Black & Decker Gr120 Instruction Manual

English

GR120_UK.P65 09-11-2000, 14:271

1

Rotary Lawnmower
GR120

Congratulations!

On your purchase of your Black & Decker rotary
lawnmower.

This user manual provides important operating and
maintenance instructions for all of the non grass
collecting rotary mowers in the Black & Decker
GR120 range.

Know your mower

Read all of this manual carefully, observing all
the recommended safety instructions before,
during and after using your mower, and
maintain your mower in good working order.

Familiarise yourself with the controls on
your mower before attempting to operate
it, but above all, be sure you know how to
stop your mower in an emergency.

Retain this user manual and all other literature
supplied with your mower for future reference.

Safety instructions

Training

• Never allow children or persons who

are unfamiliar with this type of mower to
use it, nor anyone who has not read
this user manual.

Do not allow children, animals
or other persons near your
mower when in use - always
keep them at least 6m (20ft)
away from the cutting area.

• Remember that the operator is

responsible for accidents or hazards
occurring to other people or their property.

• Your mower is designed for use on AC

(mains) electrical supplies only - do not
attempt to use it on any other supply.

• Plug your mower into a power point -

never a lighting socket.

• Never carry your mower by the cable or

jerk the cable to seperate the

!

connectors. Keep the cable away from
heat sources, oils or sharp edges.
Check the condition of your cable
before use and do not use if damaged.

Preparation

• To protect your feet, always wear stout

shoes or boots - freshly cut grass is
damp and slippery.

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User manual

• Rubber or man-made footwear will

enhance your safety.

• Do not operate your mower barefoot or

in open sandals.

• Use protective equipment. Wear safety

spectacles or goggles whilst operating
your mower. Use ear protection if the
sound level seems uncomfortable when
using your mower.

• Use a face mask if dusty.

• Wear long trousers to protect your legs

- any debris left on the lawn or cutting
path may be picked up and ejected by
the blades.

• The power supply cable should be

regularly inspected for signs of damage or
ageing, and only used if in good condition.

• Always keep the power supply cable

away from the blades - be aware of its
position at all times.

• Always be sure your mower is in a safe

operating condition.

• Before using your mower, disconnect it

from the electrical supply and visually
check that the blade, blade nut and
cutter assembly are not worn or
damaged. A damaged blade or worn
blade nut is a major hazard and must
be replaced. Also check that the blade
nut is securely fastened.

• Always check that your lawn or cutting

path is clear of all sticks, stones, wire
and other debris. Contact with such
debris may be dangerous or may
damage your mower and could be
thrown by the blade.

Operation

• When tilting the handle downwards (or

to the side) to start your mower, do not
tilt it more than is absolutely necessary.
Always ensure that both hands are in
the operating position and feet are well
away from the blades before returning
your mower to the ground.

Your mower will continue to run
for a short time after releasing
the switch lever. Always allow
your mower to stop on its own.

• Release the switch lever to turn your

mower off and remove the plug from
the mains:

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• Whenever you leave your mower

unattended.

• Before checking, cleaning, adjusting

or working on your mower.

• Before clearing a blockage.

• If your mower starts to vibrate

abnormally (check immediately).

• After striking a foreign object,

inspect your mower for damage and
make repairs as necessary.

• Never run your mower whilst lying on its

side or attempt to stop the blade ­always allow it to stop on its own.

• Do not put hands or feet near or under

rotating parts.

• Keep clear of discharge openings at all

times.

• Start your mower carefully according to

the instructions and with your feet well
away from the blade.

• Do not use your mower in the rain and

do not allow it to get wet. Avoid using
your mower in wet grass, if possible.

• Use your mower only in daylight or

good artificial light.

• Do not pull your mower towards you or

walk backwards when in operation.

• Do not cross gravel paths or roads

whilst the tines are rotating.

• Always be sure of your footing,

particularly on slopes.

• Always cut across the face of slopes,

never up and down. Exercise extreme
caution when changing direction on
slopes.

• Do not cut excessively steep slopes

and always wear non-slip footwear.

• Check the grassbag (if supplied) for

wear or damage and replace if
necessary. Never use your mower
without the grassbag in place.

• Walk, never run. Do not force your

mower.

• Never pick up or carry your mower

while the motor is running.

• Ensure the blade has stopped rotating

and take extreme care before lifting your
mower for and during transportation.

• Never operate your mower with

defective guards or shields.

Maintenance and storage

• Store your mower in a dry place when

not in use, out of the reach of children.

ENGLISH

• Do not use solvents or cleaning fluids to

clean your mower - use a blunt scraper
to remove grass and dirt.

• Always disconnect from the electrical

supply before cleaning.

• Do not operate your mower if any parts

are defective; discard all defective parts
and fit new parts before use.

• Keep all nuts, bolts and screws tight to

be sure your mower is in a safe working
condition.

• Use only Black & Decker recommended

replacement parts and accessories.

Black & Decker’s policy is one of continuous
improvement to our products and, as such, we
reserve the right to change product specifications
without prior notice.

Double insulation

Your mower is double insulated.
This means that all external metal parts are
electrically isolated from the power supply.
This is achieved by placing an extra
insulation barrier between the electrical and
mechanical parts. Double insulation means
greater electrical safety and obviates the
necessity of having your mower earthed.

Electrical safety (UK only)

Your mower should always be switched off
at the mains before disconnecting any plug

!

and socket connector or extension cables.

Fuse replacement

If your mower is supplied with cable fitted
with a non-re-wireable plug:

• The plug is fitted with a 5 amp fuse

which is the recommended fuse for
your mower.

• Only use replacement fuses which are

approved to BS1362.

• When changing the fuse in your plug,

always ensure the fuse cover is refitted.
If the fuse cover is missing or damaged
do not use the plug.

Note: Fuses do not give personal
protection against electric shock.

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Plug replacement

• Disconnect the plug from the supply.

• Cut off the plug and dispose of

immediately. Insertion of a detatched
plug into a 5 amp socket outlet may
result in electric shock.

• Only fit BS1363A approved plugs fitted

with the correctly rated fuse.

• The cable wire colours, or a letter, will

be marked at the connection points of
most good quality plugs. Attach the
wires to their respective points in the
plug (see below). Brown is for “Live” (L)
and blue is for “Neutral” (N).

• Before replacing the top cover of the

mains plug ensure that the cable restraint
is holding the outer sheath on the cable
firmly and that the two leads are correctly
fixed at the terminal screws.

Warning! Never connect live or neutral
wires to the earth pin marked “E” or .

Note: Do not wire an extension cable directly
into your mower yourself. Instead, take your
mower to your nearest Black & Decker
service agent.

Increased safety can be obtained by having
a qualified electrician install a high
sensitivity (30mA) circuit breaker in the
house wiring.
If you do not have such a circuit breaker
installed, or you do not wish to have one
installed, then we strongly recommend that
the electrical power to your mower be
supplied through a high sensitivity residual
current device (RCD). The RCD is designed
to provide a high degree of personal
protection against harmful electric current
should fault conditions occur.

Warning! The use of an RCD or other
circuit breaker unit does not release the
operator of your mower from the safety
instructions and safe working practices
given in this manual.

Handle assembly (Fig. A - E)

Remove all the parts from the carton and

A

familiarise yourself with the individual parts
of your mower.

The main parts of your mower are your
mower body (1) which houses the motor.
Attached to your mower body are the front
wheels (2) which incorporate adjustment
for the cutting height and the rear roller (3).
Pivot pins are built into your mower body to
accept the handle.

The handle comprises the lower handle
tube (20), the upper handle tube (21),
switch box (22) with switch lever (23) and
safety lock-off button (24), electrical supply
cable (11), the cable clips (12) and the
handle clamp assemblies (25), which each
comprise a wing nut, spacer and bolt.

Note: The electrical supply cable should be
positioned on the right hand side of your
mower when viewed from the operating
position. Ensure that this is not damaged
or twisted before you begin to assemble
your mower.

Assemble the lower handle tube (20) to
your mower body (1), as follows:

• Compress the lower handle tube (20)

B

and fit oyour mower body (1).

With the lower handle tube (20) in position,
assemble the upper handle tube (21) to it,
as follows:

• Place the upper handle tube (21) over

C

the lower handle tube (20), aligning the
holes in the upper handle tube (21) and
the lower handle tube (20).

• Fit a bolt (26) through each hole and fit

a wing nut (27), flat washer and lock
washer to the bolt (26). Tighten each
wing nut with firm pressure only.

Note: Do not use a spanner or other
implement to tighten the wing nuts.

• With the upper and lower handle tubes

assembled, fit the switch box (22) to
the upper handle tube (21), as follows:

Note: The switch box must be positioned
on the right-hand side of your mower.
Ensure that the electrical supply cable (11)
is not twisted.

• Locate the two pins on the switch box

E

(22) with the holes in the upper handle
tube (21).

• Fit the retaining plate (28) over the

stem of the upper handle tube (21)
and secure in position using the screws
(29) provided.

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GR120_UK.P65 09-11-2000, 14:274

Note: Do not overtighten these screws ­light pressure will be sufficient to hold the
switch box in position.

• Finally, using the cable clips (12)

provided, secure the electrical supply
cable (11) to the upper and lower
handle tubes (20 and 21) (Fig. A).

Fitting a new blade (Fig. F & G)

Observe all the relevant warnings before
changing the blade.

Warning! Disconnect your mower from the

electrical supply before changing the blade.

• The plastic blades are designed for

F

safer mowing and can be used to
maintain grass at the required length ­they are not designed for heavy cutting.

• Assembly of the blades (35) to the

blade carrier (38) is done by placing a
blade onto the metal rivet in direction of
arrow (A) and then pulling the blade in
direction of arrow (B) until it fully snaps
into position. Repeat for second blade.

• Two cable clips are provided. You may

G

find assembly of the motor cable to
these clips easier if the cable is
attached to the clips first and then push
the clips onto the handle tubes.

Note: Some mowers are fitted with a
clutch washer, between the blade nut and
the blade, which must be re-assembled at
all times.

Height of cut adjustment (Fig. H)

There are three cutting height positions

H

on your mower.

These are selected by loosening the wing­nuts (36) on the front wheels (2) (Fig. H),
moving the wheels to the required height
position and re-tightening the wing-nuts (36).

Note: The three cutting height settings are
indicated by raised mouldings on the
underside of your mower body (1). Indicator
plates (37), fitted to the rear of the bolts
which pass through each front wheel, are
provided as a guide to set the cutting height
i.e. aligning the pointer on the indicator plate
with the raised mouldings on the underside
of your mower body. Both wheels must be
set to the same height position to achieve a
good finish on your lawn.

The three cutting height positions are
as follows:

• Lowest setting. This is for use on dry

grass less than 38mm (11⁄2 inches) in
height, on a flat lawn.

ENGLISH

• Medium setting. This is for use on

damp grass or grass between 38 to
65mm
(11⁄2 to 21⁄2 inches) in height.

• Highest setting. This is for use on damp

grass more than 65mm (21⁄2 inches) in
height, or where the lawn is not flat.

For grass more than 76mm (3 inches) high
(i.e. at the beginning of the season) use
your mower for short periods of time, then
allow the motor to run for 2 to 3 minutes
whilst your mower is stationary to allow it to
cool down. If the motor suddenly stops
during use, disconnect the power and
check that the blade carrier is free to rotate
and clean away cuttings if necessary.

How to use your mower (Fig. J & K)

Observe all the relevant warnings when
using your mower.

We recommend the directional method of

J

operation to obtain the maximum cutting
performance from your mower and to
reduce the risk of the trailing extension lead
from entering the cutting path.

• Place the bulk of the extension cable

on the lawn close to the starting point
(Fig. J, position 1).

• Hold the handle assembly with

both hands.

Your switch box incorporates a cable
restraint. To fix the cable to the restraint,
proceed as follows.

• Bring the socket end of the extension

cable from behind and connect it to
your mowers plug (not GR120C).

• Form a loop on your extension cable

K

close to the coupler.

• Push the loop through the slot from the

opposite side of the restraint hook,
position the loop over the hook and
pull the cable back through the slot.
Your cable will now be restrained.

• The extension cable should now fall

away from your mower and behind the
operator, ready for use.

Warning! Do not attempt to operate your
mower with one hand - you must guide it
with both hands.

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