AL-KO MH360 Petrol Cultivator Instruction Manual

AL-KO MH360 Petrol Cultivator

ABOUT THESE OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

• The German version is the original operating instructions. All additional language versions are translations of the original operating instructions.
• Always safeguard these operating instructions so that they can be consulted if you need any information about the appliance.
• Only pass on the appliance to other persons together with these operating instructions.
• Comply with the safety and warning information in these operating instructions

Symbols on the title page

be- fore start-up. This is essential for safe working and trouble-free handling.
| Operating instructions
| Never operate the petrol powered device in the vicinity of open flames or heat sources.

Legends and signal words

DANGER! Denotes an imminently dangerous situation which will result in fatal or serious injury if not avoided.
WARNING! Denotes a potentially dangerous situation which can result in fatal or serious injury if not avoided.
CAUTION! Denotes a potentially dangerous situation which can result in minor or moderate injury if not avoided.
IMPORTANT! Denotes a situation which can result in material damage if not avoided.
NOTE Special instructions for ease of under-standing and handling.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Designated use

This appliance can be used for:

• Working pre-loosened ground.

Only work with the appliance when it is fully assembled.
This appliance is intended solely for use in non-commercial applications. Any other use as well as unauthorized conversions or modifications are regarded as contrary to the intended use and will result in voiding of the warranty as well as loss of conformity; the manufacturer will thus decline any responsibility for damage and/or injury suffered by the user or third parties.

Possible foreseeable misuse

The tool is designed neither for commercial use in public parks and sports facilities, nor for use in farming and forestry.

Above all, note:

• This appliance is not suitable for reworking solid ground, e.g. compacted lawn.

Residual risks

Even during correct use of the appliance, there is always a certain residual risk that cannot be excluded. Depending on the use, the following potential risks can be derived from the type and construction of the appliance:

• Damage to the hearing if no hearing protection is worn.
• Physical damage caused by hand-arm vibrations when the appliance is used for long periods or is not serviced as specified.
• Throwing out of earth and small stones.
• Lacerations from reaching into the rotating cultivator blades.

Safety and protective devices

WARNING! Risk of injury. Defective and disabled safety and protective devices can result in serious injury.

• Have any defective safety and protective devices repaired.
• Never disable safety and protective devices.

Guard plate
The guard plate protects the operator from the rotating cultivator blades and objects that are thrown out.

Symbols on the appliance

Safety signs

Operating signs

“Hare” = fast

Product overview (01)

The product overview (01) provides an overview of the appliance.

SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

DANGER! Danger of fatal injury and danger of extremely severe injury! Lack of knowledge of the safety instructions and operating instructions can lead to extremely serious and even fatal injury.

• Observe all safety instructions and instructions for use in these operating instructions as well the operating instructions which are referred to before you start using the appliance.
• Keep all supplied documents in a safe place for future reference.
• Danger of fatal injury from gas poisoning The exhaust fumes from the cultivator contain carbon monoxide which can kill a person in a few minutes. Observe the following be-fore and during use:
  • Only operate the cultivator in the open air, never indoors.
  • Do not inhale the motor exhaust gases.
  • Switch off the cultivator if feeling nauseous, dizzy, or weak while using this appliance.
• Only use the cultivator if it is in perfect technical condition.
• Do not disable safety and protective devices.
• Wear hearing protection.
• Carefully read and follow these operating instructions and the operating instructions for the motor. Learn how to stop the cultivator quickly.
• Do not use starter sprays or similar.

Operator

• Young people under 16 years of age and people who do not know the operating instructions are not allowed to use the tool. Observe any country-specific safety regulations regarding the minimum age of the user.
• Inexperienced operating personnel must be instructed and trained in the operation of the appliance.
• Do not operate the appliance if you are under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication.

Appliance safety

• Use the appliance only under the following conditions:
• The appliance is not soiled.
• The appliance show no signs of damage.
• All controls function properly.
• Do not overload the device. It is intended for light work in the private sector. Overload can lead to damage to the appliance.
• Never operate the appliance with worn or defective parts. Always replace defective parts with original spare parts from the manufacturer. If the appliance is operated with worn or defective parts, guarantee claims against the manufacturer are excluded.
• Repair work is only allowed to be carried out by expert workshops or our service centres.

Safety of persons, animals and property

• Use the appliance only for the purposes for which it is intended. Any non-intended use can lead to injury and property damage.
• Switch on the appliance only when there are no persons or animals in the working area.
• Maintain a safe distance to persons or animals, or switch off the appliance if persons or animals approach.
• Never direct the exhaust gas jet of the engine towards persons and animals or towards in-flammable products and objects.
• Do not reach into the vacuum and vent grilles when the engine is running. Injuries can oc-cur due to rotating appliance parts.
• Always switch off the appliance when not in use, e.g. when changing the work area, during service and maintenance, and when filling with the petrol/oil mixture.
• Immediately switch off the appliance if there is an accident in order to avoid further injuries and/or property damage.
• Never operate the appliance with worn or defective parts. Worn or defective appliance parts can cause serious injuries
• Keep the appliance out of the reach of children.

Safety in the workplace

• Work only in daylight or under very bright artificial light.
• Only operate the appliance on solid and level ground and not on sharp inclines.
• The appliance should not be used on rocky terrain.
• Always operate parallel to the slope.
• Do not operate the appliance up or down the slope, as well as on slopes with a gradient of more than 10°.
• Pay attention to stability.
• Remove foreign bodies from the working area.
• Do not place your hands and feet close to any rotating parts.
• Never lift or carry the appliance when the motor is running.
• No one should be standing in front of the appliance and/or cultivator blades when starting the motor – the drive of the cultivator blades must be turned off.
• When attaching and removing the transport wheel and/or when adjusting the depth skid, the motor must be turned off and the cultivator blades must be upright.
• When moving the appliance using the attached transport wheel, turn off the motor and wait for the cultivator blades to come to a standstill.
• The appliance may only be operated by maintaining the safety distance provided by the handlebar.
• Keep the exhaust and motor clean.
• Renew the tank or tank cap if damaged.

Handling of petrol and oil

• Risk of explosion and fire:
  An escaping petrol/air mixture can cause an explosive atmosphere. Deflagration, explosion and fire can lead to serious and even fatal in-juries if fuel is not handled properly. Observe the following:

  • Do not smoke when dealing with petrol.
  • Only handle petrol out of doors and never in enclosed spaces.
  • It is essential to heed the code of conduct stated below.

• Only transport and store petrol and oil in containers approved for that purpose. Ensure that children have no access to stored petrol and oil.

• In order to avoid ground contamination (environmental protection) when filling, ensure that no petrol or oil enters the soil. Use a funnel for filling.

• Never fill the appliance in enclosed spaces. Petrol vapours may gather at ground level, and thereby result in a deflagration or even an explosion.

• Immediately wipe any spilled petrol off the appliance and the ground. Allow textiles used to wipe off petrol to dry in a well ventilated place before disposing of them. Otherwise, sudden self-ignition may occur.

• If petrol has been spilled, petrol vapours occur. For this reason, do not start the appliance at the same location but at least 3 m away.

• Avoid skin contact with mineral oil products. Do not inhale petrol vapours. When filling, al-ways wear protective gloves. Change and clean protective clothing regularly.

• Ensure that your clothing does not come into contact with petrol. If petrol has got onto your clothing, change it immediately.

• Never fill the fuel tank while the engine is running or hot.

Personal protective equipment

• It is recommended to wear clothing and protective equipment in accordance with the regulations in order to avoid injury to the head and limbs as well as to avoid hearing impairment.

• The clothing should be appropriate (tightly fit-ting) and must not restrict movements. If you have long hair, it is essential to wear a hair net. Never wear loose items of clothing or accessories that be pulled into the appliance,
  e. g. scarves, loose-fitting shirts, long necklac-es.

  • The personal protective equipment comprises:
  • Hearing protection and protective eye-wear
  • Long trousers and sturdy shoes
  • Protective gloves

ASSEMBLY

Procedure, see figures 02 – 06.

WARNING! Danger if assembly is not carried out completely! Use of an incompletely assembled device can result in serious injury.

• Only use the device when it is fully assembled!
• Before switching on, check that all safety and protective devices are in place and functioning correctly!

START-UP

Adjusting the handlebars (04)

Adjust the height of the handlebar according to body height.
The normal height adjustment corresponds to hip height.

1. Loosen the screws on the housing mount.
2. Adjust the handlebars according to the slot-ted hole area.
3. Tighten the screws again.

NOTE For models with reverse gear, the handlebar can be swivelled to the left and right.

Transport wheel

The cultivator can be easily rolled to the place of operation using the transport wheel.
To work with the cultivator, click the transport wheel into the upper notch.

OPERATION

Stopping the motor and switching off

Starting the motor
When starting the motor, do not activate the cultivator blade clutch lever.

1. Move the throttle lever to the “Hare” position (MAX).
2. Press the squeeze bulb (primer) 2 – 5 times.
3. Pull out the cable starter briskly, and then al-low it to wind back in slowly.
4. If the engine is running: Regulate speed with throttle lever (“Hare” = fast, “Tortoise” = slow).
5. If the engine is not running: Check the steps and pull the starter rope again.

Switching off the motor

1. Move the throttle lever to the “STOP” position.

Cultivator blades

Switching on the cultivator blades

WARNING! Danger from rotating appliance parts! Reaching into rotating appliance parts will result in serious injuries.

• Never reach into rotating parts.
• The cultivator blades must not rotate when the clutch lever is released.

1. Press and hold the safety button.
2. Push the clutch lever up and hold it there. The cultivator blades may begin to turn when the lever is only pressed halfway up.

Switching off the cultivator blades

1. Release the clutch lever.

MAINTENANCE AND CARE

DANGER! Danger of fatal injury and danger of extremely severe injury. Danger of fatal injury and danger of extremely severe injury when the engine is switched on.

• Carry out all work with the engine switched off.

DANGER! Risk of injury or death due to improper maintenance. Maintenance work carried out by unqualified persons and the use of non-approved spare parts can result in serious injuries and even death during operation of the appliance.

• Do not remove or deactivate any safety installations.
• Use only approved OEM spare parts.
• Ensure through regular and proper maintenance that the appliance is in a clean and functional condition at all times.

CAUTION! Risk of injury. Sharp-edged and moving appliance parts can lead to injury.

• Always wear protective gloves during maintenance, care and cleaning work!

Cleaning the cultivator blades

Before and after using the cultivator, remove fibrous plant matter and large clods of earth from the cultivator blades.

Changing the gear oil

In general, the gear oil should be changed every 100 working hours (oil viscosity SAE 80).

Oil change
Required oil volume: approx. 0.2 l.

1. Unfasten the oil filler cap on the right-hand side of the transmission.
2. Drain used oil.
3. Fill with new oil. The oil must be visible at the filler opening.
4. Close the filler opening with the screw plug.
5. Dispose of used oil in accordance with the statutory regulations.

Maintaining the spark plug

NOTE For more detailed information, please refer to the separate operating instructions for the engine.

Air filters

NOTE For more detailed information, please refer to the separate operating instructions for the engine.

Motor oil change

NOTE For more detailed information, please refer to the separate operating instructions for the engine.

Adjusting Bowden cables

The fine adjustment is made using an adjusting bolt on the handlebar and on the motor mount.

1. Loosen the locknuts.
2. Readjust with the adjusting bolt.
3. Re-tighten the locknuts.

NOTE The cultivator blades may begin to turn when the lever is only pressed halfway up.

HELP IN CASE OF MALFUNCTION

NOTE For malfunctions that are not listed in this table or that you cannot resolve yourself, please contact our customer service.

fresh fuel
| Incorrect starting procedure| Execute the starting process correctly
| Throttle lever in the wrong position| Move the throttle lever to the “HARE” position (MAX)
| Defective spark plug| See motor instructions.
| Air filters| See motor instructions.
Cultivator blades do not turn| V-belt defective| Contact a service centre
| Gearbox damage| Contact a service centre
| Cultivator blade loose| Tighten the cultivator blade.
| Bowden cable stretched or loose| Adjust Bowden cable

TRANSPORT

• Only transport the cultivator with an empty fu-el tank.
• Always transport the cultivator horizontally, otherwise this can cause:
  • Leaking fuel and oil
  • Generation of smoke
  • Starting difficulties
  • Soot on spark plug

STORING THE APPLIANCE

Thoroughly clean the appliance after each use and – if present – attach all covers. Store the appliance in a dry, lockable place out of the reach of children.
If the appliance is not going to be used for more than 2 – 3 months, the following work is necessary to avoid any damage:

1. Empty the fuel tank:
   • Allow the engine to run until it stops itself. Then there is no longer any petrol/oil mixture in the fuel tank or carburettor and deposits cannot form.
2. Cleaning the appliance:
   • Wipe the entire appliance and accessory parts with a cleaning rag. Do not use petrol or other solvents!
   • Remove any dirt from all appliance openings (including cooling openings for the engine).
3. Oiling the cylinder:
   • Allow the appliance to cool down completely.
   • Remove the spark plug connector and unscrew the spark plug.
   • Drop a little oil into the spark plug opening.
   • Slowly pull on the starter handle so the piston moves and the oil is distributed in the cylinder.
4. Set down the appliance on the transport wheel and do not stored in a tilted position.
5. Store the appliance in a cool, dry place.

DISPOSAL

• Petrol and motor oil do not belong in household waste or the public sewer system, but should be collected and disposed of separately.
• Before disposing of the device you must empty the fuel tank and the engine oil tank!
• Packaging, equipment and accessories are made from recyclable materials, and must be disposed of accordingly.

AFTER-SALES/SERVICE

In the event of questions of warranty, repair or spare parts, please contact your nearest AL-KO Service Centre. These can be found on the Internet at:
www.al-ko.com/service-contacts

GUARANTEE

We will resolve any material or manufacturing faults on the appliance during the legal warranty period for claims relating to faults, in accordance with our choice either to repair or replace. The legal warranty period is determined by the legislation of the country in which the appliance was purchased.

Our warranty promise applies only if:

• These operating instructions are heeded

• The appliance is handled correctly

• Original spare parts have been used
  The guarantee excludes:

• Paint damage that can be attributed to normal wear and tear

• Wear parts that are marked with a frame  xxxxxx (x) on the spare parts card

• Internal combustion engines (these are covered by the guarantee provisions of the corresponding engine manufacturers)

The warranty becomes void in the case of:

• Unauthorized repair attempts
• Unauthorized technical modifications
• Non-intended use

The guarantee period commences with purchase by the first end user. The date on the proof of purchase is decisive. In the event of a guarantee claim, please take this guarantee declaration and the original proof of purchase, and contact your dealer or the nearest authorized customer service centre. This statement does not affect the purchaser’s statutory claims for defects against the vendor.

References

• Startseite - AL-KO Unternehmensgruppe
• Servicestellen international | AL-KO Gardentech

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