GRASS/WEED TRIMMER BRUSHCUTTER and CLEARING SAW SAFETY MANUAL Read and understand these instructions. Failure to do so will increase risk of injury.
GRAPHIC WARNINGS Specifications, descriptions and illustrative material in this literature are as accurate as known at the time of publication, but are subject to change without notice. Illustrations may include optional equipment and accessories, and may not include all standard equipment. This device accompanied by the words Circle and slash symbol means whatever is shown is prohibited.
CONTENTS GRAPHIC WARNINGS .................................................................................................................................. 2 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ............................................................................................................................... 3 DEFINITION OF TERMS ............................................................................................................................... 5 CURVED SHAFT MODELS — CLOCKWISE ROTATION .............
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS (CONTINUED) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 4 A bladed unit can kickout, causing serious injury to helpers, bystanders or animals. Keep people and animals at least 15meters (approximately 50 feet) away. Use proper procedures to keep control of the unit. The blade can push, pull or kickout, causing the operator to lose his balance or lose control of the unit. Keep blades clear of fences, wires, posts, rocks, etc. to prevent kick out and blade damage.
GLOSSARY ANSI Z87.1 - The established standard for eye protection devices, set forth by the American National Standards Institutes (ANSI). BARRIER - A device, such as a bar handle, U-handle or harness, which restrains the unit’s cutting attachment from moving rearward and making inadvertent contact with the operator’s legs. BLADE RETAINER - A mechanism which holds the brushcutter blade to the driving member. HARNESS - The adjustable strapping by which the unit is suspended from the operator.
CURVED SHAFT MODELS CLOCKWISE HEAD ROTATION GT SERIES GRASS/WEED TRIMMERS D-HANDLE CURVED SHAFT SWITCH ON MOST MODELS STARTER GRIP SINGLE OR DOUBLE FEED NYLON LINE HEAD ACCORDING TO MODEL MUFFLER COVER LINE CUT-OFF KNIFE ON RIGHT SIDE OF DEBRIS SHIELD DEBRIS SHIELD THROTTLE LEVER WARNING SWITCH IS ON ENGINE ON SOME MODELS DANGER DO NOT INSTALL A METAL BLADE ON A GT UNIT.
STRAIGHT SHAFT MODELS SRM SERIES COUNTERCLOCKWISE HEAD ROTATION GRASS/WEED/BRUSH CUTTERS SHOULDER ROTARY MOWERS CONVERTIBLE FOR METAL BLADE USE D-HANDLE ON SOME MODELS IS SUITABLE FOR NYLON LINE TRIMMING, BUT MUST BE REPLACED WITH A U-HANDLE IF METAL BLADES ARE TO BE USED DEBRIS SHIELD STOP SWITCH SHOULDER/WAIST HARNESS THROTTLE LEVER STOP SWITCH THROTTLE LEVER DEBRIS SHIELD U-HANDLE REQUIRED FOR USE WITH METAL BLADES IS STANDARD ON THE LARGER SRM MODELS OPTIONAL BLADE BLADE ADAPTER NUT PACKAGE OF C
PROTECTIVE DEVICES TO BE WORN BY OPERATOR WEAR EYE/EAR PROTECTION EYE AND FACE PROTECTION At the minimum, the operator must wear eye approved protection, not only against objects thrown by the unit, but also because eye infections can be caused by airborne dust, seeds and pollen. ECHO safety goggles are stamped Z87 as being in compliance with ANSI Standard Z87.1 for eye protection devices. Prescription glasses may be worn under the safety goggles.
COMBINATIONS OF CUTTING HEADS, SHIELDS, HANDLES, ETC… PLASTIC DEBRIS SHIELD WHEN PROVIDED FOR STRAIGHT SHAFT UNITS PLASTIC DEBRIS SHIELD FOR CURVED SHAFT UNITS CUT-OFF KNIFE ON LEFT SIDE CUT-OFF KNIFE ON RIGHT SIDE DEBRIS SHIELDS FOR NYLON LINE HEADS BASIC COMPONENTS AVAILABLE FOR METAL BLADE USE REVIEW THE OPERATOR’S MANUAL FOR PROPER PROCEDURE WHEN CONVERTING FROM NYLON LINE HEAD TO BLADE APPLICATION 2. IF UNIT HAS A D-HANDLE, REPLACE WITH A BAR OR U-HANDLE BAR HANDLE 1.
RULES FOR SAFE OPERATION TRAINING WARNING DANGER All model trimmers and brushcutters can throw small gravel, stone, glass, metal or plastic objects as well as the material being cut. Read these “Rules for Safe Operation” with care. Follow instructions in this safety manual and in your operator’s manual. Read the operator’s manual carefully. Be thoroughly familiar with the controls and proper use of the unit. Know how to stop the unit and shut off the engine. Know how to unhook a harnessed unit quickly.
METER 1515 METERS DANGER ZONE DANGER ZONE NO PERSON EXCEPT OPERATOR ALLOWED IN 15 METER RADIUS* DANGER ZONE. EYE, EAR, FACE, FOOT, LEG AND BODY PROTECTION MUST BE WORN BY OPERATOR. PERSONS IN ZONE OF RISK BEYOND DANGER ZONE SHOULD WEAR EYE PROTECTION AGAINST THROWN OBJECTS. RISK DIMINISHES WITH DISTANCE FROM DANGER ZONE. Do not allow anyone to enter the operating DANGER ZONE with you. The danger zone is an area 15 meters in radius (about 16 paces) or 50 feet.
BALANCE TOOL FOR A LEVEL PLANE OF CUTTING HEAD ROTATION HARNESS QUICKRELEASE RING HARNESS CLAMP U-HANDLE THROTTLE TRIGGER DEBRIS SHIELD SEE THE OPERATOR’S MANUAL FOR PROPER HANDLE INSTALLATION. Use a shoulder harness when provided or when recommended in this manual. Adjust both harness and the harness clamp on the unit so the unit hangs with the cutting head a few inches above ground level. The cutting head and debris shield should be level in all directions. Harness the unit on the right side as shown.
You should be in good mental and physical health. Do not operate if you are under the influence of alcohol or any medication or substance which could affect your vision, dexterity or judgment. Inspect the area before using the unit. Remove objects which the unit could throw or become entangled with. Remember where there are obstructions to be avoided. It is good practice to remove any debris (wire, rocks, wood, cans, glass, etc.) after cutting an area.
Never operate the tool without good visibility and light. START ON GROUND WITH LINE OR BLADE HEAD IN THE CLEAR Lay the unit down on a clear area and set the controls for starting. While cranking the unit, use one hand to pull the starter handle and the other hand to stabilize the unit. To be sure the cutting line or blade cannot contact the ground or any obstruction, rest the unit on the debris shield (see illustration at left). Hold the unit firmly down so you will not lose control during cranking.
WARNING DANGER DO NOT OPERATE ONE-HANDED Use only ECHO cutting attachments on your unit. Do not mount a metal blade on any unit of the GT series. Do not mount an ordinary circular saw blade, lawnmower blade, edge/ trimmer blade, or grinding type cut off wheel on your ECHO Weed/Grass Trimmer or Weed/Brush Cutter. • • • • Always use both hands on the handles. Do not operate onehanded. Always hold the unit with the fingers and thumbs encircling the handles.
CURVED SHAFT UNITS DEBRIS SHIELD FOR CURVED SHAFT UNITS CUTTING WITH NYLON LINE WARNING CUT-OFF KNIFE ON RIGHT SIDE DANGER One of the intended purposes of the debris shield is to reduce the risk of the operator’s legs from being struck by thrown objects. The debris shield, however, should NOT be relied upon to provide protection for the eyes from thrown objects. Always wear approved eye protection goggles.
STRAIGHT SHAFT UNITS The proper debris shield must be in place on the unit when nylon cutting line is used. a) Units with EchomaticTM semi-automatic line head must have a debris shield with cut-off knife. b) Units with manual feed line head or blade head require a debris shield. Consult your operator’s manual for the proper debris shield. WARNING CUT-OFF KNIFE ON LEFT SIDE If your unit has a straight shaft, line head rotation is counterclockwise. The knife will be on the left side of the debris shield.
The basic cutting actions pictured are: Trimming, scything, scalping and lawn edging. These actions are as follows CURVED SHAFT UNITS TRIMMING: This is feeding the trimmer carefully into the material you wish to cut. Tilt the head slightly to direct debris away from you. If cutting up to a barrier such as a fence, wall or tree, approach from an angle where any debris ricocheting off the barrier will fly away from you.
STRAIGHT SHAFT UNITS TRIMMING WARNING DANGER Always check that there is a safe distance between the cutting device and your feet. Be sure to keep the cutting device away from your body during operation. DEBRIS KNIFE SIDE RAISED ANGLE TO WALL WEAR EYE/EAR PROTECTION ANGLE TO GROUND SCYTHING NOTE When scalping under the trees, do not cut into the soil where the surface roots could be injured, or feed the line into the bark of the tree.
RICHOCHET BOUNCE UNDER THE SHIELD Always wear proper eye protection against thrown objects. Objects can bounce up at you from the ground under the debris shield, or ricochet off any nearby hard surface. Do not trim at high blade or line speeds near roadways when there is traffic, or in places where there are pedestrians. If you must trim where people are in the zone of risk (see page 11) use a much lower or reduced blade or line speed, by using a partial trigger setting.
CUTTING WITH BLADES WARNING DANGER • Do not install a metal blade on GT series trimmer models, or any model which lacks a hole for the blade-securing cotter pin on the cutting head shaft. • When using an SRM model with metal blades, replace the trimmer debris shield with the metal blade debris shield. (See operator’s manual.) A brace is used on some models to support the shield.
GT SERIES CLOCKWISE ROTATION DO NOT TOUCH THESE TYPES OF OBJECTS WITH THE BLADE PULL METAL STAKES UTILITY WIRES PUSH OBJECT ON LEFT RUBBER OBJECT ON RIGHT SRM SERIES COUNTERCLOCKWISE ROTATION ROCKS MASONRY METAL FENCE PUSH WARNING PULL OBJECT ON LEFT OBJECT ON RIGHT KICKOUT (BLADE THRUST) CLOCKWISE KICKOUT Be sure you understand the reaction forces of push and pull, and kickout (also called blade thrust), described in this manual, and how these forces may affect your balance in the operation
NOTE Do not use a weed blade to cut brush or trees which exceed a diameter of 1/2 to 3/4 inches. Scything can be done in both directions, or just in one way which results in the debris being thrown away from you. That is using the side of the blade that it is rotating away from you. Tilt down the blade slightly on this same side. You will be hit by some debris if you scythe in both directions. SAWING. This must be done when weeds are too thick and strong for scything.
If a tether line is used to insure that a tree falls away from the blade, the line holder must wear proper eye protection and attire, and be no closer to the tool that 15 meters (50 feet). TETHER LINE HOLDER MUST WEAR PROPER EYE PROTECTION Be very careful when recutting cleared areas. If the blade can not cut clear through a short stump, it may tear it off and hurl it back at high speeds.
ECHO FLEXIBLE WEED/GRASS BLADE FOR SRM UNITS ONLY This three-bladed device, with a 10-inch radius, is made of flexible plastic on a rigid hub. Use in place of a nylon line head on ECHO SRM series units only. Not for heavy weeds or brush. WARNING DANGER A blade made of materials such as plastic or rubber can be equally as dangerous as a metal blade. Take every precaution possible when cutting with a blade no matter what material it is made of.
ECHO BRUSH BLADES FOR SRM UNITS ONLY 1. SHUT OFF ENGINE 3. PUSH TREE TO FREE BLADE KNIFE BRUSH CLEARING ECHO BLADES There are three types of ECHO Blades: knife, brush and clearing blades. The ECHO products catalog lists the blade sizes available. These blades must be in sharp condition for both safety and good results. Have dull blades sharpened professionally or have them replaced. 2.
Guard against kicking. Obstructions in or on the soil can cause the tines to kick forward or upward. The tines can also kick back toward the operator if allowed to contact obstructions above them. a) Wear non-slip gloves and use the proper grip on the handles to keep control of the unit. b) Avoid contact with obstructions at or below ground level. c) Keep the tines at ground level. Do not raise the head where tine contact with wires, branches, etc. could cause you to lose control.
ECHO INCORPORATED 400 OAKWOOD ROAD LAKE ZURICH, IL 60047 www.echo-usa.com PRINTED IN U.S.
