EARTHWISE DT71613AA 16 Inch 13 Amp Electric Corded Dethatcher Cultivator with Scarifier Owner’s Manual

EARTHWISE DT71613AA 16 Inch 13 Amp Electric Corded Dethatcher Cultivator

with Scarifier

This product has been engineered and manufactured to our high standard for dependability, ease of operation, and operator safety. Properly cared for, it will give you years of rugged, trouble-free performance.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of injury, the user must read and understand the owner’s manual before using this product.
Thank you for your purchase.
DO NOT RETURN THIS PRODUCT TO THE STORE. OPERATING, ASSEMBLY, PARTS, SERVICE QUESTIONS? GO TO WWW.AMERICANLAWNMOWER.COM, OR CALL 1-800-633-1501 BETWEEN 8:00AM-5:00PM EST FOR ASSISTANCE.

SYMBOLS

Some of the following symbols may be used on this product. Please study them and learn their meaning. Proper interpretation of these symbols will allow you to operate the product better and safer.

• Precautions that involve your safety.
• CAUTION! Read the instruction manual and follow the warning and safety instructions!
• CAUTION! Remove plug from outlet immediately if the cable is damaged or cut.
• SWITCH OFF! the machine, wait until it comes to a complete standstill and remove plug from outlet prior to maintenance, cleaning or repair work!
• CAUTION! Always wear eye and ear protection.
• Wear safe, sturdy, nonskid footwear!
• DANGER! objects may be thrown out at high speed when motor is running. Do not walk in front of running machine.
• Keep bystanders at a safe distance.
• Keep the electrical cord free of the auger. The auger may damage the cord and cause contact with live parts.
• DANGER! Rotating blades. Keep hands and feet at a safe distance.
• Do not place hand under auger.
• Do not expose to rain or use in damp locations.
• DANGER! Risk of electric shock.
• Do not use in rain or electrical storms.

Waste electrical products should not be disposed of with household waste. Please recycle where facilities exist. Check with your Local Authority or retailer for recycling advice.

IMPORTANT SAFETY WARNINGS

TO REDUCE RISK OF INJURY: Before any use be sure everyone using this product reads and understands all safety instructions and other information contained in this manual.
CAUTION: Wear appropriate personal hearing protection during use. Under some conditions and duration of use, noise from this product may contribute to hearing loss.
Save these instructions and review frequently prior to use and in instructing others.
WARNING: When using electric gardening appliances, basic safety precautions should always be followed to reduce risk of fire, electric shock, and personal injury, including the following:
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS

GENERAL SAFETY

• REPLACEMENT PARTS
  When servicing use only identical replacement parts.

• POLARIZED PLUGS – To reduce the risk of electric shock, this product has a polarized plug. Polarized connections will fit together only one way. Make sure that the receptacle end of the extension cord has large and small blade slot widths. If the plug does not fit fully into the extension cord, reverse the plug. If it still does not fit, obtain a suitable extension cord. If the extension cord does not fit fully into the outlet, contact a qualified electrician to install the proper outlet. Do not change the plug on the tool or the extension cord in any way.

• AVOID DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENTS – Don’t use this product in rainy, stormy, damp or wet locations. Do not operate in gaseous or explosive atmospheres. Motors in these products normally spark, and the sparks might Ignite fumes. Don’t use in rain.

• KEEP CHILDREN AWAY – All visitors, children and pets should stay at a safe distance from the work area.

• DRESS PROPERLY- Don’t wear loose clothing or jewelry and wear protective hair covering to contain long hair. They can be caught in moving parts. Use of rubber gloves and substantial footwear is recommended when working outdoors.

• USE SAFETY GLASSES – Wear safety glasses with side shields or goggles that are marked to comply with ANSI Z87.1 standard when operating this product. Use face or dust mask if environment is dusty.

• USE RIGHT APPLIANCE – Do not use this product for any job except that for which it is intended.

• GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER (GFCI) protection should be provided on the circuit or outlet to be used for the tiller/cultivator. Receptacles are available having built-in GFCI protection and may be used.

• WARNING: To reduce the risk of electric shock, use only with an extension cord intended for outdoor use, such as an extension cord of cord type SW-A, SOW-A, STW-A, STOW-A, SJW-A, SJOW-A, SJTW-A. or SJTOW-A.

• EXTENSION CORD. Make sure your extension cord is in good condition. When using an extension cord be sure it is heavy enough to carry the current your product will draw. An undersized extension cord will cause a drop in line voltage resulting in loss of power and overheating. The following table shows the correct size to use depending on cord length and nameplate ampere rating. If in doubt, use the next heavier gage. The smaller the gage number, the heavier the cord.

Minimum Gage for Cord Sets

Volts                     Total Length of cord in Feet 120V 0-25      26-50     51-100     101-150

Ampere Rating

More Not More             American wire Gage Than                    Than

0      –      6      18           16             16            14

6      –   10      18           16             14            12

10     –   12      16           16             14            12

12     –   16      14           12        Not Recommended

It is possible to tie the extension cord and power cord in a knot to prevent them from becoming disconnected during use. Make the knot as shown, then connect the plug end of the power cord into the receptacle end of the extension cord. This method can also be used to tie two extension cords together.

• Use one of the plug-receptacle retaining straps or connectors described in this manual.
• Avoid Unintentional Starting – Don’t carry plugged-in appliance with finger on switch. Be sure switch is off when plugging in.
• DON’T ABUSE CORD – Never carry this product by the cord or yank the cord to disconnect from the receptacle. Keep cord from heat, oil, and sharp edges.
• DON’T FORCE APPLIANCE – It will do the job better and with less likelihood of a risk of injury at the rate for which it was designed.
• DON’T OVERREACH – Guide the appliance at a walking pace only. Keep proper footing and balance at all times.
• STAY ALERT – Watch what you are doing. Use common sense. Do not operate the appliance when you are tired or under the influence of drugs or medication.
• DISCONNECT APPLIANCE – Disconnect the appliance from the power supply when not in use, before servicing, when changing accessories such as blades, and the like. Do not leave unattended.
• STORE IDLE UNIT INDOORS – When not in use, the appliance should be stored indoors in a dry area out of children’s reach.
• MAINTAIN UNIT WITH CARE – Keep clean for best performance and to reduce the risk of injury. Follow instructions for lubricating and changing accessories. Inspect unit cord periodically, and if damaged, have it repaired by an authorized service facility. Inspect extension cord periodically and replace if damaged. Keep handles dry, clean and free from oil.
• CHECK FOR DAMAGED PARTS – Before further use of the product, any part that is damaged should be carefully checked to determine that it will operate properly and perform its intended function. Check for alignment of moving parts, binding of moving parts, breakage of parts, mounting and any other condition that may affect its operation. Any part that is damaged should be properly repaired or replaced. For assistance call our customer service help line at 1-800-633-1501.
• WARNING: Keep hands and feet away from blades.
• DOUBLE INSULATION – The appliance has double insulation. This means that all external metal parts are insulated from the electrical supply. This is achieved by introducing an insulation layer between electrical and mechanical parts. The double insulation guarantees you the greatest possible safety.
• WARNING – To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not expose unit to water or operate unit on wet ground.
• WARNING – To reduce the risk of injury to persons, do not operate without guards in place.
• Be aware of the extension cord while operating the appliance. Be careful not to trip on the cord. Always guide the cord away from the blade.
• OVERHEAT PROTECTION – If the dethatcher is blocked by a foreign object or if the motor is overloaded, the motor will switch off automatically by the protection device. Wait for the motor to cool down (approx. 15 minutes) before starting the dethatcher again.
• CAUTION: The appliance may bounce upward and/or jump forward if the tines strike extremely hard packed soil, frozen ground, or buried obstacles such as large stones, roots or stumps.
• WARNING: Replace damaged cord immediately.
• LIGHTING – Only operate your appliance in daylight or good artificial light.
• Do not operate the dethatcher on a slope that is too steep for safe operation. When on slopes, slow down and make sure you have good footing.
• Before starting the dethatcher make sure the blade is not touching any object and are free to move.
• Always hold the tool with both hands. Never operate the appliance with one hand.
• WARNING: Do not operate the appliance near underground electrical cables, telephone lines, pipes or hoses.
• If the appliance strikes a foreign body, turn it off immediately, wait for the tines to stop and check for damage. If necessary, repair before restarting.
• If the appliance starts to vibrate abnormally, turn it off immediately and check for the cause. Vibration is generally a warning of trouble.
• DANGER: RISK OF CUT – Wear gloves and use caution when cleaning or performing maintenance on the appliance.
• Always turn off the appliance, disconnect from the power supply and wait until the tines come to a complete stop before carrying out any maintenance or repairs.
• CAUTION: Tines do not stop immediately after the unit is turned off.
• CAUTION: Risk of injury. Do not put hands, feet or any body part or clothing near the rotating tines.
• WARNING: California Proposition 65:
• This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.
• WARNING: Some dust and debris created by the use of this tool could contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Some examples of these chemicals are:
  • chemicals in fertilizers
  • compounds in insecticides, herbicides, and pesticides
  • arsenic and chromium from chemically treated lumber
• Your risk from exposure to these chemicals varies, depending on how often you do this type of work. To reduce your exposure, work in a well-ventilated area and with approved safety equipment such as dust masks that are specially designed to filter out microscopic particles.
• WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm – www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

Model: DT71613AA

• Power supply voltage: 120 V-60 Hz,
• Working width: 16-IN
• No Load Speed: 3200 RPM
• Working depth: -10 mm ~ 10 mm
• Power Consumption: 13 Amp
• Grass Catcher Capacity: 1.1 Bushel

ASSEMBLY

This product requires assembly.

• Carefully remove the product and any accessories from the box. Make sure that all items listed in the packing list are included.
• Inspect the product carefully to make sure no breakage or damage occurred during shipping.
• Do not discard the packing material until you have carefully inspected and satisfactorily operated the product.

PACKING LIST

• Dethatcher
• Upper Handle Section
• Center Handle Section
• Grass catcher
• Hardware Bag
• Scarifier
• Owner’s Manual

WARNING: If any parts are damaged or missing, do not operate this product until the parts are replaced. Failure to heed this warning could result in serious personal injury.
If any parts are damaged or missing, please call customer service at 1-800-633-1501 for assistance.
WARNING: Do not connect to power supply until assembly is complete. Failure to comply could result in accidental starting and possible serious personal injury.
WARNING: Do not attempt to modify this product or create accessories not recommended for use with this product. Any such alteration or modification is misuse and could result in a hazardous condition leading to possible serious personal injury.

HANDLES ASSEMBLY

• Lift up the lower handle by turning the lock knob (A) clockwise to tighten. ( Fig.2)
• Align the holes on lower (1) and center handles (3).Thread the handle bolt (2) into the hole and secure the handles with a fluted nut (4).
• Repeat on the opposite side. ( Fig.3)
• Install the upper handle (1) onto the assembled center handles (3).
• Align the holes on upper handle with the holes on center handles. Secure the handles with bolts (2) and fluted nuts (4). (Fig. 4)

GRASS CATCHER ASSEMBLY

• Lift up the rear deck cover (5) and attach the grass catcher (6) with hooks (7) onto the slots on motor housing. (Fig. 5)

OPERATING

STARTING:
Secure the extension cord into the cord retainer. The loop of the extension cord must be long enough for the cord retainer to freely slide from one side to the other. Plug the extension cord into the power cord plug on the tool. (See Fig. 6)

• Move the dethatcher to the work area prior to starting the motor.
  WARNING: Do not start dethatcher if it is standing in long grass or solid ground.

• To Start
  To start the dethatcher, press and hold the safety lock button (A) on the switch box while pulling the bail wire (B) up and toward the handle. The motor will start and the raker will begin to rotate. (See Fig. 7)

• To stop the dethatcher, simply release the bail wire.

• Before use, remove any visible stones or other foreign bodies from the area.

• CAUTION: Before moving the dethatcher from one area to another switch off the motor and wait for the raker to come to a complete stop. Be careful not to let the raker touch the ground while moving the dethatcher. The raker as well as the unit itself may be damaged even if the motor is switched off.

RAKER FUNCTION

With the raker cylinder, this appliance can be used as a raker for removing weeds and moss in the lawn as well as leaves debris.In order to develop a healthy lawn in the spring, it is necessary for greater amounts of air to penetrate the area around the roots of the grass. We recommend raking the lawn twice a year, e.g. in the Spring and in the Autumn.
To achieve good result and increase the lifetime of the raker cylinder, mow your lawn to a shorter height (less than 4 cm) before starting.

CHANGING INTO SCARIFIER FUNCTION

This dethatcher can be used under scarifier function as neened. To start with scarifier (A), remove the raker (B) from the unit by loosening two screws (C) counter-clockwise. And pull it directly out of the mounting bracket. Then replace it with a scarifier by inserting the right side of the scarifier into the post as protruding out of the housingand align the other side of the scarifier with the holes on the bracket and secure them with two screws (C) by turning clockwise. Make sure the scarifier is correctly secured on the unit before starting. ( Fig. 8)

SET WORKING DEPTH
This dethatcher can be set 5 raking depth positions. Slide the depth adjustment lever to the left or right to control the working depth as follows:

• Select the working depth depending upon the state of the lawn and the actual height of the grass.
• Tilt the dethatcher backwards slightly so that both front wheels are off the ground.
• Switch the dethatcher on, the raker cylinder starts rotation freely.
• Always guide the dethatcher at an even speed depending on the type of ground. Remaining in one place too long can damage the grass, if the ground is wet or too dry.
• To prevent tripping, take particular care when moving backwards and when pulling the dethatcher.
• Never pass the dethatcher over the extension cable while it is running; make sure it is always in a safe position behind your back. (Fig. 10).
• When working on inclines always stand diagonally to the incline in a sturdy, safe stance. Do not work on extremely steep slopes.
• Empty the grass box when it is full in order to prevent the blade from becoming clogged and the motor from being overload.

MAINTENANCE

WARNING: Before carrying out maintenance operations, disconnect power supply. Failure to heed this warning could result in serious personal injury.

• Before each use check the extension cord for signs of damage or aging. Replace the cable if it is cracked, split or otherwise damaged. Check the condition of the dethatcher and ensure that all threaded connections are securely tightened.
• CAUTION: Always clean the dethatcher after each use. Failure to carry out proper cleaning can result in damage to the dethatcher or result in poor performance.
• After each use remove the collection bag. Empty and clean the bag after each use.
• Always store this unit on a steady surface, and block the wheels to prevent it from rolling. Tilt the appliance forward.
• Clean the underside of the housing around the blades and the safety flap with a scrubbing brush or rag. Never splash with water!
• Stand the appliance on its wheels again, clean the ventilator and any remaining grass or dirt.
• Replace worn or damaged parts with original replacement parts only. Parts from another dethatcher may not fit properly causing an unsafe situation.
• Make sure all protective devices are secure and in good condition. Repair or replace if necessary.
• WARNING: Injury can occur while working on the blade. Wear protective gloves.

Wheels Removal and Installation

To remove the front and rear wheels from the shafts, pry out wheel caps, remove the M5 X 12 hex head bolts and O-rings from the shafts. Remove the wheels from the shaft. Reverse above steps to install wheels.

STORAGE

• Store the Dethatcher in a dry, clean area out of reach of children.
• During extended periods of storage, ensure that the dethatcher is protected against corrosion and rust.
• At the end of the season, or if the dethatcher is not being used for longer than a month, wipe all metal surfaces with an oil impregnated cloth to protect them from corrosion or spray with a fine coat of oil. Fold the upper handle down, and store the dethatcher in a suitable place.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Defective safety switch/plug Overheat protection activated

| Plug in the unit

Check power supply

Check cable. Repair or replace if required Arrange for repair

1.  Working depth too large, set to a shorter depth.

2.  Raker cylinder blocked, remove the blockage.

3.  Grass  too  long, mow  the  lawn before

operation.

Wait until the motor cools down for about 15 minutes before further use.

Abnormal noises| Raker cylinder is jammed Cogged belt slipping

Bolts, nuts or other components are loose.

| Switch off . Wait till the raker comes to a complete stop. Remove jammed objects.

Dethatcher must be repaired. Call our customer

service help line at 1-800-633-1501 for assistance.

Tighten all components. Arrange for repair if noises continue.

Abnormal vibrations| Raker or scarifier damaged or worn

Working depth too large

| Replace damaged or worn raker or scarifier.

Set to correct working depth.

Poor results| Working depth too small

Worn raker or scarifier Discharge opening blocked

| Set to correct working depth.

Replace damaged or worn raker or scarifier. Empty grass catcher bag and remove blockage

PARTS AND SERVICE

For parts or service, please call 1-800-633-1501 or visit us online at www.americanlawnmower.com. Be sure to provide all relevant information when you call or visit.

REPAIR PARTS (KITS/ ITEMS)
The model/ serial number of this tool is found on a plate or label attached to the housing.
Always mention the model number when ordering kits/items for this tool.

WARRANTY POLICY

Two (2) year limited warranty on Earthwise outdoor power equipment.
Earthwise warrants to the original owner that each new product and service part is free from defects in materials and workmanship and agrees to repair or replace any defective product or part for the warranty period as stated above from the original date of purchase except for the conditions and circumstances listed below:

• This warranty applies only to the original purchaser at retail and may not be transferred.
• Warranty applies if the product is used for personal, household or family use. Warranty is void if product is used for commercial, industrial or rental purposes.
• Warranty does not include repairs necessary due to operator’s abuse or negligence (including overloading the product beyond capacity or immersion in water), or the failure to assemble, operate, maintain or store the product according to the instructions in the operator’s manual.
• This warranty is not transferable and only applies to product sold directly from an
• authorized retailer. This warranty does not apply to any product, new or used, purchased through unauthorized third-party channels.
• ANY INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL LOSS, DAMAGE, OR EXPENSE THAT MAY RESULT FROM ANY DEFECT, FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE PRODUCT IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitation may not apply to you.
• Products sold damaged or incomplete, sold “as is”, or sold as reconditioned are not covered under the warranty.
• Damage or liability caused by shipping, improper handling, improper assembly, incorrect voltage, improper wiring, improper maintenance, improper modification or the use of accessories and/or attachments not specifically recommended is not covered by this warranty.
• Expendable items that become worn during normal use are not covered by the warranty.
• Warranty does not cover damage caused by cold, heat, rain, excessive humidity, corrosive environments and materials, or other contaminants.
• Warranty does not include installation, assembly or normal adjustments explained in the owner’s manual.
• The expense of delivering the product to the vendor and the expense of returning the product or replacement parts to the owner is not covered by the warranty.
• The warranty does not cover normal deterioration of the exterior finish, including but not limited to scratches, dents, paint chips or any corrosion or discoloration caused by heat, abrasive and chemical cleaners.

Proof of purchase, original dated sales receipt, must accompany all warranty claims.

American Lawn Mower Company
The Great States Corporation
7444 Shadeland Station Way
Indianapolis, IN 46256 USA
Phone 1-800-633-1501
www.americanlawnmower.com

References

• American Lawn Mower Co. EST 1895
• P65Warnings.ca.gov

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