Cub Cadet 260 Series Operator's Manual
CUB CADET LLC, P.O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-0019
OperatOr’s Manual
Safe Operation Practices • Set-Up • Operation • Maintenance • Service • Troubleshooting • Warranty
22-inch String Trimmer — Model Series 260
WARNING
READ AND FOLLOW ALL SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL
BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THIS MACHINE.
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.
Form No. 769-09231B
(September 11, 2013)
To The Owner
1
Thank You
Thank you for purchasing a Cub Cadet String Trimmer. It was
carefully engineered to provide excellent performance when
properly operated and maintained.
Please read this entire manual prior to operating the equipment.
It instructs you how to safely and easily set up, operate and
maintain your machine. Please be sure that you, and any other
persons who will operate the machine, carefully follow the
recommended safety practices at all times. Failure to do so could
result in personal injury or property damage.
All information in this manual is relative to the most recent
product information available at the time of printing. Review
this manual frequently to familiarize yourself with the machine,
its features and operation. Please be aware that this Operator’s
Manual may cover a range of product specifications for various
models. Characteristics and features discussed and/or illustrated
in this manual may not be applicable to all models. We reserve
Table of Contents
Important Safe Operation Practices ..................... 3
Assembly & Set-Up .................................................. 9
Controls & Features ................................................ 11
Operation ................................................................12
the right to change product specifications, designs and
equipment without notice and without incurring obligation.
If applicable, the power testing information used to establish
the power rating of the engine equipped on this machine can be
found at www.opei.org or the engine manufacturer’s web site.
If you have any problems or questions concerning the machine,
phone your local Cub Cadet dealer or contact us directly. Cub
Cadet’s Customer Support telephone numbers, website address
and mailing address can be found on this page. We want to
ensure your complete satisfaction at all times.
Throughout this manual, all references to right and left side of the
machine are observed from the operating position.
Maintenance & Adjustments ................................13
Troubleshooting .....................................................14
Replacement Parts .................................................15
Warranty ..................................................Back Cover
Record Product Information
Before setting up and operating your new equipment, please
locate the model plate on the equipment and record the
information in the provided area to the right. You can locate the
model plate by standing at the operator’s position and looking
down at the rear of the deck. This information will be necessary,
should you seek technical support via our web site or with your
local Cub Cadet dealer.
Model NuMber
Serial NuMber
Product Registration and Customer Support
Please register your product on our website, www.cubcadet.com.
If you have difficulty assembling this product or have any questions regarding the controls, operation, or maintenance of
this machine, you can seek help from the experts. Choose from the options below:
◊ Visit us on the web at www.cubcadet.com
See How-to Maintenance and Parts Installation Videos at www.cubcadet.com/tutorials
◊ Locate your nearest Cub Cadet Dealer at (877) 282-8684
◊ Write to Cub Cadet LLC • P.O. Box 361131 • Cleveland, OH • 44136-0019
2
Important Safe Operation Practices
2
WARNING: This symbol points out important safety instructions which, if not followed,
could endanger the personal safety and/or property of yourself and others. Read and follow
all instructions in this manual before attempting to operate this machine. Failure to comply
with these instructions may result in personal injury.
When you see this symbol. HEED ITS WARNING!
CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65
WARNING: Engine Exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components
contain or emit chemicals known to State of California to cause cancer and birth defects
or other reproductive harm.
WARNING: Battery posts, terminals, and related accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive
harm. Wash hands after handling.
DANGER: This machine was built to be operated according to the safe operation practices in
this manual. As with any type of power equipment, carelessness or error on the part of the
operator can result in serious injury. This machine is capable of amputating fingers, hands,
toes and feet and throwing objects. Failure to observe the following safety instructions could
result in serious injury or death.
General Operation
1. Read this operator’s manual carefully in its entirety before
attempting to assemble this machine. Read, understand,
and follow all instructions on the machine and in the
manual(s) before operation. Keep this manual in a safe
place for future and regular reference and for ordering
replacement parts.
2. Be completely familiar with the controls and the proper use
of this machine before operating it.
3. This machine is a precision piece of power equipment,
not a plaything. Therefore, exercise extreme caution at all
times. This machine has been designed to perform one
job: to cut vegetation and grass. Do not use it for any other
purpose.
4. Never allow children under 14 years of age to operate this
machine. Children 14 and over should read and understand
the instructions and safe operation practices in this manual
and on the machine and should be trained and supervised
by an adult.
5. Only responsible individuals who are familiar with these
rules of safe operation should be allowed to use this
machine.
6. Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment is to be
used. Remove all stones, sticks, wire, bones, toys and other
foreign objects, which could be tripped over or picked
up and thrown by the string trimmer. Thrown objects can
cause serious personal injury.
7. Plan your trimming pattern to avoid discharge of material
toward roads, sidewalks, bystanders and the like. Also,
avoid discharging material against a wall or obstruction,
which may cause discharged material to ricochet back
toward the operator.
8. To help avoid trimmer line contact or a thrown object
injury, stay in operator zone behind handles and keep
children, bystanders, helpers and pets at least 75 feet from
string trimmer while it is in operation. Stop machine if
anyone enters area.
9. Always wear safety glasses or safety goggles during
operation and while performing an adjustment or repair
to protect your eyes. Thrown objects which ricochet can
cause serious injury to the eyes.
10. Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close-fitting
slacks and shirts. Shirts and pants that cover the arms
and legs and steel-toed shoes are recommended. Never
operate this machine in bare feet, sandals, slippery or lightweight (e.g. canvas) shoes.
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Section 2 — important Safe operation practiceS
11. Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating parts. Keep
clear of discharge area at all times as the rotating spindle
and trimmer lines can cause injury.
12. Never operate the string trimmer without proper shields,
guards, control lever or other safety protective devices in
place and working.
13. Never operate the string trimmer with damaged safety
devices. Failure to do so, can result in personal injury.
14. Many injuries occur as a result of the string trimmer being
pulled over the foot during a fall caused by slipping or
tripping. Do not hold on to the string trimmer if you are
falling; release the handle immediately.
15. Never pull the string trimmer back toward you while you
are walking. If you must back the string trimmer away from
a wall or obstruction first look down and behind to avoid
tripping and then follow these steps:
a. Step back from string trimmer to fully extend your
arms.
b. Be sure you are well balanced with sure footing.
c. Pull the string trimmer back slowly, no more than
half way toward you.
d. Repeat these steps as needed.
15. Do not operate the string trimmer while under the
influence of alcohol or drugs.
16. Do not engage the self-propelled mechanism on machines
so equipped while starting engine.
17. The control lever is a safety device. Never attempt to
bypass its operation. Doing so makes the safety device
inoperative and may result in personal injury through
contact with the rotating trimmer line. The control lever
must operate easily in both directions and automatically
return to the disengaged position when released.
18. Never operate the string trimmer in wet grass. Always
be sure of your footing. A slip and fall can cause serious
personal injury. If you feel you are losing your footing,
release the control lever immediately and the spindle will
stop rotating within three seconds.
19. Operate only in daylight or good artificial light. Walk, never
run.
20. Stop the spindle when crossing gravel drives, walks or
roads.
21. If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally, stop
the engine and check immediately for the cause. Vibration
is generally a warning of trouble.
22. Shut the engine off and wait until the spindle comes to
a complete stop before cleaning the discharge area. The
spindle continues to rotate for a few seconds after the
control lever is released. Never place any part of the body
in the trimmer line area until you are sure the spindle has
stopped rotating.
23. Never operate string trimmer without proper trail shield,
discharge cover, control lever or other safety protective
devices in place and working. Never operate string trimmer
with damaged safety devices. Failure to do so can result in
personal injury.
24. Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a burn. Do
not touch.
25. Only use parts and accessories made for this machine by
the manufacturer. Failure to do so can result in personal
injur y.
26. When starting engine, pull cord slowly until resistance
is felt, then pull rapidly. Rapid retraction of starter cord
(kickback) will pull hand and arm toward engine faster than
you can let go. Broken bones, fractures, bruises or sprains
could result.
27. If situations occur which are not covered in this manual,
use care and good judgement. Contact Customer Support
for assistance or the name of the nearest service dealer.
Slope Operation
Slopes are a major factor related to slip and fall accidents, which
can result in severe injury. Operation on slopes requires extra
caution. If you feel uneasy on a slope, do not trim on it. For your
safety, use the slope gauge included as part of this manual to
measure slopes before operating this machine on a sloped or
hilly area. If the slope is greater than 15 degrees, do not trim on it.
Do:
1. Trim across the face of slopes; never up and down. Exercise
extreme caution when changing direction on slopes.
2. Watch for holes, ruts, rocks, hidden objects, or bumps
which can cause you to slip or trip. Tall grass can hide
obstacles.
3. Always be sure of your footing. A slip and fall can cause
serious personal injury. If you feel you are losing your
balance, release the control lever immediately and the
spindle will stop rotating within three (3) seconds.
Do Not:
1. Do not trim near drop-offs, ditches or embankments, you
could lose your footing or balance.
2. Do not trim slopes greater than 15 degrees as shown on
the slope gauge.
3. Do not trim on wet grass. Unstable footing could cause
slipping.
Children
Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the
presence of children. Children are often attracted to the string
trimmer and the trimming activity. They do not understand the
dangers. Never assume that children will remain where you last
saw them.
1. Keep children out of the trimming area and under watchful
care of a responsible adult other than the operator.
2. Be alert and turn string trimmer off if a child enters the
area.
3. Before and while moving backwards, look behind and
down for small children.
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Section 2 — important Safe operation practiceS
4. Use extreme care when approaching blind corners,
doorways, shrubs, trees, or other objects that may obscure
your vision of a child who may run into the string trimmer.
5. Keep children away from hot or running engines. They can
suffer burns from a hot muffler.
6. Never allow children under 14 years of age to operate this
machine. Children 14 and over should read and understand
the instructions and safe operation practices in this manual
and on the machine and be trained and supervised by an
adult.
Service
Safe Handling Of Gasoline:
1. To avoid personal injury or property damage use extreme
care in handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremely flammable
and the vapors are explosive. Serious personal injury can
occur when gasoline is spilled on yourself or your clothes,
which can ignite. Wash your skin and change clothes
immediately.
2. Use only an approved gasoline container.
3. Never fill containers inside a vehicle or on a truck or trailer
bed with a plastic liner. Always place containers on the
ground away from your vehicle before filling.
4. Remove gas-powered equipment from the truck or
trailer and refuel it on the ground. If this is not possible,
then refuel such equipment on a trailer with a portable
container, rather than from a gasoline dispenser nozzle.
5. Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim of the fuel tank or
container opening at all times until fueling is complete. Do
not use a nozzle lock-open device.
6. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources
of ignition.
7. Never fuel machine indoors because flammable vapors will
accumulate in the area.
8. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while engine is hot or
running. Allow engine to cool at least two minutes before
refueling.
9. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more than 1 inch
below bottom of filler neck to provide for fuel expansion.
10. Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely.
11. If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine and equipment.
Move machine to another area. Wait 5 minutes before
starting engine.
12. Never store the machine or fuel container near an open
flame, spark or pilot light as on a water heater, space
heater, furnace, clothes dryer or other gas appliances.
13. To reduce fire hazard, keep machine free of grass, leaves,
or other debris build-up. Clean up oil or fuel spillage and
remove any fuel soaked debris.
14. Allow machine to cool at least 5 minutes before storing.
2. Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make certain the
spindle and all moving parts have stopped. Disconnect the
spark plug wire and ground against the engine to prevent
unintended starting.
3. Check the spindle and engine mounting bolts at frequent
intervals for proper tightness. Also, visually inspect
spindle for damage. Replace with the original equipment
manufacture’s (O.E.M.) parts only, listed in this manual.
“Use of parts which do not meet the original equipment
specifications may lead to improper performance and
compromise safety!”
4. Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure the
equipment is in safe working condition.
5. Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper
operation regularly.
6. After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, disconnect
the spark plug wire and ground against the engine.
Thoroughly inspect the string trimmer for any damage.
Repair the damage before starting and operating the string
trimmer.
7. Trimmer components, guards and shields are subject
to wear and damage which could expose moving parts
or allow objects to be thrown. For safety protection,
frequently check components and replace immediately
with original equipment manufacturer’s (O.E.M.) parts only,
listed in this manual. “Use of parts which do not meet the
original equipment specifications may lead to improper
performance and compromise safety!”
8. Do not change the engine’s governor setting or over-speed
the engine. The governor controls the maximum safe
operating speed of the engine.
9. Check fuel line, tank, cap, and fittings frequently for cracks
or leaks. Replace if necessary.
10. Do not crank engine with spark plug removed.
11. Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels, as
necessary.
12. Observe proper disposal laws and regulations. Improper
disposal of fluids and materials can harm the environment.
13. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission
(CPSC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
this product has an Average Useful Life of seven (7) years,
or 140 hours of operation. At the end of the Average Useful
Life have the machine inspected annually by an authorized
service dealer to ensure that all mechanical and safety
systems are working properly and not worn excessively.
Failure to do so can result in accidents, injuries or death.
Do not modify engine
To avoid serious injury or death, do not modify engine in any
way. Tampering with the governor setting can lead to a runaway
engine and cause it to operate at unsafe speeds. Never tamper
with factory setting of engine governor.
General Service:
1. Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated area.
Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless
and deadly gas.
5
Section 2 — important Safe operation practiceS
Notice Regarding Emissions
Engines which are certified to comply with California and federal
EPA emission regulations for SORE (Small Off Road Equipment)
are certified to operate on regular unleaded gasoline, and
may include the following emission control systems: Engine
Modification (EM), Oxidizing Catalyst (OC), Secondary Air
Injection (SAI) and Three Way Catalyst (TWC) if so equipped.
Spark Arrestor
WARNING: This machine is equipped with an
internal combustion engine and should not be used
on or near any unimproved forest-covered, brush
covered or grass-covered land unless the engine’s
exhaust system is equipped with a spark arrestor
meeting applicable local or state laws (if any).
If a spark arrestor is used, it should be maintained in effective
working order by the operator. In the State of California the
above is required by law (Section 4442 of the California Public
Resources Code). Other states may have similar laws. Federal laws
apply on federal lands.
A spark arrestor for the muffler is available through your
nearest engine authorized service dealer or contact the service
department, P.O. Box 361131 Cleveland, Ohio 44136-0019.
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Section 2 — important Safe operation practiceS
Safety Symbols
This page depicts and describes safety symbols that may appear on this product. Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the
machine before attempting to assemble and operate.
Symbol Description
READ THE OPERATOR’S MANUAL(S)
Read, understand, and follow all instructions in the manual(s) before attempting to
assemble and operate
EYE PROTECTION
Always wear safety glasses or safety goggles when operating this machine.
DANGER — BYSTANDERS
Do not trim when children or others are around.
DANGER — HAND/ FOOT CUT
Keep hands and feet away from rotating parts.
DANGER — THROWN DEBRIS
Remove objects that can be thrown by the machine in any direction. Wear safety glasses.
DANGER — SLOPES
Use extra caution on slopes. Do not trim on slopes greater than 15°.
WARNING—GASOLINE IS FLAMMABLE
Allow the engine to cool at least two minutes before refueling.
WARNING— CARBON MONOXIDE
Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated area. Engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide, an odorless and deadly gas.
WARNING— HOT SURFACE
Engine parts, especially the muffler, become extremely hot during operation. Allow engine
and muffler to cool before touching.
WARNING: Your Responsibility—Restrict the use of this power machine to persons who read, understand and
follow the warnings and instructions in this manual and on the machine.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!
7
Section 2 — important Safe operation practiceS
(OK) (TOO STEEP)
USE THIS SLOPE GAUGE TO DETERMINE
IF A SLOPE IS TOO STEEP FOR SAFE OPERATION!
To check the slope, proceed as follows:
1. Remove this page and fold along the dashed line.
2. Locate a vertical object on or behind the slope (e.g. a pole, building, fence, tree, etc.)
3. Align either side of the slope gauge with the object (See Figure 1 and Figure 2 ).
4. Adjust gauge up or down until the left corner touches the slope (See Figure 1 and Figure 2).
5. If there is a gap below the gauge, the slope is too steep for safe operation (See Figure 2 above).
15° dashed line
Slope Gauge
Figure 2Figure 1
15° Slope
15° Slope
8
WARNING! Slopes are a major factor related to tip-over and roll-over accidents which can result in severe injury or death.
Do not operate machine on slopes in excess of 15 degrees. All slopes require extra caution.
Always mow across the face of slopes, never up and down slopes.
Assembly & Set-Up
3
Contents of Carton
• One String Trimmer • One Bottle of Oil • One Pack of Trimmer Line
• One String Trimmer Operator’s
Manual
• One Engine Operator’s Manual
Assembly
NOTE: This string trimmer is shipped without gasoline or oil
in the engine. Fill up the gasoline and oil as instructed in the
accompanying engine manual BEFORE operating your machine.
Upper Handle
1. Remove the wing knob and carriage bolt from the left
lower handle and the right lower handle. See Figure 3-1.
2. Pivot the upper handle into the operating position.
See Figure 3-1.
3. Move the upper handle into one of three positions by
pivoting it forward or rearward. Secure the upper handle to
the lower handle using the carriage bolts and wing knobs
removed in Step 1. See Figure 3-2.
Note: Make sure to use the corresponding hole on the left
side as on the right side of the upper handle.
Figure 3-2
Figure 3-1
9
Section 3 — ASSembly & Set-Up
Starter Rope
1. Disconnected the spark plug boot from the spark plug
(refer to the seperate Engine Manual).
2. Pivot the control handle against the upper handle and pull
the rope out of the engine.
3. Loop the rope through the eye bolt. See Figure 3-3.
4. Tighten the eye bolt to the handle using the lock nut. DO
NOT overtighten.
Set-Up
Gas and Oil Fill-Up
Refer to the separate engine owner’s manual for additional
engine information.
1. Add oil provided before starting unit for the first time out
of the box.
2. Service the engine with gasoline as instructed in the
separate engine owner’s manual.
WARNING: Use extreme care when handling
gasoline. Gasoline is extremely flammable and the
vapors are explosive. Never fuel the machine
indoors or while the engine is hot or running.
Extinguish cigarettes, cigars, pipes and any other
sources of ignition.
Figure 3-3
10
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