© 06/2020 ECHO Incorporated X7152270100
13
QUICK START GUIDE / GUÍA DE INICIO RÁPIDO / GUIDE DE DÉMARRAGE
RAPIDE
PAS-225 / PAS-2620
Pro Attachment Series
™
General
•
Debris flows in direction of line head rotation. Change line head position to
assure debris flow is directed away from operator.
• Keep cutting line away from wire fences to avoid entanglement.
• Operate trimmer only with cutting head below knee height.
Operating Techniques - metal or plastic blade
Brush cutter blades can be used to cut and trim a wide variety of matereials,
refer to the blade selection section for determining the correct blade for the
application.
Scything (3, 8, and 80 tooth weed/grass, and brush blades)
•
To cut large sections of field grass and weeds swing the cutting
head in a level arc, gradually feeding the blade into the material
being cut. Adjust throttle speed according to your work.
• Do not swing the main pipe with arms. Turn hips to swing the
blade horizontally from right to left, and cut weeds on the left
side of the blade.
• Do not scythe back and forth as the grass can scatter and
kickout can occur easily.
• Tilt blade left by 5 to 10 degrees so that cut grasses will push
left, making progress easier.
• Move forward with each arc to cut a swath.
• Width of cutting swath depends on arc. Use a larger arc for a
wider swath, or a smaller arc for a narrow swath. Suggested
cutting width is about 1.5 m (4.9 ft).
• When scything large brush up to 0.5” diameter from right to left,
avoid cutting with highlighted section.
Reaction Forces
• The cutting attachment will continue to rotate even after the throttle is
released, maintain control of the unit until it has come to a complete
stop.
• Blade thrust can occur when the spinning blade contacts an object
that it does not immediately cut. Following proper cutting techniques
will prevent blade thrust.
• Blade thrust can be violent enough to cause the unit and/or operator to
be propelled in any direction, and possibly lose control of the unit.
• Blade thrust can occur without warning if the blade snags, stalls or
binds.
•
Blade thrust is more likely to occur in areas where it is difficult to see
the material being cut.
Push or Pull - Kickout
During normal use, operating a brushcutter with a circular metal blade can
produce sudden strong reaction forces that are difficult to control. Strong
reaction forces can cause a loss of balance or loss of control of the equipment,
resulting in serious injury to operator and bystanders.
Understanding what causes these reactive forces can help you to avoid them,
and can help you to maintain control of the equipment if you experience a
sudden reaction during cutting. Reactive forces occur when the force being
applied by the cutting teeth of a blade meet resistance, and some of the cutting
force is directed back toward the equipment. The greater the cutting force or
the amount of resistance, the greater the reactive force.
Push and Pull Forces
Push and pull forces are reactive forces that push the
equipment directly toward the operator, or that pull the
equipment directly away from the operator. These forces are
the result of cutting on the sides of the blade. The direction of
the force depends on the side of the blade being used, and the
direction of blade rotation at the point of contact. The reactive
force is in the opposite direction of blade rotation at the contact
point, regardless of where the contact is being made. These
types of reactive forces are also called “Blade Thrust.”
As shown in the illustration, a blade turning counterclockwise
will cause the equipment to pull away from the operator if the
point of cutting resistance is on the left side of the blade. If
the point of cutting resistance is on the right side of the blade,
the equipment will push back toward the operator. In both
examples, the reactive force is in the opposite direction of
blade rotation at the contact point where resistance occurs.
Kickout
Kickout is also a reactive force caused by resistance to
cutting, but the direction of blade thrust is lateral (to the left
or right of the blade), instead of forward or back toward the
operator. In most cases, Push, Pull, and Kickout can be
reduced or eliminated by:
• Using the correct blade for the cutting job.
• Using properly sharpened blades.
• Applying consistent, even force to the blade during the
cut.
• Avoiding obstacles and ground hazards.
• Using extra care when cutting harder materials such as
extremely dry brush, saplings, and small trees.
• Cutting from a stable, secure position.
Blade Cutting Problems
Binding - Blades can bind in the cut if dull
or forced. Binding can damage blade, and
result in blade breakage or injury from
fragments and flying debris. If a blade binds
in a cut, don’t try to get it out by applying
“up and down” force to pry the cut open.
Applying prying force to the blade can bend
the blade, and result in blade failure and
injury.
To free a blade that is bound in the cut,
stop the engine, and support the trimmer
or brushcutter to keep stress off the blade.
Push the tree away from the entry point of
the cut to open the cut, and pull the blade
directly away from the cut in a straight-line
motion. Use caution when releasing the tree to avoid being struck by spring-
back or falling.
Inspect the blade for damage before proceeding. Sharpen teeth if dull, or
replace blade if cracked, bent, missing teeth, or otherwise damaged.
To prevent binding:
• Keep blades sharp.
• Avoid excessive pressure during cuts.
• Don’t exceed cutting capacity of blade.
• Don’t use blades with damaged or missing cutting teeth.
• Don’t rock blades in cut.
Operation With Blades
Metal blades are very sharp and can cause severe injuries, even if
engine is off and blades are not moving. Avoid contact with blades. Wear
gloves to protect hands.
Blade use demands specific brush cutter configuration. Operation
without specified shield, barrier bar or U-handle, and harness can result
in serious personal injury. Follow installation instructions.
Material
to be
Cut
Grass Weed/
Grass
Weed/
Grass
Brush
(<0.5”)
Clearing
(<2.5”)
Cutting
Attachment
Nylon
line head
Included
Maxi-Cut
head,
Pro Maxi-
Cut head
3 Tooth
Blade,
8 Tooth
Blade
80 Tooth
Blade
22 Tooth
Blade
Shield
Shield
Included
Included
with unit
Included
with unit
Included
with Blade
Included with
Blade
Handle
Handle
Included
U-Handle*
or Support
Handle w/
Barrier Bar
U-Handle*
or Support
Handle w/
Barrier Bar
U-Handle*
or Support
Handle w/
Barrier Bar
U-Handle*
or Support
Handle w/
Barrier Bar
Harness
Not
Required
Not
Required
Supplied
w/Kit
Supplied
w/Kit
Supplied
w/Kit
*ANSI standards require brushcutters be equipped with a barrier bar or
restrictive harness. U-Handle ensures a higher safety factor.
