DR
®
TRIMMER/MOWER
™
Safety & Operating Instructions
19
Cord Tips
We ship two thicknesses of cutting cord with your DR
TRIMMER/MOWER
:
heavy-duty (130
mil) and extra heavy-duty (155 mil). Because conditions and vegetation vary so much, you
should experiment with cord weights (diameters) to discover what works best for your
particular mowing and trimming situations. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
■
If you buy cutting cord in rolls, cut it in 23
″
lengths.
■
Cord life depends on trimming conditions. Replace cords when they become broken or
frayed.
■
The smallest diameter cord capable of cutting the material at hand combined with the
fastest engine speed usually provides the best trimming performance. When you need
more power for thicker growth such as berry canes, brambles, thistles, or ragweed, you
may want to use the extra heavy-duty (155 mil) cord in combination with the highest
engine speed.
■
Ease the ends of the cord into heavy growth and move slowly through thick growth. If
there are woody weeds in the material you are cutting, the cutting cords may wrap
around the stalks they cannot cut, and pull away from the trimmer head.
■
To increase the cutting swath, install each cord slightly offset, with one end of the cord
about an inch longer than the other. Be careful not to offset the cords by more than an
inch. Doing so may cause the cords to hit the wheels.
■
Please note that installing more than two cords at a time does not improve trimming
performance—in fact, it can lessen it. Adding additional cords creates drag on the
trimmer head, robs the engine of power and may cause wrapping. Installing two cords,
180 degrees apart, is the best method for optimal trimming performance.
■
When replacing cords, do it one at a time and use the old cord to mark the position for
the new cord to be installed.
■
If the cord breaks off flush at the line plate, use the new cord to push the old cord out.
■
Storing the cord in a plastic bag with a damp sponge or cloth will help keep it pliable.
You can also soak your cutting cord in a bucket of room temperature water for a few
days before use to make it more pliable.