Ryobi R18XLMW40 User manual

FRONT PAGE
R18XLMW40

2
Original Instructions
IMPORTANT!
It is essential that you read the instructions in this manual
before assembling, operating, and maintaining the
product.
Subject to technical modication.
Safety, performance, and dependability have been given top
priority in the design of your cordless lawnmower.
INTENDED USE
The cordless lawnmower is intended for outdoor use only.
The product is designed for domestic lawn mowing. It is a
pedestrian-controlled walk-behind lawnmower designed to
be pushed by hand.
The product should never be operated with the wheels o󰀨
the ground. It should not be pulled or ridden on.
Do not use the product for any other purpose.
GENERAL PRODUCT SAFETY WARNINGS
WARNING! Read all safety warnings, instructions,
illustrations and specifications provided with this
power tool. Failure to follow all instructions listed below
may result in electric shock, re and/or serious injury.
Save all warnings and instructions for future reference.
The term “power tool” in the warnings refers to your mains-
operated (corded) product or battery-operated (cordless)
product.
WORK AREA SAFETY
■Keep work area clean and well lit. Cluttered or dark
areas invite accidents.
■Do not operate power tools in explosive
atmospheres, such as in the presence of flammable
liquids, gases or dust. Power tools create sparks
which may ignite the dust or fumes.
■Keep children and bystanders away while operating
a power tool. Distractions can cause you to lose control.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
■Power tool plugs must match the outlet. Never
modify the plug in any way. Do not use any adapter
plugs with earthed (grounded) power tools.
Unmodified plugs and matching outlets will reduce risk
of electric shock.
■Avoid body contact with earthed or grounded
surfaces, such as pipes, radiators, ranges and
refrigerators. There is an increased risk of electric
shock if your body is earthed or grounded.
■Do not expose power tools to rain or wet conditions.
Water entering a power tool will increase the risk of
electric shock.
■Do not abuse the cord. Never use the cord for
carrying, pulling or unplugging the power tool. Keep
cord away from heat, oil, sharp edges or moving parts.
Damaged or entangled cords increase the risk of electric
shock.
■When operating a power tool outdoors, use an
extension cord suitable for outdoor use. Use of a
cord suitable for outdoor use reduces the risk of electric
shock.
■If operating a power tool in a damp location is
unavoidable, use a residual current device (RCD)
protected supply. Use of an RCD reduces the risk of
electric shock.
PERSONAL SAFETY
■Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use
common sense when operating a power tool. Do not
use a power tool while you are tired or under the
influence of drugs, alcohol or medication. A moment
of inattention while operating power tools may result in
serious personal injury.
■Use personal protective equipment. Always wear
eye protection. Protective equipment such as a dust
mask, non-skid safety shoes, hard hat or hearing
protection used for appropriate conditions will reduce
personal injuries.
■Prevent unintentional starting. Ensure the switch
is in the off-position before connecting to power
source and/or battery pack, picking up or carrying
the tool. Carrying power tools with your finger on the
switch or energising power tools that have the switch on
invites accidents.
■Remove any adjusting key or wrench before turning
the power tool on. A wrench or a key left attached to
a rotating part of the power tool may result in personal
injury.
■Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance
at all times. This enables better control of the power tool
in unexpected situations.
■Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing or
jewellery. Keep your hair and clothing away from
moving parts. Loose clothes, jewellery or long hair can
be caught in moving parts.
■If devices are provided for the connection of dust
extraction and collection facilities, ensure these are
connected and properly used. Use of dust collection
can reduce dust-related hazards.
■Do not let familiarity gained from frequent use of
tools allow you to become complacent and ignore
tool safety principles. A careless action can cause
severe injury within a fraction of a second.
POWER TOOL USE AND CARE
■Do not force the power tool. Use the correct power
tool for your application. The correct power tool will
do the job better and safer at the rate for which it was
designed.
■Do not use the power tool if the switch does not turn
it on and off. Any power tool that cannot be controlled
with switch is dangerous and must be repaired.
■Disconnect the plug from the power source and/
or remove the battery pack, if detachable, from
the power tool before making any adjustments,
changing accessories, or storing power tools. Such
preventive safety measures reduce the risk of starting
the power tool accidentally.
■Store idle power tools out of the reach of children
and do not allow persons unfamiliar with the power
tool or these instructions to operate the power tool.
Power tools are dangerous in the hands of untrained
users.

3
Original Instructions
■Maintain power tools and accessories. Check for
misalignment or binding of moving parts, breakage
of parts and any other condition that may affect the
power tool’s operation. If damaged, have the power
tool repaired before use. Many accidents are caused
by poorly maintained power tools.
■Keep cutting tools sharp and clean. Properly
maintained cutting tools with sharp cutting edges are
less likely to bind and are easier to control.
■Use the power tool, accessories and tool bits etc.
in accordance with these instructions, taking into
account the working conditions and the work to
be performed. Use of the power tool for operations
different from those intended could result in a hazardous
situation.
■Keep handles and grasping surfaces dry, clean
and free from oil and grease. Slippery handles and
grasping surfaces do not allow for safe handling and
control of the tool in unexpected situations.
BATTERY TOOL USE AND CARE
■Recharge only with the charger specified by the
manufacturer. A charger that is suitable for one type
of battery pack may create a risk of fire when used with
another battery pack.
■Use power tools only with specifically designated
battery packs. Use of any other battery packs may
create a risk of injury and fire.
■When battery pack is not in use, keep it away from
other metal objects, like paper clips, coins, keys,
nails, screws or other small metal objects, that can
make a connection from one terminal to another.
Shorting the battery terminals together may cause burns
or a fire.
■Under abusive conditions, liquid may be ejected from
the battery; avoid contact. If contact accidentally
occurs, flush with water. If liquid contacts eyes,
additionally seek medical help. Liquid ejected from
the battery may cause irritation or burns.
■Do not use a battery pack or tool that is damaged or
modified. Damaged or modified batteries may exhibit
unpredictable behaviour resulting in fire, explosion or
risk of injury.
■Do not expose a battery pack or tool to fire or
excessive temperature. Exposure to fire or temperature
above 130°C may cause explosion.
■Follow all charging instructions and do not charge
the battery pack or tool outside the temperature
range specified in the instructions. Charging
improperly or at temperatures outside the specified
range may damage the battery and increase the risk of
fire.
SERVICE
■Have your power tool serviced by a qualified repair
person using only identical replacement parts. This
will ensure that the safety of the power tool is maintained.
■Never service damaged battery packs. Service
of battery packs should only be performed by the
manufacturer or authorized service providers.
LAWNMOWER SAFETY WARNINGS
■Do not use the lawnmower in bad weather conditions,
especially when there is a risk of lightning. This
decreases the risk of being struck by lightning.
■Thoroughly inspect the area for wildlife where the
lawnmower is to be used. Wildlife may be injured by
the lawnmower during operation.
■Thoroughly inspect the area where the lawnmower
is to be used and remove all stones, sticks, wires,
bones, and other foreign objects. Thrown objects can
cause personal injury.
■Before using the lawnmower, always visually
inspect to see that the blade and the blade assembly
are not worn or damaged. Worn or damaged parts
increase the risk of injury.
■Check the grass catcher frequently for wear or
deterioration. A worn or damaged grass catcher may
increase the risk of personal injury.
■Keep guards in place. Guards must be in working
order and be properly mounted. A guard that is loose,
damaged, or is not functioning correctly may result in
personal injury.
■Keep all cooling air inlets clear of debris. Blocked air
inlets and debris may result in overheating or risk of fire.
■While operating the lawnmower, always wear non-
slip and protective footwear. Do not operate the
lawnmower when barefoot or wearing open sandals.
This reduces the chance of injury to the feet from contact
with the moving blade.
■While operating the lawnmower, always wear long
trousers. Exposed skin increases the likelihood of injury
from thrown objects.
■Do not operate the lawnmower in wet grass. Walk,
never run. This reduces the risk of slipping and falling
which may result in personal injury.
■Do not operate the lawnmower on excessively steep
slopes. This reduces the risk of loss of control, slipping
and falling which may result in personal injury.
■When working on slopes, always be sure of your
footing, always work across the face of slopes,
never up or down and exercise extreme caution
when changing direction. This reduces the risk of
loss of control, slipping and falling which may result in
personal injury.
■Use extreme caution when reversing or pulling the
lawnmower towards you. Always be aware of your
surroundings. This reduces the risk of tripping during
operation.
■Do not touch blades and other hazardous moving
parts while they are still in motion. This reduces the
risk of injury from moving parts.
■When clearing jammed material or cleaning the
lawnmower, make sure all power switches are off
and the battery pack is disconnected. Unexpected
operation of the lawnmower may result in serious
personal injury.
■When clearing jammed material or cleaning the
lawnmower, make sure all power switches are off
and remove the isolator key. Unexpected operation
of the lawnmower may result in serious personal injury.
ADDITIONAL SAFETY WARNINGS
■The product must be started with the user behind the
handlebars in the operator safety zone. Never start the
product if:
●The grass discharge opening is exposed and is
not protected by the grass catcher or the grass
discharge cover.

4
Original Instructions
●Hands and feet of all persons are not clear of the
cutting enclosure.
■Avoid holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, property stakes, or
other hidden objects. Uneven terrain could cause a slip-
and-fall accident.
■Turn off the product, remove the isolator key and the
battery pack, and allow the blade to stop if the product
has to be tilted for transportation, when crossing
surfaces other than grass, and when transporting the
product to and from the work area.
■Do not tilt the product when turning on the motor or
while the motor is running. If absolutely necessary, raise
the front of the lawnmower by no more than 5 cm to
enable easy starting. Press down on the handlebar to
achieve this. Always return the lawnmower to its normal
position with all wheels on the ground before cutting.
Tilting the lawnmower exposes the blade and increases
the probability of objects being thrown and accidentally
making contact with the blade.
■Turn off the product, and remove the isolator key and the
battery pack. Make sure that all moving parts have come
to a complete stop:
●whenever leaving the product unattended (including
disposal of grass clippings)
●before clearing blockages or unclogging the
discharge chute
●before checking, cleaning, or working on the product
●before removing the grass catcher or opening the
grass discharge chute cover
●after striking a foreign object; inspect the product
for damage and make repairs as necessary before
restarting and operating the product
●if the product starts to vibrate abnormally (check
immediately)
■Always ensure that the motor control cable is never
trapped, pinched, or otherwise damaged during
assembly or when folding the handle. Never apply power
to the product if this cable is damaged. Have the product
serviced by an authorised service centre only.
■Injuries may be caused, or aggravated, by prolonged use
of the product. When using the product for prolonged
periods, ensure to take regular breaks.
■Operate the product only in temperatures between 0°C
and 40°C.
ADDITIONAL BATTERY SAFETY WARNINGS
■To reduce the risk of fire, personal injury, and product
damage due to a short circuit, never immerse the tool,
battery pack, or charger in fluid or allow fluid to flow
inside them. Corrosive or conductive fluids, such as
seawater, certain industrial chemicals, and bleach or
bleach-containing products, etc., can cause a short
circuit.
■Charge the battery pack in a location where the ambient
temperature is between 10°C and 38°C.
■Store the battery pack in a location where the ambient
temperature is between 0°C and 20°C.
■Use the battery pack in a location where the ambient
temperature is between 0°C and 40°C.
PRODUCT FEATURES
OVERLOAD AND OVERHEAT PROTECTION
The product has an overload protection device. When
overloading is detected, the product automatically turns o󰀨.
If the overload protector is actuated, the on/o󰀨 bail must be
released. Press the start button, and squeeze the on/o󰀨
bail to restart the product. If the product still does not start,
reinstall the battery pack.
The battery pack has overheat protection. Excessive
temperatures will cause the battery to stop powering the
product. If the battery pack is too warm, allow it to cool down
before resuming operation. If the product still does not work,
recharge the battery.
NOTE: The battery pack LED indicator will not work if the
battery protection feature has caused the battery pack to
stop powering the product. Turn o󰀨 the product or remove
the battery pack from the product, and the battery pack LED
indicator will resume normal function.
SELF-PROPEL FEATURE
The self-propel feature allows the product to automatically
move forward. The self-propel feature starts with a slight
delay of about 2 seconds after pulling the lever. When using
the self-propel feature, ensure that the speed adjustment
slider is set at a speed that the user is comfortable with
when walking behind the product. The user may lose control
of the product if the speed adjustment slider is set at a speed
that is too fast for the user’s walking pace. Release the self-
propel lever and on/o󰀨 bail if the speed is too fast, and adjust
the speed adjustment slider as needed. Failure to follow
these instructions can result in serious personal injury.
GENERAL MOWING TIPS
The run time of the battery depends on the condition, length,
and density of the grass.
Adjust the cutting height of the lawnmower to suit the current
condition of the lawn.
■For best performance, always cut off one-third or less of
the total height of the grass.
■When cutting long grass, reduce walking speed to allow
for more effective cutting and a proper discharge of the
clippings.
■A higher cutting height extends the run time of the
battery pack.
TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE
■Turn off the product, and remove the isolator key and
the battery pack. Make sure that all moving parts have
come to a complete stop. Allow the product to cool down
before storing or transporting.
■Remove all foreign materials from the product. Store the
product in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated place that is
inaccessible to children. Keep the product away from
corrosive agents, such as garden chemicals and de-
icing salts. Do not store the product outdoors.
■Store the product in a location where the ambient
temperature is between 0°C and 40°C.
■Use extreme caution when lifting or tilting the product for
maintenance, cleaning, storage, or transportation. The
blade is sharp; keep all body parts away from the blade
while it is exposed.

5
Original Instructions
■For transportation in vehicles, remove the isolator key
and the battery pack, and secure the product against
movement or falling to prevent injury to persons or
damage to the product.
TRANSPORTING LITHIUM BATTERIES
Transport the battery in accordance with local and national
provisions and regulations.
Follow all special requirements on packaging and labelling
when transporting batteries by a third party. Ensure that
no batteries can come in contact with other batteries
or conductive materials while in transport by protecting
exposed connectors with insulating, non-conductive caps or
tape. Do not transport batteries that are cracked or leaking.
Check with the forwarding company for further advice.
MAINTENANCE
■Use only original manufacturer’s replacement parts,
accessories, and attachments. Failure to do so can cause
possible injury, can contribute to poor performance, and
may void your warranty.
■Servicing requires extreme care and knowledge
and should be performed only by a qualified service
technician. Have the product serviced by an authorised
service centre only.
■You may make adjustments and repairs described in this
manual. For other repairs, have the product serviced by
an authorised service centre only.
■Turn off the product, and remove the isolator key and the
battery pack. Make sure that all moving parts have come
to a complete stop before any cleaning or maintenance
task.
■Check all nuts, bolts, and screws at frequent intervals
for proper tightness to ensure that the product is in safe
working condition.
■After each use, clean the plastic parts with a soft, dry
cloth. Any part that is damaged should be properly
repaired or replaced by an authorised service centre.
■Replace damaged blades and bolts in sets to preserve
balance.
■Be careful during adjustment of the product to prevent
entrapment of the fingers between moving blades and
fixed parts of the product.
■The blade on the product is sharp. Use extreme caution,
and wear heavy-duty gloves when fitting, replacing,
cleaning, or checking bolt security.
■The blade bolts must be adequately tightened. See the
manufacturer’s recommendations for blade bolt torque,
which can be found in the product specification table in
this manual.
■Be aware that even though the power source is turned
off, the blades can still be moved.
CLEARING BLOCKAGES
■Turn off the product, and remove the isolator key and the
battery pack. Make sure that all moving parts have come
to a complete stop.
■Always wear heavy-duty gloves when checking or
clearing a blockage. The blades are sharp, and the
blockage itself could be a sharp object.
■Remove the grass catcher. Check and carefully clear the
grass catcher for obstructions.
■Check the grass discharge chute, and carefully clear
blockages.
■Turn the product on its side. Check its underside and the
area around the blade. Carefully remove any blockages.
Remember that the blade may move during cleaning.
SYMBOLS ON THE PRODUCT
Safety alert
Read and understand all instructions
before operating the product. Follow all
warnings and safety instructions.
Wear ear protection.
Wear eye protection.
Do not operate the product on inclines
greater than 15°. Mow across the face of
slopes, never up and down.
Do not expose the product to rain or
damp conditions.
Do not charge the battery or expose the
product to rain or damp conditions.
Keep hands and feet away from
the blades. Remove the battery pack
before maintenance.
Beware of thrown or ying objects.
Keep all bystanders, especially children
and pets, at least 15 m away from the
operating area.
Waste electrical products should not
be disposed of with household waste.
Please recycle where facilities exist.
Check with your local authority or retailer
for recycling advice.
Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM).
Product meets applicable regulatory
requirements.
96
Guaranteed sound power level
BLADE START INSTRUCTIONS
3
1
2
Squeeze the on/o󰀨 bail to turn on the
product. Adjust the speed of the product
using the self-propel slider. Pull either
side of the self-propel lever towards the
handle to engage the self-propel feature.