5Caution:KickbackDiagrammaticfigureDiagrammaticfigureMethod of operationOnly use the Brush cutter/Grass trimmer in good light and visibility. During the–winter season beware of slippery or wet areas, ice and snow (risk of slipping).Always ensure a safe footing.Never cut above waist height.–Never stand on a ladder and run the Brush cutter/Grass trimmer.–Never climb up into trees to perform cutting operation with the Brush cutter/–Grass trimmer.Never work on unstable surfaces.–Remove sand, stones, nails etc. found within the working range.–Foreign particles may damage the cutting tool and can cause dangerouskick-backs.Before commencing cutting, the cutting tool must have reached full working–speed.If grass or branches get caught between the cutting tool and guard, always–stop the engine before cleaning. Otherwise unintentional blade rotation maycause serious injury.Take a rest to prevent loss of control caused by fatigue. We recommend to–take a 10 to 20-minute rest every hour.Kickback (blade thrust)When operating the brush cutter, uncontrolled kickback may occur.–This is particularly the case when attempting to cut within a blade segment–between 12 and 2 o’clock.Never apply the brush cutter within a segment between 12 and 2 o’clock.–Never apply this segment of the brush cutter blade to solids, such as bushes–and trees, etc., having a diameter in excess of 3 cm or the brush cutter will bedeflected at great force with the risk of injuries.Kickback preventionTo avoid kickbacks, observe the following:Operation within a blade segment between 12 and 2 o’clock presents positive–hazards, especially when using metal cutting tools.Cutting operations within a blade segment between 11 and 12 o’clock, and–between 2 and 5 o’clock, must only be performed by trained and experiencedoperators, and then only at their own risk.Easy cutting with almost no kickback is possible within a blade segmentbetween 8 and 11 o’clock.Cutting ToolsEmploy only the correct cutting tool for the job in hand.EM4250, EM4251 with cutter blade (Star Blade (4 teeth), Eddy Blade (8 teeth)),Nylon cutting headFor cutting thick materials, such as weed, high grass, bushes, shrubs,underwood, thicket etc. (max. 2 cm dia. thickness). Perform this cutting work byswinging the brush cutter evenly in half-circles from right to left (similar to usinga scythe).Never use other blades including metal multi-piece pivoting chains and flailblades. Otherwise serious injury may result.Maintenance instructionsHave your equipment serviced by our authorized service center, always using–only genuine replacement parts. Incorrect repair and poor maintenance canshorten the life of the equipment and increase the risk of accidents.The condition of the cutter, in particular of the cutting tool of the protective–devices and also of the shoulder strap must be checked before commencingwork. Particular attention is to be paid to the cutting blades which must becorrectly sharpened.Turn off the engine and remove spark plug connector when replacing or–sharpening cutting tools, and also when cleaning the cutter or cutting tool.