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Details safe operating environment and required personal protective equipment.
Provides guidance on operation, cord handling, and protecting others.
Steps for attaching the safety guard to the tool.
Guidance on attaching and adjusting the secondary handle.
How to store the unused cutting system.
Instructions for storing spare heavy duty cutting line.
Steps to install the HDL cutting system.
Guidelines for operating the tool in trimming mode.
Guidelines for operating the tool in edging mode.
Tips for achieving optimum cutting results.
Advice on achieving clean cuts when edging.
Instructions for installing a new spool of cutting line.
Steps for manually winding cutting line onto an empty spool.
Checks and solutions for a slow-running tool.
Troubleshooting steps for when the automatic line feed fails.
The Black & Decker GL680/GL690 strimmer is designed for trimming and finishing lawn edges, as well as cutting grass in confined spaces. This tool is intended for consumer use only, offering a versatile solution for garden maintenance.
When using the strimmer, it is crucial to follow basic safety precautions to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, and personal injury. Always read the manual carefully before operating the appliance and ensure you know how to switch it off in an emergency. The tool should only be used for its intended purpose; using any accessory or attachment or performing operations not recommended in the manual may pose a risk of personal injury. It is important to retain the manual for future reference.
Avoid exposing the appliance to rain or using it in damp or wet conditions. The strimmer should only be operated in daylight or good artificial light to ensure visibility and safety.
Always wear stout shoes or boots to protect your feet. Never operate the appliance while wearing open-toed sandals or when barefoot. Additionally, wear long trousers to protect your legs from debris.
Before plugging in the strimmer, ensure it is switched off. Stay alert and use common sense; do not operate the appliance if you are tired. If the appliance begins to vibrate abnormally, switch it off, remove the plug from the socket, and allow rotating parts to stop. Inspect the appliance for damage and loose parts before resuming use. Never pull the cord to disconnect the plug from the socket; keep the cord away from heat, oil, and sharp edges. If the mains cable is damaged during use, switch off the appliance and disconnect the plug immediately. Do not touch the mains cable before disconnecting from the mains.
Do not allow children or any person unfamiliar with these instructions to operate the appliance. Keep children, visitors, and animals away from the work area and prevent them from touching the appliance or mains cable. Remember that the operator is responsible for any accidents or hazards occurring to other people or their property.
After use, switch off the strimmer, remove the plug from the socket, and ensure that all moving parts have stopped rotating before leaving the appliance unattended or before changing, cleaning, or inspecting any parts. When not in use, store the appliance in a dry place, out of reach of children.
Before each use, check the appliance for damaged or defective parts, including misalignment and seizure of moving parts, breakage, damage to guards, and switches. Do not use the appliance if any part is damaged or defective, or if the switch does not turn it on and off. Never use the appliance if any guard or enclosure is damaged or not in place. Ensure the appliance operates properly and performs its intended function. Any damaged or defective parts should be repaired or replaced by an authorized repair agent. Before use, check the mains cable for signs of damage, ageing, and wear. If the mains cable is damaged or defective, it must be repaired by an authorized repair agent to avoid hazards. Never attempt to remove or replace any parts other than those specified in this manual.
This tool is double insulated, meaning no earth wire is required. Always check that the power supply corresponds to the voltage indicated on the rating plate.
The appliance features warning symbols:
Before using the appliance, check that your cutting path is free from sticks, stones, wire, and other objects. Only use the appliance in the correct position, with the cutting line near the ground, as shown in the illustrations. Never switch the appliance on in any other position. Switch on the appliance only when hands and feet are away from the cutting line. Avoid body contact with the cutting line while the appliance is running. Do not work on steep slopes; ensure good footing, as freshly cut grass can be damp and slippery. Take care when trimming near borders, gravel paths, or roads, as stones and soil may be moved by the cutting line. Do not put the appliance down until the cutting line has come to a complete standstill. Use only the appropriate type of Black & Decker cutting line; never use metal cutting line or fishing line. After extending new cutting line, always return the appliance to its normal operating position before switching on. Take care to keep the mains cable away from the cutting line and be aware of its position.
This appliance is not intended for use by young or infirm persons without supervision. Children must be supervised to ensure they do not play with the appliance. If the supply cord is damaged, it must be replaced by the manufacturer or an authorized Black & Decker Service Centre to avoid a hazard.
The tool includes the following features:
Before assembly, ensure the tool is switched off and unplugged.
Remove the screw (17) from the guard (10). Place the guard onto the tool as shown. Firmly press the guard until it snaps into place. Secure the guard with the screw. Never use the tool unless the guard is properly fitted.
Place the handle (5) on the tool as shown. Adjust the handle to the most comfortable position, using the markings as a guide. Pass the bolt (6) through the secondary handle and the main handle. Screw the bolt into the far side of the secondary handle, but do not overtighten it.
The tool has two cutting systems:
The unit is supplied with several pieces of spare heavy cutting line. These extra pieces can be stored securely in the recess in the handle (14).
In transit, the cutting line is taped to the spool housing. Remove the tape holding the cutting line (13) to the spool housing (12).
Your strimmer will come with the Reflex plus spool installed. To fit the HDL Heavy Duty Line cutting system, unplug the tool. Keep the tabs (18) depressed and remove the spool cover (19) from the housing (12) (fig. G). Ensure a piece of heavy cutting line is correctly fitted to the heavy cutting head, as described in "Maintenance - Fitting a new piece of heavy duty cutting line" (see fig. L). Align the tabs on the heavy cutting head with the cut outs (22) in the housing (fig. G). Push the heavy cutting head onto the housing until it snaps securely into place.
Connect the female plug of a suitable extension cable to the power inlet (4). Loop the cable through the cable restraint (3). Insert the mains plug into a mains outlet. For wired-in cable units, ensure the cable is looped through the cable restraint prior to connecting the plug to the mains outlet. The extension cable must be suitable for outdoor use.
Let the tool work at its own pace; do not overload.
The tool can be used in trimming mode (fig. D) or in edging mode to trim overhanging grass along lawn edges and flower beds (fig. E). Do not use the heavy duty cutting system for edging.
For trimming, the trimmer head should be in the position shown in fig. D. If it is not, depress the adjustment button (7). Rotate the head (9) while releasing the button. When the head is in position, the button will lock into place. Note that the head will only rotate in one direction.
For edging, the trimmer head should be in the position shown in fig. E. If it is not, depress the adjustment button (7). Rotate the head (9) while releasing the button. When the head is in position, the button will lock into place. Note that the head will only rotate in one direction. Do not use the heavy duty cutting system for edging.
This tool has a telescopic mechanism, allowing you to set it to a comfortable height with three height settings. To adjust, depress the adjustment button (7). Gently pull the tube (15) in or out of the motor housing (9) to the desired height, while releasing the button. When the tube is in position, the button will lock into place.
To switch the tool on, squeeze the trigger lever (1). To switch the tool off, release the trigger lever. Never attempt to lock the trigger lever in the on position.
For optimum cutting results, only cut dry grass.
Hold the tool as shown in fig. D. Gently swing the trimmer from side to side. When cutting long grass, work in stages from the top, taking small cuts. Keep the tool away from hard objects and delicate plants. If the tool starts running slowly, reduce the load.
Optimum cutting results are achieved on edges deeper than 50 mm. Do not use the tool to create edges; use an edging spade for that purpose. Guide the tool as shown in fig. E. To make a closer cut, slightly tilt the tool.
Your tool is designed for long-term operation with minimal maintenance. Proper tool care and regular cleaning ensure continuous satisfactory operation. Before performing any maintenance, switch off and unplug the tool. Regularly clean the ventilation slots in your tool using a soft brush or dry cloth. Regularly clean the cutting line and spool using a soft brush or dry cloth. Regularly use a blunt scraper to remove grass and dirt from underneath the guard.
Replacement spools of cutting line are available from your Black & Decker dealer (cat. no. A6441). Complete cassettes containing a spool of cutting line are also available (cat. no. 6488). Unplug the tool. Keep the tabs (18) depressed and remove the spool cover (19) from the housing (12) (fig. G). Remove the empty spool (20) from the spool cover. Remove any dirt and grass from the spool cover and housing. Take the new spool and push it onto the boss in the spool cover, rotating it slightly until it is seated. Unclip the end of one of the cutting lines and guide the line into one of the eyelets (21) (fig. H), ensuring it protrudes approximately 11 cm from the spool cover. Repeat for the other cutting line. Align the tabs (18) on the spool cover with the cut outs (22) in the housing (fig. G). Push the cover onto the housing until it snaps securely into place. If the cutting lines protrude beyond the trimming blade (11), cut them off so they just reach the blade.
You may wind new cutting line onto an empty spool. Replacement packs of cutting line are available from your Black & Decker dealer (cat. no. A6440). Remove the empty spool from the tool as described above. Remove any remaining cutting line from the spool. First, wind new line onto the uppermost part of the spool: feed 2 cm of cutting line into one of the slots in the upper section of the spool as shown. Wind the cutting line onto the spool in the direction of the arrow, ensuring it is wound neatly and in layers without criss-crossing. When the wound cutting line reaches the recesses (24), cut the line. Temporarily park the line in the slots (23) on one side of the spool as shown. Repeat the procedure for the second cutting line on the lower section of the spool. Park the line in the unused slots (23). Proceed as described above to fit the spool on the tool. Do not forget to release the cutting line from the parking slots (23). Only use the appropriate type of Black & Decker cutting line. Ensure that cutting line is present in both sections of the spool (fig. K).
Replacement pieces of heavy duty cutting line are available from your Black & Decker dealer (cat. no. A6487). To fit a new piece of cutting line, unplug the tool. Keep the tabs (18) depressed and remove the heavy cutting head (25) from the housing (12) (fig. G). Remove the used piece of line from the heavy cutting head. Thread a new piece of line (26) through the holes in the heavy cutting head. Put the central ferrule (27) in the indicated position. Align the tabs on the heavy cutting head with the holes (22) in the housing (fig. G). Push the heavy cutting head onto the housing until it snaps securely into place.
If your tool does not operate properly, follow the instructions below. If the problem persists, contact your local Black & Decker repair agent. Before proceeding, switch off and unplug the tool.
Check that the spool housing can rotate freely and clean it if necessary. Check that the cutting line does not protrude more than 11 cm from the spool housing. If it does, cut it off so that it just reaches the line trimming blade.
Keep the tabs depressed and remove the spool cover from the housing. Pull the cutting line until it protrudes 11 cm from the housing. If insufficient cutting line is left on the spool, install a new spool of cutting line as instructed above. Align the tabs on the spool cover with the cut outs in the housing. Push the cover onto the housing until it snaps securely into place. If the cutting line protrudes beyond the trimming blade, cut it off so that it just reaches the blade. If the automatic line feed still does not work or the spool is jammed, try carefully cleaning the spool cover and housing. Remove the spool and check if the lever can move freely. Remove the spool and unwind the cutting line, then wind it on neatly again as described above. Replace the spool as instructed.
General| Power Source | Corded Electric |
|---|---|
| Cutting Width | 28 cm |
| Weight | 2.7 kg |
| Line Diameter | 1.5 mm |
| Power | 550 W |
| Voltage | 230 V |
| Line Feed | Automatic |
| Shaft Type | Straight |
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