Stihl HS 46 Instruction Manual page 6

English
To reduce the risk of fire, do not smoke while
operating or standing near your power tool. Com‐
bustible fuel vapor may escape from the fuel sys‐
tem.
If your power tool is subjected to unusually high
loads for which it was not designed (e.g. heavy
impact or a fall), always check that it is in good
condition before continuing work – see also
"Before Starting". Check in particular that the fuel
system has no leaks and the safety equipment is
fully operative. Never use a power tool that is no
longer safe to operate. In case of doubt, contact
a dealer.
Do not operate your power tool in the starting
throttle position – engine speed cannot be con‐
trolled in this position.
Inspect the hedge and work area to avoid dam‐
aging the cutting blades:
– Remove stones, rocks, pieces of metal and
other solid objects
– Ensure that no sand or small stones get
between the cutting blades, e.g. when working
close to the ground
– When cutting hedges next to or against wire
fences, do not touch wire with the cutting
blades
Do not touch electric power lines – never cut
through electric power lines – risk of electrocu‐
tion!
Do not touch the cutting blades.while
the engine is running. If the cutting
blades become jammed by an object,
switch off the engine immediately
before attempting to remove the
object – risk of injury!
Opening the throttle when the cutting blades are
jammed increases the load and reduces the
working speed of the engine. The clutch then
slips continuously and this causes overheating
and damage to important components (e.g.
clutch, plastic housing components) – as a result,
there is a risk of injury! from the idling cutting
blades
If the hedge is very dusty or dirty, spray the cut‐
ting blades with STIHL resin solvent from time to
time during cutting. This will significantly reduce
blade friction, the aggressive effects of sap and
the build-up of dirt particles.
The dust which is generated during operation
may be harmful to health. Wear a dust mask in
case of dust formation.
6
2 Safety Precautions and Working Techniques
Before you leave the machine: Shut the engine
off.
Check the cutting blades at regular short inter‐
vals during operation or immediately if there is a
noticeable change in cutting behavior:
– Shut off the engine
– Wait for cutting blades to come to a standstill
– Check the condition and firm seat, watch out
for fine cracks
– Ensure that the cutting blades are sharp
Always clean plant residue, chips, leaves and
excess lubricant off the engine and muffler – risk
of fire!
2.8 After finishing work
Always clean dust and dirt off the machine – do
not use any grease solvents for this purpose.
Spray the cutting blades with STIHL resin sol‐
vent. Run the motor briefly so that the solvent is
evenly distributed.
2.9 Vibrations
Prolonged use of the power tool may result in
vibration-induced circulation problems in the
hands (whitefinger disease).
No general recommendation can be given for the
length of usage because it depends on several
factors.
The period of usage is prolonged by:
– Hand protection (wearing warm gloves)
– Work breaks
The period of usage is shortened by:
– Any personal tendency to suffer from poor cir‐
culation (symptoms: frequently cold fingers,
tingling sensations).
– Low outside temperatures.
– The force with which the handles are held (a
tight grip restricts circulation).
Continual and regular users should monitor
closely the condition of their hands and fingers. If
any of the above symptoms appear (e.g. tingling
sensation in fingers), seek medical advice.
2.10 Maintenance and Repairs
Service the machine regularly. Do not attempt
any maintenance or repair work not described in
the instruction manual. Have all other work per‐
formed by a servicing dealer.
STIHL recommends that you have servicing and
repair work carried out exclusively by an author‐
ized STIHL servicing dealer. STIHL dealers are
0458-447-8321-D