Blade Thrust - Craftsman 358.798470 Operator's Manual

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OPERATION SAFETY
BLADE .................................
SAFETY
DANGER
THIS POWER UNIT CAN BE DANGEROUS! THIS UNIT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR BLINDNESS
TO THE OPERATOR AND OTHERS. THE WARNINGS AND SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL
MUST BE FOLLOWED TO PROVIDE REASONABLE SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY IN USING THIS UNIT.
THE OPERATOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FOLLOWING THE WARNINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS
MANUAL AND ON THE UNIT,,READ THE ENTIRE OPERATOR S MANUAL BEFORE ASSEMBLING AND
USING THIS UNIT! RESTRICT THE USE OF THIS POWER UNIT TO PERSONS WHO READ, UNDER-
STAND AND FOLLOW THE WARNINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL AND ON THE UNIT.
BLADE THRUST- WHEN THE SPINNING BLADE CONTACTS
ANYTHING IT CANNOT CUT, A DANGEROUS REACTION MAY
OCCUR CAUSING THE ENTIRE UNIT AND OPERATOR TO BE
THRUST VIOLENTLY IN ANY DIRECTION. THIS REACTION IS
CALLED BLADE THRUST. AS A RESULT, THE OPERATOR CAN
LOSE CONTROL OF THE UNIT. USE HANDLEBAR, SHOULDER
HARNESS, AND KEEP METAL BLADE SHIELD IN PLACE, MAKE
SURE OTHERS ARE AT LEAST 50 FEET (15 METERS) AWAY.
KEEP BLADE SHARP. CUT AT FULL THROTTLE AND FROM
YOUR RIGHT TO LEFt. KEEP HANDS, FEET AND UNIT IN PROP-
ER POSITION; REFER TO "GUARD AGAINST BLADE THRUST,"
PROPER BLADE- USE ONLY THE 8 °'BRUSH BLADE OR 8"
WEED BLADE AND PROPER HARDWARE AS SHOWN. THE
USE OF ANY OTHER PARTS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS
INJURY. DO NOT USE ANY ACCESSORY OR ATTACHMENT
OTHER THAN THOSE RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFAC-
TURER FOR USE WITH THIS UNIT. BLADES THAT ARE BENT,
WARPED, CRACKED, BROKEN, OR DAMAGED CAN FLY
APART AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY, DO NOT USE; THROW
AWAY,
8" WEED BLADE
ARBOR
(20MM)
8" BRUSH BLADE
BLADE THRUST IS a reaction that only occurs
when using a bladed unit. This reaction can cause
serious injury such as amputation. Carefully study
this section. Itis importantthat you understandwhat
causes blade thrust,how you can reducethe chance
of it occurring, and how you can remain in controlof
the unit if blade thrustoccurs.
WHAT CAUSES BLADE THRUST?
Blade Thrustcanoccurwhen thespinningbladecon-
tacts an object that it does not cut. This contact
causes the bladeto stop for an instantand then sud-
denlymove or "thrust" away fromthe objectthatwas
hit.The "thrusting" reaction can be violentenough to
cause the operator to be propelled in any direction
and Josecontrolotthe unit. The uncontrolledunitcan
cause sedous injuryif the blade contacts the opera-
tor or others.
WHEN DOES BLADE THRUST OCCUR?
Blade thrust can occur without warning if the blade
snags, stalls, or binds. This ismore likelyto occurin
areas where it isdifficultto see the matedal beingcut.
By using the unit properly, the occurrenceof blade
thrustwill be reduced and the operator will be less
likelyto lose control.
The forward tip on the metal bladeshieldhelpsto re-
duce the occurrence of blade thrustbut cannot pre-
vent the occurrence. The operator must follow all
warnings and safety instructionsin this manual to
lessen the chance of blade thrustoccurringand to
maintain controlof unit if the reactiondoes occur.
REDUCE THE CHANCE OF BLADE THRUST
• Cut vegetation up to 2 1/2" diameter saplingswith
saw blade.
• Cut onlygrass,weeds, and woodybrushup to 1/2" in
diameterwiththebrushtri-blade. Donotletthe blade
contact materialitcannot cut suchas stumps,rocks,
fences, metal, etc., or clustersof hard, woodybrush
having a diameter greater than 2 1/2 inches.
• Keep the blade sharp. A dull blade is more likely to
snag and thrust.
• Cut onlyat fullthrottle. The blade has maximumcut-
ting power at full throttleand is less likelyto bind or
stall.
• "Feed" the bladedeliberatelyandnottoo rapidly.The
blade can thrustaway if it is fed too rapidly.
• Cut onlyfrom yourright to your left.
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