob by
turning clockwise. Tighten securely.
INSTALLATION OF THE SPEEDLOCK™
Removing the Existing Inner Reel
Refer to Removing the Existing Inner Reel in the Maintenance and Repair
Instructions section.
Installing the SpeedLock™
1. After removing the inner reel, place the SpeedLock™ onto
the shaft, making sure to align the arrows with the eyelets
in the outer spool (Fig. 22).
2. Place the spring over the shaft and into the recess in the
SpeedLock™ (Fig. 22).
3. While holding the outer spool in place, insert the bolt
located in the Bump Knob™ through the end of the spring
and into the end of the shaft (Fig. 22).
4. While slightly compessing the spring, screw the Bump
Knob™ clockwise into the shaft (Fig. 22). Tighten Securely.
Installing the Trimming Line
1. Align the arrows on the SpeedLock™ with the eyelets on
the outer spool (Fig. 23).
2. Insert a piece of precut spiral line, P/N 49UFSHLL953, into
an eyelet on the outer spool (Fig. 23).
3. Push the line into the SpeedLock™ until it starts to show
from the opposite side.
4. Adjust the line so that both ends are of equal length (Fig. 24).
5. While holding the outer spool in place, pull the
SpeedLock™ away from the outer spool and twist the
SpeedLock™ clockwise until the dot is inline with the
eyelet or until it stops (Fig. 25).
6. Release the SpeedLock™ so that it snaps into place.
7. Check that the SpeedLock™ has seated completely into
the outer spool. If it has not, repeat steps 5 thru 7.
Removing the Trimming Line
1. While holding the outer spool in place, pull the
SpeedLock™ away from the outer spool and twist the
SpeedLock™ counterclockwise until it stops. The arrows
should align with the eyelets on the outer spool. (Fig. 23)
2. Release the SpeedLock™.
NOTE: The SpeedLock™ should stand about 1/4 of an inch
above the outer spool.
3. Firmly pull one end of the trimming line until the whole
piece exits the outer spool.
REMOVING THE SPEEDLOCK™
1. While holding the outer spool in place, turn the Bump Knob™
counterclockwise until it completely unscrews from the shaft.
2. Remove the spring.
3. Remove the SpeedLock™.
Even
Trimmer
Line
Cutting Head
Fig. 24
For Use with For Use with
Single Line ONLY Splitline™ or
Single Line ONLY
Slotted
Holes
Fig. 16
Loop
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Loop
Fig. 19
Index Teeth
Fig. 20
Spring
Fig. 21
Outer Spool
SpeedLock™
Shaft
Spring
Bump
Recess
Eyelet
Knob™
Fig. 22
Arrow
Eyelet
Trimmer
Line
Fig. 23
SpeedLock™
Dot
Eyelet
Fig. 25
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