Owner's Manual

Hedge Trimmer Safety Manual
English
8
Accelerating the engine while the blades
are blocked increases the load and will
cause the clutch to slip continuously.
This may result in overheating and
damage to important components (e.g.
clutch, polymer housing components) –
which can then increase the risk of injury
from the blades moving while the engine
is idling.
Take particular care when cutting
hedges next to or against wire fences.
Do not touch the wire with the cutting
blades. When working close to the
ground, make sure that no sand, grit or
stones get between the cutter blades.
Striking solid foreign objects such as
stones, fence wire or metal could
damage the cutting attachment and may
cause blades to crack, chip or break.
STIHL does not recommend the use of
your power tool when cutting in areas
where the blades could contact such
objects.
Check the cutting blades at regular short
intervals during operation, or
immediately if there is a noticeable
change in cutting behavior:
– Shut off the engine.
– Wait until the cutting blades have
come to a complete standstill.
– Check condition and tightness, look
for cracks.
– Check sharpness.
– Replace damaged or dull cutting
tools immediately, even if they have
only superficial cracks.
After Finishing Work
Always clean dust and dirt off the
machine – do not use any grease
solvents for this purpose.
Spray the blades with STIHL resin
solvent. Start and run the engine briefly
so that the solvent is evenly distributed.
Warning!
Before you start work, examine the
hedge area for stones, fence wire, metal
or other solid objects which could dam-
age the cutter blades.
Warning!
Observe the cutting blades at all times –
do not cut any areas of the hedge that
you cannot see. When cutting the top of
a taller hedge, check the other side of
the hedge frequently for bystanders,
animals and obstructions.
Danger!
Your power tool is not
insulated against electric
shock. To reduce the risk
of electrocution, never
operate this power tool in
the vicinity of any wires or
cables (power, etc.) which may be car-
rying electric current.
Warning!
If the cutting tool becomes clogged or
stuck, always turn off the engine and
make sure the cutting tool has stopped
before cleaning. Grass, weeds, etc.
should be cleaned off the cutting tool at
regular intervals.
Warning!
The gearbox becomes hot during oper-
ation. To reduce the risk of burn injury,
do not touch the gear housing when it is
hot.
Warning!
The muffler and other parts of the
engine (e.g. fins of the cylinder, spark
plug) become hot during operation and
remain hot for a while after stopping the
engine. To reduce risk of burns do not
touch the muffler and other parts while
they are hot.
Warning!
To reduce the risk of fire and burn injury,
keep the area around the muffler clean.
Remove excess lubricant and all debris
such as pine needles, branches or
leaves. Let the engine cool down sitting
on concrete, metal, bare ground or solid
wood (e.g. the trunk of a felled tree)
away from any combustible substances.
Warning!
Never modify your muffler. The muffler
could be damaged and cause an
increase in heat radiation or sparks,
thereby increasing the risk of fire and
burn injury. You may also permanently
damage the engine. Have your muffler
serviced and repaired by your STIHL
servicing dealer only.