In each country house, village, suburb and in the city itself, you can see these devices: they work tirelessly, leveling lawn grass, cleaning the space of squares and parks, gardens and kitchen gardens from thickets of burdock, wormwood and weeds. The noise and crackling from the trimmers is heard from the beginning of summer to autumn, until the grass growth slows down so much that it will no longer be necessary to trim it. The automatic braid has earned its popularity for the simplicity of the device and operation. It is easy to use, easy to care for, and in the event of a breakdown, you cannot easily repair it. The article will just talk about how to use the grass trimmer correctly.
Getting ready for operation
As with any other technique, there are rules for working with a trimmer. First you need to make sure that the main components and assemblies are safe: screw, rod, handle and motor. If the device has not yet been assembled, then it should be correctly assembled according to the instructions.
Petrol unit
In the case of a gas trimmer check gearbox for lubrication. Also, do not forget to add lubricants to the fuel tank, if this is indicated by the operating instructions. As a rule, gasoline and oil are mixed in a ratio of 45 to 1, but these figures may vary depending on the model and manufacturer, so you should carefully study all the technical requirements for the device. The fuel tank must be filled to the very neck. If all technical fluids are flooded, then you can try to start the device. It’s just not worth mowing right away, it’s better to let the trimmer run without load so that the engine runs in to the filled fuel. A few minutes will be enough, after which you can give the lawn a full load.
Electric braid
With an electric trimmer, everything is much simpler. Making sure that the gearbox has the required amount lithola, you can get to work. No additional measures will be required. Unless it is necessary to take care that the carrier does not run along the mowing path in order to avoid possible damage.
When the device itself is ready for operation, you should make sure that there is nothing around that could interfere with the work. If possible, the intended mowing area should be cleaned of snags, glass, stones and other hard objects that could damage the knife or fishing line.
It is better if other people do not approach the trimmer during operation. Typically, the recommended distance is at least 10-15 meters to prevent small debris (mulch) from getting into the eyes and face.
Depending on the upcoming work, you need to choose trimmer nozzle: screw-knife for weeds and hay, a line for lawn grass or a circular saw for shrubs. Mowing should be in the opposite direction from people, if possible, then moving away from buildings and buildings. Do not get too close to the fence and other structures, as the fishing line can catch on sharp edges, and the screw-knife can be bent if it accidentally touches a solid object.
The preparation of the device itself does not take much time, all modern device models are designed to facilitate and simplify their operation, starting to work as soon as possible.
We run in a gas trimmer
Most often, run-in is used in a lawn mower (gas trimmer). Run-in represents the operation of the engine at low speeds, without loads. To run in, it is necessary to start a lawn mowing and let it work at idle. It is best to make the first mowing with a fishing line, since when mowing grass, a lower engine load is assumed than when working with hay or shrubs.
The load must be increased gradually, gradually increasing the engine speed. If you start operation at high speeds, the engine may run in poorly, which will affect the entire further operation of the lawn mowers.
It is not necessary to develop the entire temporary resource at the first start of the engine. It is best to mow the lawn for 10-15 minutes after working at idle, then muffle the machine and allow it to cool slightly. Use the lawn mow carefully, without sharp movements, in order to avoid collisions with solid objects (stones). Stone strike can badly affect the work of not yet run-in nodes. In some cases, backlash, noise and hum appear during operation. This can easily be avoided if the trimmer is run in correctly.
First start of electric trimmer
Setting and running the trimmer is also not difficult. To do this, it must be assembled and launched, but not work immediately. It will be best to start the device several times (3-5 will be enough) to ensure an easy start. If the machine starts without problems, you can run it for five minutes on the lawn grass, without heavy loads.
Almost all modern electric trimmers are designed for operating mode 20/20, those. twenty minutes of operation and twenty minutes of rest. The latter is necessary for the engine to cool slightly. If you operate such a trimmer for more than 20 minutes, not allowing it to rest for the necessary time, then the engine’s life can decrease sharply, as it experiences an increased load.
Continuous operation it is not provided in the electric trimmer, but, nevertheless, if you do not run it in correctly, gradually increasing the load and operating time (up to 20, but not more than minutes), the device may not work correctly, causing the owner of the trouble constant breakdowns and malfunctions.
It is important to remember that running-in and putting the device into operation is an integral part of the proper maintenance of the equipment. Thanks to this, the device will last much longer. On what the first launch will be, its further work largely depends. Do not rush, even if the amount of work to be done is not small, it is best to give the electric motor the proper rest, because it will last much longer.
Put on a belt
Without a belt, the operation of the trimmer is impossible: it also provides redistribution of tension from the arms to the shoulders and spine, and helps optimize the return. Wearing a belt is necessary to an already assembled device, when the bar is in the groove of the engine.
The belt itself is mounted on a metal loop, which provides a tight fit even at maximum load. The design of the belt mount is the same in all models and does not require additional manipulations during installation. It is enough to insert a loop into the provided hole. and fixing will be provided.
Just putting a belt on is not enough; you need to debug it for yourself. The adjustment of the belt depends on the height of the person. To make sure that the belt is tensioned correctly, you can work. If in the process of mowing the shoulders and arms do not get tired quickly enough, and the vibration does not cause unpleasant sensations in the muscles, then the belt is set correctly. If your hands quickly get tired, turn off the device, loosen the belt, and tighten it again to your height. This procedure must be carried out until the trimmer lies exactly “on the arm”, and when it weighs, the length of its bar will be optimal relative to the surface.
Important: it is not recommended to use a trimmer with a poorly tightened belt, it can be traumatic. Such a belt runs the risk of slipping off your shoulder and getting under your feet. And hands without redistributing efforts with the help of a belt get tired much faster.
Video: Replacing Fishing Line In Huter Trimmer
Adjust belt length using the loop is quite easy: just tighten it to reduce the volume, or loosen it to increase the length.
Trimmer in action
So, the preparatory phase is over, it’s time to get to work. Where to start? How to use all the features of the device? Of course, you can just get to work and learn everything by trial and error, or adhere to simple but true recommendations and get a wonderful effect after the first mowing. There are nuances everywhere, whether it’s mowing the lawn, sawing bushes with a disc or mowing grass under hay. You should start with the simplest.
How to mow the lawn to make it smooth
Lawn means open flat area, excluding any large landscape irregularities (pits, hills). Of course, snags and stumps should not stick out of the ground. they should be taken care of uprooting in advance. It is best to plant a place under the lawn with soft varieties of grass that lend themselves well to mowing. In this case, you will spend much less effort.
- Experts recommend dividing the entire area into small squares and mowing them, moving from one to another clockwise. In this case, the grass that you mowed always remains on the left, and will not interfere with further manipulations with the trimmer.
- If necessary mow “under the root", Then the angle of contact with the surface should be at least 30 degrees. With this technique, the apparatus is practically in contact with the surface with a cutting knife.
- It is believed that to give the lawn a finished look, it must be mowed by a cart-type lawn mower. This is partly true, but having adapted, you can achieve good results with a manual trimmer. To correct defects after the trimmer is also recommended to use hand shears for grass.
- The lower the line, the smoother the lawn. Leaving the grass taller, it is likely that it will be cut differently in different places. This is due to the fact that the trimmer itself is not fixed on the horizontal plane, which leads to irregularities in the reciprocating movement made during operation.
Kosim under the hay
Hay for the villager is a necessity. this is animal feed in the winter, fertilizer and covering material that protects the planting from the cold. Of course, with such versatility of use, the question arises of the advance harvesting of hay. Mowing the workpiece differs from the usual aesthetic cleaning of the perimeter with some features.
- For example, so that the mowed grass is not crushed into mulch, it is necessary mow under the root, lowering the bar with the disc as low as possible.
- Should outline swaths, in which the mowed grass will fall. this will help to avoid piling up and crowding. In addition, upon completion of work, it will be easier to clean.
- Another very important point. mowing large weeds. For example, the formed bush of a burdock, which not every knife can cut. If you encounter such a large weed, you should mow it in a circle and continue working. When the work on the perimeter is completed, lonely sticking weeds will remain on the site, which are easy to clean with your hands, and they will not mix with grass.
- The main thing in mowing under hay is leave grass length, not letting her lose shape. Otherwise, the resulting mulch can only be used as a covering material.
- The cutting width must remain strictly fixed, as you must remember the average size and length of the workpiece.
Some experts recommend using fishing line when mowing under hay, but this is not always correct. Firstly, usually the grass on such a site is high, moreover, its base is more dense and formed. Using fishing line will increase engine wear, as it will have to work at high speeds. Of course, this will affect performance. Secondly, the fishing line is simply not designed for such loads. Using this material, you risk not only the line itself, but the entire mower.
The best option is a disk designed for shrubs. it is designed for increased loads. In addition, tall grass is coarser at the base, and it will be mowed with a blade more productively than a fishing line intended for soft, silky lawn grass.
There are additional devices for mowing with a trimmer for hay, but all of them are unofficial modifications. In other words, homemade improvements, the use of which is highly not recommended, because the behavior of the device in unexplored conditions can be unpredictable. Following simple recommendations, you can quickly get the necessary experience and harvest hay in large volumes.
Mowing tall grass
Cutting tall grass is not difficult. Mowing occurs immediately in two directions. First left, then right (first pass), cutting off the top. Then in the opposite direction, but already lowering the bar with the blade to the required level. In this case, the grass that is mowed remains to lie on the left side, which is very convenient for subsequent collection. It happens that the weeds have grown too much and abundantly. In this case, you may need several movements left and right, the main thing is to adhere to the correct pattern.
With several movements, the fishing line is consumed much faster, but in some cases it may be necessary to get to the base of the thicket, into which it is impossible to cut through immediately. If necessary fishing line can be alternated with a knife. If difficulties arise, and the performance of the device decreases, it will be enough just to replace the consumable and start working again.
Do not try to mow tall grass immediately below the base. this can lead to difficulties. For example, a long stalk can be wound on a fishing line, which will lead to a long unplanned stop.
Important: when working with a blade, the speed of operation may slow down somewhat, since its area is less than the scope of the fishing line.
Operating the trimmer in wet weather
It should immediately be noted that in rain, wet and damp weather, the operation of electric trimmers is completely excluded. This may cause a short circuit and electric shock. Do not use the appliance even after rain, you must wait until the lawn grass is aired and dries. However, with petrol lawn mowers everything is also not as smooth as we would like. Some well-known manufacturers prohibit the use of their models in the rain, since the power units do not have the necessary degree of protection against moisture.
Wet equipment must also not be operated. If the braid has been in the rain for some (albeit short) time, then it must be brought to a dry place, wiped and allowed to dry before starting.
The lawn mower lacks some of the design flaws of the trimmer, but is not completely immune from damage due to moisture.
Some experts claim that gas trimmers can be mowed non-stop, even if it is raining lightly. Of course, this is not recommended, because it increases the likelihood of damage to various components and the engine itself. engine overhead trimmer less sensitive to moisture, but it is also not immune to power surges due to water extending into the connector. You can limit yourself to buying a new extension cord, but repairing or replacing the trimmer itself is not cheap.
Choose the speed correctly
At what speed should you mow to cut the lawn evenly? When is it better to increase or decrease speed? How long can you keep high revs? It should be noted that all these issues relevant only for gas trimmer. the trimmer does not have the ability to choose the frequency of the engine, it almost reaches its peak power and works on it while both power buttons are clamped.
If the device itself allows you to adjust the engine speed during operation, then the following will be optimal:
- minimum speed for working with lawn grass on a flat surface;
- medium revolutions when using a disk for tall grass and not thick bushes;
- increased (maximum) speed for cutting down bushes.
Important: no matter what speed is used during operation, it is important to give the motor a rest, especially if a non-standard (increased) load is implied.
Mowing time
Electric mower can work without a break for no more than 20 minutes, after which she will need the same amount of time to relax. The motor needs to cool so that the plastic parts do not melt.
Petrol trimmers allow longer operation. On average, you can work up to 40-60 minutes, or until the fuel runs out. In any case, the break should not be less than ten minutes, but better if all twenty. The point here is the engine itself, which is devoid of the liquid cooling system, which is natural for ICE. To avoid overheating and increased wear, it is better to give the device the opportunity to cool down, and at the same time restore its strength or collect already mowed grass.
Mowing Safety
What are the safety measures when working with a trimmer? There are several simple and understandable points, following which you can avoid dangerous situations and minimize the possibility of injury:
- Do not use the trimmer in wet or wet weather (especially the trimmer);
- dress before mowing tight clothes, so as not to injure the skin with pieces of grass stems flying away from the disc or fishing line at high speed;
- keep a distance 15 meters from other people and pay attention to signs that others can give;
- use headphones or ear plugs;
- Using a trimmer, make sure that the wire from the extension cord is always left behind;
- put on tight rubber boots, which are easy to clean after work;
- use gloves and safety glasses, to avoid getting small stones in the eyes and respiratory tract;
- If injured, seek medical advice immediately.
In addition to the above, do not forget to glance around, suddenly an obstacle awaits you in front or from the side. When plunging a bar with a blade into dense thickets of grass, you need to remember that there may be a stone, a stump, or berries (for example, strawberries). Working with a trimmer requires discipline and attention, but, having understood the simple rules, it will become familiar, understandable and will bring only positive emotions from the results.