Safe Operation Practices • Set-Up • Operation • Maintenance • Service • Troubleshooting • Warranty Operator’s Manual Lawn Edger — Model 552 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. CUB CADET LLC, P.O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-0019 Printed In USA Form No.
1 To The Owner Thank You Thank you for purchasing a Lawn Edger manufactured by Cub Cadet. It was carefully engineered to provide excellent performance when properly operated and maintained. 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. Please read this entire manual prior to operating the equipment.
2 Important Safe Operation Practices 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.
b. c. d. 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. 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.
. 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. Maintenance and Storage 1. Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated area. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless and deadly gas. 2.
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 WARNING— ROTATING BLADES Keep hands and feet away from rotating blade.
3 Assembly & Set-Up Contents of Carton • One Edger • One Edger Operator’s Manual • One Bottle Engine Oil • One Engine Operator’s Manual • One Trenching Blade Kit • One Wing Knob and Rope Guide NOTE: This machine is shipped WITHOUT GASOLINE or OIL. After setting up the edger, service the engine with gasoline and oil as instructed in the separate Engine Operator’s Manual packed with your machine. NOTE: Reference to right or left hand side of the edger is observed from the operating position.
Securing Control Cable WARNING: The cable must be routed properly to avoid contact with all sharp edges and hot surfaces. Such contacts damage the cable and render the controls inoperative. 1. 1 2 Press the stud found inside the snap fitting into the hole found on the left side of the upper handle, as shown in Figure 3-3. 4 Stud 1 3 Snap Fitting Figure 3-4 2 Starter Rope Upper Handle 1. Locate the rope guide and wing knob found in the manual bag.
2. Stand behind the edger and hold the blade control against the upper handle. 3. Gently pull the starter rope out of the engine. WARNING! The edger blade WILL rotate when the starter rope is pulled. NOTE: The starter rope will not pull out of the engine unless the blade control (refer to Figure 3-5) is depressed against the upper handle. 4. Slip the starter rope through the top of the rope guide. 5. Tighten the wing knob which secures the rope guide to the upper handle.
4 Controls and Features Blade Control Blade Depth Control Lever Recoil Starter Bevel Adjustment Lever Curb Height Adjustment Lever WARNING! Be familiar with all the controls and their proper operation. Know how to stop the machine and disengage it quickly. NOTE: For detailed information on all engine controls, refer to the separate Engine Operator’s Manual. Located on the upper handle, the blade control must be depressed against the upper handle in order to operate the edger.
5 Operation Starting the Engine To start the edger’s engine, proceed as follows: 1. Move the blade depth control lever back to the START position in the adjacent (top) notch. 2. Standing behind the edger, depress the blade control and hold it against the upper handle with your left hand. 2 1 WARNING! This blade control mechanism is a safety device. Never attempt to bypass its operation. 3.
Edging Along a Curb Trenching The right, rear wheel of the edger can be lowered into one of five positions to ease the task of edging along a curb. To adjust the height of curb wheel, proceed as follows: You can utilize the edger’s trenching feature in order to create a wider cutting path for such things as laying wire for landscape lighting. 1. Lower the right rear wheel by moving the curb height adjustment lever slightly to the left. See Figure 5-3.
6 Maintenance & Adjustments Maintenance Lubrication WARNING: Always stop engine, allow engine to cool, disconnect spark plug, and ground against engine before performing any type of maintenance on your machine. Engine Refer to the Engine Operator’s Manual packed with your edger for a detailed description of all engine-related service specifications. Edger Blade WARNING! The edger blade is sharp. Wear leather work gloves to protect your hands when working around the edger blade. 1.
7 Service Belt Replacement Drive Belt NOTE: To aid in reassembly, note the orientation of the drive belt on the two idler pulleys and the engine flywheel pulley prior to performing the following steps. Refer to Figure 7-1. Flange Luck Nut The edger drive belt is subject to wear and should be replaced if any signs of cracking, shredding or rotting are present. To replace the belt, proceed as follows: 1.
Off-Season Storage Observe the following when preparing the edger for long-term storage: 1. Clean and lubricate the edger thoroughly as instructed on the previous page. 2. Refer to the Engine Operator’s Manual packed separately with the edger for engine manufacturers’s storage instructions. 3. Coat the edger blade with chassis grease to prevent rusting and corrosion. 4. Store the edger in a dry, clean area. Do not store next to any corrosive materials, such as lawn fertilizer. 5.
8 Troubleshooting Problem Engine fails to start Remedy 1. Dirty air cleaner. 1. Refer to the Engine Operator’s Manual 2. Engine needs to be primed. (If Equipped) 2. Push primer bulb two or three times. 3. Fuel tank empty. 3. Fill tank with clean, fresh gasoline. 4. Stale fuel in gasoline tank. 4. Drain gasoline and refill tank with clean, fresh gasoline. 5. Spark plug wire disconnected. 5. Connect the spark plug wire to the spark plug. 6. Spark plug fouled. 6.
9 Replacement Parts Component Part Number and Description 951-14437 Spark Plug 951-14632 Air Cleaner Kit 951-14407 Fuel Cap Assembly 951-10358A Fuel Filter 734-05075 734-04623 Front Wheel Rear Wheel 781-0748 Blade 954-04032B Belt Phone 877-282-8684 for your nearest Cub Cadet Dealer to order replacement parts or a complete Parts Manual (have your full model number and serial number ready). Parts Manual downloads are also available free of charge at www.cubcadet.
CUB CADET LLC MANUFACTURER’S LIMITED WARRANTY FOR EDGERS, STRING TRIMMERS & TILLERS The limited warranty set forth below is given by Cub Cadet LLC with respect to new merchandise purchased and used in the United States, its possessions and territories, and by MTD Products Limited with respect to new merchandise purchased and used in Canada and/or its territories and possessions. c.
