Craftsman 138.99017 Operator's Manual page 10

To stop: CUI-rlNG TIPS
• Release the switch trigger to stop the hedge
,_DANGER:
Never cut near electric cords
trimmer.
Upon release of the switch trigger, the locked-out
button will automatically reset to the locked-out
position.
USING THE ROTATING REAR HANDLE
See Figure 4, page L
• Place the hedge trimmer on a flat and even
surface and disconnect from the power supply.
• Make sure that you released the triggers.
• Press the lock button and begin turning the rear
handle. Release the lock button and turn the
handle 90 degrees to either side until it clicks into
place and the button pops out.
• To turn the handle back to center, press the lock
button again, turn the handle slightly, release the
lock button and continue turning the handle until it
locks into place.
USING THE ADJUSTABLE AUXILIARY HANDLE
See Figure 5, page L
• Place the hedge trimmer on a flat and even
surface and disconnect from the power supply.
• Make sure that you released the triggers.
• Press the side lock button on the handle and
begin moving forward or backwards. Release the
lock button and continue moving the handle until
it locks into place.
HOLDING THE HEDGE TRIMMER
See Figures 6, pages ii.
• The unit has both a front adjustable auxiliary
handle and a rotating rear handle. With the blade
directed away from you, hold the unit by both
handles.
,_ WARNING:
Always keep both hands on the
hedge trimmer handles. Never hold shrubs with
one hand and operate hedge trimmer with the
other. Failure to heed this warning can result in
serious injury.
or lines. If blade jams on any electrical cord
or line, DO NOT TOUCH THE BLADE! IT
CAN BECOME ELECTRICALLY LIVE AND
VERY DANGEROUS. Continue to hold the
hedge trimmer by the insulated rear handle
or lay it down and away from you in a safe
manner. Disconnect the electrical service to the
damaged line or cord before attempting to free
the blade from the line or cord. Contact with
the blade, other conductive parts of the hedge
trimmer, or live electric cords or lines will result
in death by electrocution or serious injury.
WARNING:
Clear the area to be cut before
each use. Remove all objects such as cords,
lights, wire, or loose string which can become
entangled in the cutting blade and create a risk
of serious personal injury.
• Before starting the hedge trimmer, hold the unit
with both hands with the cutting blades directed
away from you. Always use the hedge trimmer
properly.
• Do not force the hedge trimmer through heavy
shrubbery. This can cause the blades to bind and
slow down. If the blades slow down, reduce the
pace.
• Do not try to cut stems or twigs that are larger
than 2/3 in. thick, or those obviously too large to
feed into the cutting blade. Use a non-powered
hand saw or pruning saw to trim large stems.
• If blades do become jammed, stop the motor,
allow the blades to stop and remove the battery
pack before attempting to remove the obstruction.
• If desired, you can use a string to help cut your
hedge level. Decide how high you want the
hedge. Then, stretch a piece of string along the
hedge at this height. Trim the hedge just above
this guide line of string. Trim the side of a hedge
so that it will be slightly narrower at the top. More
of the hedge will be exposed when shaped this
way, and it will be more uniform.
• Always hold hedge trimmer with both hands when
operating. Use a firm grip on the handles. The
unit is used for cutting in either direction in a slow,
sweeping action from side to side.
• Wear gloves when trimming thorny or prickly
growth.
• When trimming new growth, use a wide sweeping
action, so that the stems are fed directly into
the cutting blade. Older growth will have thicker
stems and will be trimmed easiest by using a
sawing movement.
10 -- English