0478 131 9940 B - EN
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– blunt mowing blade
– mowing excessively high grass or 
cutting height adjusted too low
– excessive rate of feed
– inadequate cleaning of the cooling air 
guide (inlet slots)
Recommencing operation
Resume normal operation of the machine 
following a cooling period of up to 10 min 
(depending on the ambient temperature). 
(Ö 12.)
The machine is equipped with several 
safety devices for safe operation and for 
the prevention of improper use.
11.1 Safety plug
The motor can only be switched on when 
the safety plug is inserted (Ö 9.1).
11.2 Safety devices
The lawn mower is equipped with safety 
devices, which prevent inadvertent contact 
with the mowing blade and with ejected 
clippings.
These include the housing, discharge flap, 
grass catcher box and correctly installed 
handlebar.
11.3 Two-hand operation
The motor can only be switched on by 
pressing and holding the ON button with 
the right hand and then pulling the 
motorstop lever to the handlebar with the 
left hand.
11.4 Motor run-down brake
When the motorstop lever is released, the 
mowing blade comes to a standstill in less 
than three seconds.
An integrated motor run-down brake 
shortens the run-down time until the blade 
stops.
Measuring run-down time
Following motor start-up, the blade rotates 
and a wind noise is audible. The run-down 
time corresponds to the duration of the 
wind noise after the motor stops. This can 
be measured using a stopwatch.
12.1 Preparatory measures
● Charge the battery and insert it into the 
battery compartment. (Ö 8.4)
● Insert the safety plug. (Ö 9.1)
12.2 Switching the lawnmower 
on 
● 1 Press and hold the ON button (1).
2 Pull the motorstop lever (2) to the 
handlebar and hold.
● The ON button (1) can be released 
once the motorstop lever (2) is 
actuated.
12.3 Switching the lawn mower 
off 
● Release the motorstop lever (1). 
Motor and mowing blade come to a stop 
after a short run-down time.
12.4 Self-propulsion 
(RMA 443 TC, RMA 448 TC) 
1 Switching on self-propulsion
● Start the motor (Ö 12.2)
● Pull self-propulsion 
lever (1) to the handlebar 
and hold.
Self-propulsion is activated and the lawn 
mower moves forwards.
2 Switching off self-propulsion
● Release self-propulsion lever (1).
11. Safety devices
Risk of injury!
If a safety device is found to be 
defective, the machine must not be 
operated. Consult a specialist 
dealer; STIHL recommends STIHL 
specialist dealers.
12. Operating the machine
Risk of injury!
Observe the safety instructions in 
the section "For your safety". (Ö 4.)
Do not switch the lawn mower on in 
tall grass. Select a higher cutting 
height setting if the motor is difficult 
to start.
Note
The RMA 443 TC and RMA 448 TC 
lawnmowers have rear-wheel drive.
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