Poulan TE450 User Manual - Page 6

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS It is recommended that the engine not be operated for longer than 1 minute at full throttle. OPERATING POSITION ALWAYS WEAR: Eye Protection Long Pants Heavy Shoes Cut from your right to your left. WARNING: Always wear eye protec- tion. Never lean over the trimmer head. Rocks or debris can ricochet or be thrown into eyes and face and cause blindness or other serious injury. Do not run the engine at a higher speed than necessary. The cutting line will cut efficiently when the engine is run at less than full throttle. At lower speeds, there is less engine noise and vibration. The cutting line will last longer and will be less likely to "weld" onto the spool. Always release the throttle trigger and allow the engine to return to idle speed when not cutting. To stop engine: S Release the throttle trigger. S Move the ON/OFF switch to the OFF position. TWIST AND EDGE The Twist and Edge feature allows for easy edging of sidewalks, patios, driveways, etc. 1. Pull the tab toward the engine. 2. Twist the tube to the edging position; re- lease tab. Tab TRIMMER LINE ADVANCE The trimmer line will advance approximately 2 in. (5 cm) each time the bottom of the trimmer head is tapped on the ground with the engine running at full throttle. The most efficient line length is the maximum length allowed by the line limiter. Always keep the shield in place when the tool is being oper- ated. To advance line: S Operate the engine at full throttle. S Hold the trimmer head parallel to and above the grassy area. S Tap the bottom of the trimmer head lightly on the ground one time. Approximately 2 inches (5 cm) of line will be advanced with each tap. Always tap the trimmer head on a grassy area. Tapping on surfaces such as concrete or asphalt can cause excessive wear to the trimmer head. If the line is worn down to 2 inches (5 cm) or less, more than one tap will be required to obtain the most efficient line length. WARNING: Use only 0.080" (2 mm) diameter line. Other sizes and shapes of line will not advance properly and will result in improper cutting head function or can cause serious injury. Do not use other materials such as wire, string, rope, etc. Wire can break off during cutting and become a dangerous missile that can cause serious injury. CUTTING METHODS WARNING: Use minimum speed and do not crowd the line when cutting around hard objects (rock, gravel, fence posts, etc.), which can damage the trimmer head, become entangled in the line, or be thrown causing a serious hazard. S The tip of the line does the cutting. You will achieve the best performance and minimum line wear by not crowding the line into the cutting area. The right and wrong ways are shown below. Tip of the Line Line Crowded Into Does The Cutting Work Area Right Wrong S The line will easily remove grass and weeds from around walls, fences, trees and flower beds, but it also can cut the tender bark of trees or shrubs and scar fences. To help avoid damage especially to delicate vegetation or trees with tender bark, shorten line to 4--5 in. (10--13 cm) and use at less than full throttle. S For trimming or scalping, use less than full throttle to increase line life and decrease head wear, especially: S During light duty cutting. S Near objects around which the line can wrap such as small posts, trees or fence wire. S For mowing or sweeping, use full throttle for a good clean job. TRIMMING -- Hold the bottom of the trimmer head about 3 inches (8 cm) above the ground and at an angle. Allow only the tip of the line to make contact. Do not force trimmer line into work area. 6