Black & Decker Gr342c Instruction Manual

English

®

1

Rotary Lawnmower
GR340/GR342/GR345/GR346

User manual

Congratulations!

On your purchase of your Black & Decker rotary
lawnmower.

This user manual provides important operating and
maintenance instructions for all of the rotary mowers
in the Black & Decker GR340 and GR345 ranges.

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

6m / 20ft

other persons near your mower
when in use - always keep them

360

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 .

• Y our 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.

2

Preparation

• T o protect your feet, always wear stout

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

• 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
blade.

• 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 as it may
damage your mower and could be
thrown by the blade.

Operation

• When tilting the handle downwards 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.

Y our 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:

• 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 blade is 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/box for wear or

damage and replace if necessary . Never
use your mower without the grassbag/
box 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.

ENGLISH

Maintenance and storage

• Store your mower in a dry place when

not in use, out of the reach of children.

• 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

Y our 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)

Y our 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 13 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.

3

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

Plug replacement

• Disconnect the plug from the supply .

• Cut off the plug and dispose of

immediately . Insertion of a detatched
plug into a 13 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 clamp
is holding the outer sheath on the cable
firmly and that the two leads are correctly
fixed at the terminal screws.

Fit a BS1363A
approved
resilient plug

Connect blue
to N (neutral)

Make sure that the
outer sheath of the
cable is held firmly
by the clamp

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 (30mA)
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.

4

Fit the recommended

fuse approved

to BS1362

Connect brown

to L (live)

230 volts AC only

Never use a light

socket

Handle assembly (Fig. A & B)

Remove the contents of the carton and

A

familiarise yourself with the individual parts
of your mower .

The main parts of your mower are as follows:

• Mower body (1) - this comprises the

motor cover (3), wheels (4), grass flap (5).

• Handle - upper handle (8), lower

handle (9R & 9L), switch box (10), switch
lever (11), safety lock-off (12), electric
cable (13), cable clips (14), handle
assembly (wing nut and bolt) (15).

• Join the upper and lower handles by

B1

screwing them together using the wing
nuts and bolts provided.

T o assemble the lower handles into the
correct locations on your mower body ,
proceed as follows:

• Insert the lower handles (9) into the two

B2

holes in your mower body (1) and press
down until secure. Secure in position
using the screws supplied (6).

Height of cut adjustment (Fig. C)

Warning! Disconnect your mower from
the electrical supply before making any
adjustment and allow the blade to stop
rotating. Cutting blades are sharp.

The wheels are already pre-mounted.

C

T o select a height of cut, move the wheels (4)
into the slot required using the spring system
(21). T o ensure an even cut, please make
sure that all four wheels are placed in the
same position.

Grassbox assembly (Fig. D)

Read the safety instructions at the beginning
of this manual before using this accessory .

• The grassbox is a two piece (14 & 15)

plastic construction which needs to be
assembled before attaching it to your
mower.

T o assemble the grassbox, proceed as
follows:

• Align both parts together and clip in

D1

place.

Fitting the grassbox to your mower:

• The spring loaded grass flap is lifted and

D2

the two arms on the front edge of the
grassbox are located behind the two lugs
rising up from the rear edge of the cutter
deck.

• The grass flap can now be released to

lock the grassbox into position.

Removing the grassbox from your mower:

Raise the grassflap. Lift the grassbox off the
mower and rest it on the lawn. Gently lower
the grassflap, then use both hands to lift the
full grassbox.

ENGLISH

How to use your mower (Fig. E & F)

Observe all of the relevant warnings when
using your mower .

• Push the loop of cable through the slot

E

from the opposite side of the restraint
hook (Fig. E1), position the loop over the
hook and pull the cable back through the
slot. Y our cable will now be restrained.

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

• Place the bulk of the supply cable on

the lawn close to the starting point
(see Fig. F2a, position 1).

• Hold the handle assembly with both

hands.

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

• Tilt the handle downwards to slightly raise

F1

the front of your mower and to reduce
the risk of lawn damage whilst starting,
depress the safety lock-off button (12) on
the switchbox (10) and whilst still
depressed pull the switch lever (11)
towards you. Y our mower will start and
you can now allow the lock-off button to
be released and lower your mower to its
proper cutting position, and commence
cutting.

• Proceed down the cutting area as shown

F2

in Fig. F2a, working from position 1
towards position 2 and, on reaching
position 2, turn to the right and proceed
towards position 3. Continue to the end
of the cutting area, turn to the left and
proceed towards position 4. Continue in
the same manner as shown in Fig. F2a,
always working away from the cable.
Do not adopt the method as shown in
Fig. F2b, working towards the cable, as
this is dangerous practice.

Y our mower will continue to operate whilst
you are pulling the switch lever . T o stop your
mower release the switch lever .

When you have finished using your mower
we recommend that you clean all debris from
it before putting it away . Refer to the
‘Care and maintenance’ section.

Note: T o obtain the best results cut your
lawn or grass area regularly and do not cut
when the grass is wet.

If, when grass cutting, loose grass is seen
to be scattering from beneath your mower ,
the grassbox is probably full and should be
emptied.

Blade maintenance

The steel blade is designed to give a fine
finish in long or tough grass. The blade will
continue to cut even when it has become
blunt or burred. There is no need for it to be
razor sharp.

If, however , because of damage or wear the
cutting performance deteriorates, then your
mower may require a new blade, or at least
the existing blade to be sharpened.

We recommend that the steel blade is
sharpened or a new blade fitted at the
beginning of each season.

Replacement blades are available from
Black & Decker service agents.

Warning! When fitting a new blade use only
the Black & Decker replacement part
specified for your mower - do not attempt to
fit any other blade.

Fitting a new blade (Fig. G)

Observe all the relevant warnings before
changing the blade.

Warning! Disconnect your mower from the

electrical supply before changing the blade.

• T urn your mower over on its side so that

the underside of the mower body (1) is
exposed.

• Using a cloth placed over the blade or

G

heavy duty gloves to protect your hands,
grip the blade and, using the spanner
provided, loosen and remove the nut (16)
from the motor spindle. T urn the nut in an
anti-clockwise direction to loosen it.

• The blade can now be replaced and the

washer and nut reassembled.

Note: Do not remove the impeller (17) for
any reason.

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

5

Handy hints

• On long grass, above 10cm (4 inches), use two

cuts to get a close finish. We recommend that
the first cut should be taken with the blade set at
maximum height of cut and the second taken
with it set at medium or close. This will prove to
be easier and give a better overall finish to
your lawn.

Symptoms Possible cause Remedy

No noise and Faulty electrical Fit a new fuse.
blade does connection. Re-tighten and
not move. check all electrical

connections in
extension cables.
Re-set RCD in
accordance
with instructions.

Care and maintenance

The advice given in this section covers the
general care and maintenance of the main
body of your mower . Advice relating to the
blades is given in “Blade maintenance”.

Warning! Do not use an extension cable
which shows signs of damage. Fit a new
cable completely - do not make any
permanent or temporary repairs.

• Always keep your mower clean and free

from grass cuttings, especially the
underside of the cutter deck and the air
vents.

• Check all electrical cables at regular

intervals, looking for signs of wear ,
abrasion or other damage.

• At the end of each cutting session we

recommend that the build up of grass on
the underside of the cutter cover is
removed using a blunt scraper .

• Clean all plastic components with a

damp cloth.

Caution: Do not use solvents or cleaning
fluids as these may damage the plastic
components of your mower .

Fault finding

If your mower does not operate correctly ,
use the following table to locate the problem.

Warning! Always disconnect your mower
from the electrical supply before carrying out
any inspection.

Symptoms Possible cause Remedy

Motor buzzes Blade jammed. Disconnect from
but blade does the electrical
not move. supply.

Remove
obstruction from
the blade.

No noise and Faulty electrical Disconnect from
blade does connection. the electrical
not move. supply.

Plug your mower
into an alternative
compatible
electrical supply .

6

Protecting the environment

Black & Decker provides a facility for
recycling Black & Decker products once
they have reached the end of their working
life. This service is provided free of charge.
To take advantage of this service please
return your product to any authorised repair
agent who will collect them on our behalf.

Y ou can check the location of your nearest authorised
repair agent by contacting your local Black & Decker
office at the address indicated in this manual.
Alternatively, a list of authorised Black & Decker
repair agents and full details of our after-sales
service and contacts are available on the Internet
at: www.2helpU.com.

Guarantee

Black & Decker is confident of the quality of its
products and offers an outstanding guarantee.
This guarantee statement is in addition to and in no
way prejudices your statutory rights. The guarantee
is valid within the territories of the Member States
of the European Union and the European Free
Trade Area.

If a Black & Decker product becomes defective due
to faulty materials, workmanship or lack of conformity ,
within 24 months from the date of purchase,
Black & Decker guarantees to replace defective
parts, repair products subjected to fair wear and
tear or replace such products to ensure minimum
inconvenience to the customer unless:

• The product has been used for trade,

professional or hire purposes;

• The product has been subjected to misuse or

neglect;

• The product has sustained damage through

foreign objects, substances or accidents;

• Repairs have been attempted by persons other

than authorised repair agents or Black &
Decker service staff.

To claim on the guarantee, you will need to submit
proof of purchase to the seller or an authorised
repair agent. You can check the location of your
nearest authorised repair agent by contacting your
local Black & Decker office at the address indicated
in this manual.

Alternatively, a list of authorised Black & Decker
repair agents and full details of our after-sales
service and contacts are available on the Internet
at: www.2helpU.com.

ENGLISH

Other outdoor tools

Black & Decker has a full range of outdoor power
tools that make life in the garden easy. If you would
like further information on the following products,
please contact our Service and Information Centre
(see the address page towards the end of this
manual) or your local Black & Decker retailer.

String trimmers
Chainsaws
Cordless shear
Hedgetrimmers
Lawnmowers
Lawnrakers
Leafbusters
Shredders

Not all products are available in all countries.

EC Declaration of conformity

GR340/GR342/GR345/GR346

Black & Decker declares that these tools

conform to:

98/37/EC, 89/336/EEC, 73/23/EEC,

EN 55014, EN 60335, EN 61000,

2000/14/EC, Lawn mower, L ≤ 50 cm,

Annex VIII, No. 0086

B.S.I., HP2 4SQ, United Kingdom

Level of sound pressure, measured according to

2000/14/EC:

LpA(sound pressure) dB(A) 81
LWA(acoustic power) dB(A) 95
LWA(guaranteed) dB(A) 96

Hand/arm weighted vibration value according to

EN 50144: < 2.5 m/s

2

Brian Cooke

Director of Engineering

Spennymoor, County Durham DL16 6JG,

United Kingdom

1-12-2001

7

GR340/GR342/GR345/GR346

TYP.

1,2,3

30

36

24

32

3

2

17

34

U.K.

49

48

43

44

45

51

46

40

38

47

33

50

45

52

26

22

25

39

27

29

18

28

21

37

4

41

816

42
31

7

5

6

23

Type 3

8

11

820

1

Type 3

53

35

12

10

13

14

15

16

E12612

20

www.2helpu.com

20 - 11 - 01

8

91011

Australia DEWALT Industrial Power Tool Company Tel. [phone]

7 Clarice Road Fax [phone]
Box Hill, Victoria 3128

New Zealand Black & Decker Tel. [phone]

South Africa Black & Decker South Africa (Pty) Ltd Tel. [phone]

United Kingdom Black & Decker Tel. [phone]

81 Hugo Johnson Drive Fax [phone]
Penrose, Auckland, New Zealand

Physical address: Fax [phone]
39 Commerce Crescent
Eastgate, ext. 12, Sandton, Kramerville 2148
Postal address:
Postnet Suite 107, Private Bag X65
Halfway House 1685

210 Bath Road Fax [phone]
Slough, Berkshire SL1 3YD Helpline 01753 574277

601560

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

✁

Yes

No

Was this tool bought as a replacement?

.................................................................................................................

Dealer address: ........................................................................................

Data protection act:

Tick the box if you prefer not to receive further information.

.................................................................................................................

12

Dealer address Date of purchase

Yes

No

Name: ......................................................................................................

Address: ...................................................................................................

Town: .......................................................................................................

Postal code: .............................................................................................

Was this tool a gift?

Yes

No

Was this tool your first purchase?

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

✁

Please complete this section immediately after the purchase of your tool and send it to Black & Decker in your

country. If you live in Australia or New Zealand, please register by using the alternative guarantee card

supplied.

GUARANTEE CARD

601560

13

®

GR340
GR342
GR345
GR346

11
10

12

14

A

8

14

13
9

14
5

3

B1

15

15

9

6

4
1

B2

8

1

C

4

21

9

6

9

D1

14

15

D2

E

F2

F1

11

10

12

G

17

16