Ryobi R18HLTR38 User manual

R18HLTR38

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 line trimmer.
INTENDED USE
The cordless line trimmer is intended to be used only by
adults who have read and understood the instructions and
warnings in this manual and can be considered responsible
for their actions.
The product is intended only for outdoor use in a well-
ventilated area. For safety reasons, the product must be
adequately controlled by a two-handed operation.
When tted with the line string head (and appropriate
guard), the product is intended for cutting long grass, pulpy
weed, and similar vegetation at or about ground level. The
cutting plane should be approximately parallel to the ground
surface.
The product should not be used to cut or trim hedges,
bushes, or other vegetation where the cutting plane is not
parallel to the ground surface.
Do not use the product for any other purpose.
GENERAL SAFETY WARNINGS
WARNING! Read all safety warnings and all
instructions. Failure to follow the warnings and instructions
may result in electric shock, re, and/or serious injury.
■When using the product, the safety rules must be
followed. For your own safety and that of bystanders,
please read these instructions before operating the
product. Please keep the instructions safe for later use.
■The product is not intended to be used by children or
persons with reduced physical, mental, or sensory
capabilities. Children should be adequately supervised
to ensure that they do not play with the product.
■Some regions have regulations that restrict the use of
the product. Check with your local authority for advice.
TRAINING
■Read the instructions carefully. Be familiar with all
controls and the proper use of the product.
■Never allow children or people who are unfamiliar with
these instructions to use the product. Local regulations
may restrict the age of the operator.
■Keep bystanders, children, and pets 15 m away from the
area of operation. Turn off the product if anyone enters
the area.
■Never use the product while tired, ill, or under the
influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication.
■Keep in mind that the operator or user is responsible for
accidents or hazards occurring to other people or their
property.
PREPARATION
■Wear full eye and hearing protection while operating the
product. If working in an area where there is a risk of
falling objects, head protection must be worn.
■Hearing protection may restrict the operator’s ability
to hear warning sounds. Pay particular attention to
potential hazards around and inside the working area.
■Wear heavy, long trousers, boots, and gloves. Do not
wear loose-fitting clothing, short trousers, or jewellery of
any kind, and do not use the product with bare feet.
■Secure long hair so that it is above shoulder level to
prevent entanglement in moving parts.
■Before use and after any impact, check that there are no
damaged parts on the product. A defective switch or any
part that is damaged or worn should be properly repaired
or replaced by an authorised service centre.
■Make sure that the cutting attachment is properly
installed and securely fastened.
■Never operate the product unless all guards, deflectors,
and handles are properly and securely attached.
■Consider the environment in which you are working.
Keep the working area free from wires, sticks, stones,
and debris, which if struck by the cutter can become
thrown objects.
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 the 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.
CORDLESS LINE TRIMMER SAFETY WARNINGS
■Never allow children, persons with reduced physical,
sensory, or mental capabilities or lack of experience
and knowledge, or people who are unfamiliar with the
instructions to use the product.
■Use the product in daylight or with good artificial light.
■Avoid using the product on wet grass.
■Keep firm footing and balance at all times, and be sure
of proper footing on slopes.
■Do not walk backwards when using the product. Walk,
never run.
■Keep the head attachment below waist level.
■Never use the product with damaged guards or without
guards in place.
■Never fit a metal replacement line.
■Keep hands and feet away from the cutting means at all
times, especially when turning on the motor.
■Beware, the cutting elements continue to rotate after the
motor is turned off.

3
Original Instructions
■Beware of objects thrown by the cutting means. Clear
debris like small stones, gravel, and other foreign objects
from the work area before starting the operation. Wires
or string may become entangled with the cutting means.
■To reduce the risk of injury associated with contacting
moving parts, always turn off the product, remove the
battery pack, and allow both to cool down. Make sure
that all moving parts have come to a complete stop:
●before servicing
●before clearing a blockage
●before checking, cleaning, and working on the
product
●before changing accessories
●after striking a foreign object
●whenever leaving the product unattended
●whenever performing maintenance
●whenever the product starts to vibrate abnormally
■Wear full eye and hearing protection while operating the
product. If working in an area where there is a risk of
falling objects, head protection must be worn.
■Hearing protection may restrict the operator’s ability
to hear warning sounds. Pay particular attention to
potential hazards around and inside the working area.
■Wear heavy, long trousers, boots, and gloves. Do not
wear loose-fitting clothing, short trousers, or jewellery of
any kind, and do not use the product with bare feet.
■Secure long hair so that it is above shoulder level to
prevent entanglement in moving parts.
■The small blade fitted to the lawn guard is designed to
trim the new extended line to the correct length for safe
and optimum performance. The blade is very sharp.
Do not touch the blade, particularly when cleaning the
product.
■Always ensure that ventilation openings are kept clear
of debris.
■Before use and after any impact, check that there are
no damaged parts on the product. A defective switch or
any part that is damaged should be properly repaired or
replaced by an authorised service centre.
■Make sure that the cutting head attachment is properly
installed and securely fastened.
■Make sure that all the guards, deflectors, and handles
are properly and securely attached.
■Do not modify the product in any way. This may increase
the risk of injury to yourself or others.
■Use only the manufacturer’s replacement cutting line.
Do not use any other cutting attachment.
■Immediately turn off the product and remove the battery
pack in the event of accident or breakdown. Do not
operate the product again until it has been fully checked
by an authorised service centre.
■Ensure that the line cut-off blade in the guard is properly
positioned and secured before each use.
ADDITIONAL BATTERY SAFETY WARNINGS
To reduce the risk of re, personal injury, and product
damage due to a short circuit, never immerse the tool,
battery pack, or charger in uid or allow uid to ow inside
them. Corrosive or conductive uids, such as seawater,
certain industrial chemicals, and bleach or bleach-containing
products, etc., can cause a short circuit.
TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE
■Turn off the product, remove the battery pack, and allow
both to cool down before storing or transporting.
■Remove all foreign materials from the product.
■Do not store or transport the product with the battery
pack fitted. Remove the battery pack, and secure it
separately. 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.
■For transportation in vehicles, secure the product
against movement or falling to prevent injury to persons
or damage to the product.
TRANSPORTING LITHIUM BATTERIES
■Transport the battery pack 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,
nonconductive 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. When servicing, use only original
replacement parts.
■Turn off the product and remove the battery pack before
conducting any maintenance or cleaning work.
■You may make adjustments or repairs described in this
manual. For other repairs, contact an authorised service
centre.
■For the replacement line, use only a nylon filament line
of the diameter described in the specifications table of
this manual.
■After each use, clean the product with a soft, dry cloth.
Any part that is damaged should be properly repaired or
replaced by an authorised service centre.
■Check all nuts, bolts, and screws before each use and
at frequent intervals for proper tightness to ensure that
the product is in safe working condition. Any part that is
damaged should be properly repaired or replaced by an
authorised service centre.
■Bring the product to an authorised service centre to
replace damaged or unreadable labels.
■Injuries may be caused, or aggravated, by prolonged
use of a tool. When using any tool for prolonged periods,
ensure that you take regular breaks.

4
Original Instructions
SYMBOLS ON THE PRODUCT
Read and understand all instructions
before operating the product. Follow all
warnings and safety instructions.
Do not expose the product to rain or
damp condition.
Wear head, eye, and ear protection.
Do not use metal blade(s) on the product.
Keep hands away from cut-o󰀨 blade.
Beware of thrown or ying objects.
Keep all bystanders, especially children
and pets, at least 15 m away from the
operating area.
Guaranteed sound power level
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.
SYMBOLS IN THIS MANUAL
Parts or accessories sold separately
Note
Warning
Lock
Unlock

5
Know your product
R18HLTR38
Battery port
Rear handle
Trigger switch
Lock-out trigger
Speed selector
Front handle
Adjustment knob
Lower shaft
Speed winder
Safety guard
Clamp
Cut-off blade
Cutting line
String head
Operator’s manual
Battery pack
Charger
R18HLTR14

6
Getting started
1
2
4
3
1
1
2
3
2
3
1
1
2
1
2
1
23
2
3
1
4
7
2
5
8 9
3
6
4
7
Always wear safety goggles or safety
glasses with side shields when
operating the product. Wear non-slip,
heavy-duty protective gloves. Wear
non-skid, protective footwear that will
protect your feet and improve your
footing on slippery surfaces.
Turn the screw on the safety guard
counterclockwise to release the clamp.
Align the clamp and the safety guard on
the edge of the lower shaft.
Secure the clamp and safety guard on
the product by installing the screws on
the lower shaft and safety guard.
Insert the lower shaft to the upper shaft
until the latch clicks into place. Turn the
knob clockwise to tighten and secure
both latches.
Turn the wing nut counter clockwise to
release the screw and the clamp from
the front handle.
Attach the front handle on the upper
shaft at a comfortable position. Secure
the front handle using the clamp and
wing nut.
Insert the battery pack until the latches
click into place.
Push the lock-out trigger and squeeze
the trigger switch to operate the
product.

7
4
7
38 cm
33 cm
p.16
p.11
Replacing the line
Operating the
product
Replacing the
string head
Cleaning the
product Storing the product
Adjusting the
cutting line
p.8
p.15p.12 p.14

8
Operation
1
2
OPERATING THE PRODUCT
WARNING: For safety reasons, the product
must be adequately controlled by a two-
handed operation. Hold the product with the
right hand on the rear handle and the left
hand on the front handle.
WARNING: Consider the environment in
which you are working. Keep the working
area free from wires, sticks, stones, and
debris, which if struck by the cutter can
become thrown objects.
WARNING: Exercise extreme caution when
using the product. Keep hands and feet
away from the cutting means at all times,
especially when turning on the motor.
1. Insert the battery pack until the latches
click into place.
2. Use the speed selector to adjust the
speed from low to high.

9
Operation
12
3
4
5
3. Push the lock-out trigger and squeeze
the variable speed trigger to operate the
product.
4. Tap the bump knob on the ground to
advance the line. The line advances each
time the head is tapped. Do not hold the
bump knob onto the ground.
NOTE: Tap the bump knob only on grass
to prevent damage to the bump knob.
NOTE: The small blade tted to the cutting
attachment guard is designed to trim the
newly extended line to the correct length
for safe and optimum performance. The
blade is very sharp. Do not touch the blade,
particularly when cleaning the product.
5. For cutting ease and safety, cut the grass
from one direction.

10
Operation
1
2
3
NOTE: Cut tall grass from the top down. This
prevents grass from wrapping around the
shaft housing and bump head, which may
cause damage from overheating.
NOTE: Cut grass from the right side to the
left side for cutting ease and safety.

11
Operation
38 cm
33 cm
2
1
1
1
x2
2
3
2
38 cm
33 cm
33 cm
38 cm
x2
1
2
3
ADJUSTING THE CUTTING LINE
1. Remove the battery pack.
2. Remove the screws on the line cut-off
blade. Remove the blade. Rotate the
blade 180º.
NOTE: The cutting width of the line trimmer
can be adjusted according to preference.
A cutting width of 38 cm gets the job done
faster but results in a lesser runtine.
3. Install the blade. Tighten the screws to
secure the blade into the new position.

12
Operation
2
1
1
2
2
1
2.0 mm
3
1
2.5m1.65 m
2
3
12 cm 12 cm
4
REPLACING THE LINE
1. Press the battery latch button, and
remove the battery pack.
2. Rotate the bump knob on the string head
until the line on the centre of the bump
knob aligns with the arrows on the outer
spool.
3. Use a 2.0mm diameter line. Cut one
piece of the line, approximately 3.0m in
length. Insert one end of the line through
the eyelet on the side of the string head,
and push until the line comes out through
the eyelet on the other side. Continue to
push the line through the string head until
the line is even in length on both sides.
4. Ensure that there are equal lengths
of line on either side of the string head
(max. 1.65 m per side). Rotate the bump
knob with the speed winder to wind the
line.
NOTE: The bump knob can also be
rotated by hand.
NOTE: When reloading, the line length
should be maximum of 1.65 m each side.
NOTE: Wind the line until approximately
12 cm remains protruding from the trimmer
head.

13
Maintenance
5
12
6
7
5. Insert the battery pack until the latches
click into place.
6. Push the lock-out trigger and squeeze the
trigger switch to operate the product.
7. Tap the bump knob on the ground to
advance the line. The line advances each
time the head is tapped. Do not hold the
bump knob onto the ground.
NOTE: Tap the bump knob only on grass to
prevent damage to the bump knob.
NOTE: The small blade tted to the cutting
attachment guard is designed to trim the
newly extended line to the correct length for
safe and optimum performance. The blade is
very sharp. Do not touch the blade, particularly
when cleaning the product.

14
Maintenance
12
3
2
1
2
3
3
4
2
1
1
REPLACING THE STRING HEAD
1. Remove the battery pack.
2. Insert an allen wrench into the slot
underneath the string head. Loosen and
remove the trimmer head.
3. Install the new string head. Tighten the
string head to secure.
4. Remove the allen wrench.

15
Maintenance
2
2
1
1
CLEANING THE PRODUCT
1. Remove the battery pack.
WARNING: The small blade tted to the
cutting attachment guard is designed to trim
the new extended line to the correct length
for safe and optimum performance. The
blade is very sharp. Do not touch the blade,
particularly when cleaning the product.
2. Clean the product with a soft, dry brush.
WARNING: Avoid using solvents when
cleaning plastic parts. Most plastics are
susceptible to damage from various types of
commercial solvents and may be damaged
by their use.

16
Maintenance
20210126v1
2
3
1
2
3
2
1
1
STORING THE PRODUCT
NOTE: Clean the product before storing.
1. Remove the battery pack.
2. Turn the knob counterclockwise to
loosen and remove the lower shaft from
the upper shaft.
3. 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.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
Cordless line trimmer
Model R18HLTR38 / R18HLTR14
Voltage 18V d.c.
No-load speed (high) 5200±10%/min
No-load speed (low) 4800±10%/min
Cutting capacity 33 cm / 38 cm
Cutting line diameter 2.0 mm
Weight without battery pack 3.88 kg
Weight with heaviest battery pack 5.05 kg
Cutting width 33 cm / 38 cm
Noise emission values determined according to IEC 60335-2-91
A-weighted sound pressure level LpA = 89.2 dB
Uncertainty K= 3.0 dB
A-weighted sound power level LWA = 100.5
Uncertainty K= 3.0 dB
Vibration total values determined according to IEC 60335-2-91
Vibration emission value
Front handle ah = 0.3 m/s²
Rear handle ah = 0.3 m/s²
Uncertainty K = 1.5 m/s²
Guaranteed sound power level LWA + KWA 104 dB (A)
BATTERY AND CHARGER
Model
R18HLTR14 R18HLTR38
Battery
pack RB18L40A
Charger RC18115
Compatible
battery
packs
RB18L13, RB18L13Z, RB18L15,
RB18L15A, RB18L15B, RB1815C,
RB18L20, RB18L20A, RB1820C,
RB18L25, RB18L25A, RB18L30,
RB18L30A, RB18L40, RB18L40A,
RB1840C, RB1840X, RB18L50,
RB18L50A, RB18L60, RB18L60A,
RB18L90, RB18L90A
Compatible
chargers
BCL14183H, RC18627U, RC18150,
RC18150U, RC18120, RC18115,
RC18118C, BCL1814IV
*BCL1418IV is compatible for charging in vehicles with 12V d.c.
outlets.
REPLACEMENT PARTS
Replacement head RAC1214
Replacement bump knob 530455002
Replacement 2.0 mm trimming line PWFTL2050T
NOTE: Visit your local special orders desk or contact RYOBI
Customer Service for replacement parts.
WARNING! The declared vibration total values and the
declared noise emission values given in this instruction
manual have been measured in accordance with a
standardised test and may be used to compare one tool with
another. They may be used for a preliminary assessment
of exposure.
The declared vibration and noise emission values represent
the main applications of the tool. However, if the tool is used
for di󰀨erent applications, used with di󰀨erent accessories,
or poorly maintained, the vibration and noise emission
may di󰀨er. These conditions may signicantly increase the
exposure levels over the total working period.
An estimation of the level of exposure to vibration and noise
should take into account the times when the tool is turned o󰀨
or when it is running idle. These conditions may signicantly
reduce the exposure level over the total working period.
Identify additional safety measures to protect the operator
from the e󰀨ects of vibration and noise, such as maintaining
the tool and the accessories, keeping the hands warm (in
case of vibration), and organising work patterns.

Imported by:
Techtronic Industries Australia Pty Ltd
31 Gilby Road, Mount Waverley, VIC 3149
Melbourne, Australia
Techtronic Industries N.Z. Limited
Unit C, 70 Business Parade South,
Highbrook, Auckland 2013, New Zealand
RYOBI is a trade mark of Ryobi Limited, and is used under license.
© 2021 Techtronic Cordless GP
961068242-01