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Echo HEDGE CLIPPER Safety Manual

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HEDGE CLIPPER SAFETY MANUAL
Misuse may result in serious or fatal injuries. You must read, under-
stand, and follow these safety instructions and the instructions in your
Operator's Manual before operating a Hedge Clipper.
Hedge Clipper blades are very sharp and can cause severe injuries,
even if engine is off and blades are not moving. Avoid contact with
blades. Wear gloves to protect hands. Place blade cover on blades
when transporting or storing unit.
To locate your nearest Echo dealer, visit our website at www.echo-usa.com, or call 1-800-
432-ECHO (3246). Ask how to obtain a FREE Safety Video. Echo's supplemental Safety
Video provides helpful safety and operating information.
X7522240002
DANGER!
DANGER!
89857008963
10/07

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Summary of Contents for Echo HEDGE CLIPPER

  • Page 1 Wear gloves to protect hands. Place blade cover on blades when transporting or storing unit. To locate your nearest Echo dealer, visit our website at www.echo-usa.com, or call 1-800- 432-ECHO (3246). Ask how to obtain a FREE Safety Video. Echo’s supplemental Safety Video provides helpful safety and operating information.

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    You must also be alert at all times, and be physically capable of handling and controlling a power hedge clipper in a variety of cutting applications. If you are unable to handle the hedge clipper safely, or if you feel that the cutting task you wish to perform may put yourself, your property, or others at risk, please call a professional landscape maintenance company to handle the job.

  • Page 3: Safety Symbols And Warnings

    These symbols may also appear on safety labels as a visual reminder to follow these important precautions whenever you are transporting, fueling, operating, servicing, or handling, or storing your hedge clipper. Circle/Slash Prohibition Symbol This symbol means that the specific action shown is prohibited.
  • Page 4 SAFETY SYMBOLS AND WARNINGS Read Operator's and Safety Manuals Read manuals carefully, and follow rules for safe opera- tion. Failure to do so could result in serious or fatal injury. Wear Head, Eye, and Hearing Protection Wear head, hearing, eye protection that meet ANSI requirements.
  • Page 5 SAFETY SYMBOLS AND WARNINGS Operate Only With Handle Guard/Do Not Remove Hand Guard (Double-sided Blades) Do not operate without hand guard in place. Operate Only With Handle Guard/Do Not Remove Hand Guard (Single-sided Blades) Do not operate without hand guard in place. Stop Symbol Indicates the “Stop”...

  • Page 6: Operator Safety

    Never operate the unit if you are fatigued, or are under the influence of alcohol, medication, or any other sub- stances that can affect your judgment, reflexes, vision, or coordination. You must be mentally alert and physi- cally able to operate a hedge clipper safely.
  • Page 7 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT WARNING Operating a power hedge clipper exposes you to sharp, fast-moving blades, powerful cutting action, flying de- bris, sharp sticks and branches, and other work area hazards. These hazards can cause serious injury to you and others if you do not take the precautions necessary to protect yourself.
  • Page 8 Always wear proper clothing when Foot Protection using the hedge clipper. Wear sturdy shoes or work boots to provide foot protec- tion. Steel-toe shoes or boots provide extra protection against dropped or falling objects. Make sure soles are non-slip for secure footing.
  • Page 9 OPERATOR SAFETY DUST PROTECTION Operators who are sensitive to wood dust or other common airborne allergens may need to wear a dust mask to prevent inhaling these materials while cutting. Dust masks can provide protection against sawdust, plant debris, and other plant matter such as pollen. Make sure the mask does not impair your vision, and replace the mask as needed to prevent air restrictions.
  • Page 10 Always wear sturdy work gloves when handling the hedge clipper, and do not allow blades to touch any part of your body. If your hedge clipper requires assembly before it can be used, you must make sure all guards, shields, and protective devices are properly installed.

  • Page 11: Assembly

    • Make sure throttle trigger returns to normal position when released. • Make sure stop switch functions properly Blade Cover The hedge clipper blades are covered by a removable protective cover to prevent accidental contact with sharp edges. Keep the protective cover on the blades until you are ready to install the blade stiffener, make blade adjustments, or operate the hedge clipper.

  • Page 12: Fueling

    FUELING IMPORTANT! New locknuts must be used every time blade stiffener is installed, and blade bolt adjustment instructions must be followed EXACTLY. Failure to follow instructions, or to use new locknuts, may damage blades or gearbox and result in rapid blade wear and poor cutting performance.
  • Page 13 FUELING • NEVER allow flames or sparks near fuel. • ALWAYS loosen fuel caps slowly to allow pressure in tanks and containers to escape • ALWAYS use extreme care when mixing, storing, or handling fuel. • NEVER remove tank cap or refuel a unit while the engine is hot or running •...
  • Page 14 FUELING Fuel Mix WARNING 2-Stroke engine oil contains petroleum distillates and other additives that may be harmful if swallowed. Heated oil can release vapors that can cause flash fire, or ignite with explosive force. Read and follow the oil manufacturer’s instructions, and observe all safety warnings and precautions for handling flammable liquids.

  • Page 15: Starting

    “STOP” switch, and know how to perform an emer- gency stop in case of a switch malfunction. (See “Stop- ping” on next page.) The Hedge Clipper blades must not move at idle, otherwise serious personal injury may result. Periodic carburetor adjustment may be necessary to assure blades do not move at idle.
  • Page 16 Make cutting angle adjustment first. • ALWAYS start the hedge clipper flat on the ground, with blades clear of all obstructions • NEVER “drop start” the unit or attempt to start the unit while it is resting on blade tips.

  • Page 17: Operation

    (COLD START POSITION) HEDGE CLIPPER OPERATION DANGER Hedge clipper blades are extremely sharp. Moving blades have powerful cutting action. Contact with moving blades will cause serious injury. Keep hands, feet, and all other body parts away from blades at all times.
  • Page 18 Cutting To cut, hold the hedge clipper firmly with two hands, with thumbs wrapped around the handles for a secure grip. Squeeze the throttle trigger slowly to accelerate the engine, and carefully feed the blades into the material to be cut.
  • Page 19 - keep blades directed away from yourself at all times. • NEVER exceed the cutting capacity of the hedge clippers - forcing the blades to cut materials thicker than the hedge clipper is designed to handle will result in jams, blade damage, and poor overall performance.
  • Page 20 You must be able to see the blades and cutting area at all times • ALWAYS be alert for changes in hedge clipper operation that could signal a problem - sudden vibration, unusual noise, strong smell of fuel, or poor cutting performance all require your immediate attention.
  • Page 21 OPERATION Fuel Leaks After the unit has cooled, pour fuel remaining in the tank into an approved fuel container. Purge any fuel left in purge bulb by pressing bulb until it is empty. Pour fuel removed from purge bulb into an approved fuel container, and tighten fuel container cap securely.
  • Page 22 OPERATION CUTTING - SHAFT HEDGE CLIPPERS Echo manufactures two types of extended reach, shaft- mounted hedge clippers to meet the needs of profes- sional landscapers and demanding homeowners. Shaft-mounted hedge clippers (SHC models) provide the additional reach needed for trimming tall bushes and ornamental shrubs.
  • Page 23 Hedge clippers convert the rotary motion of the engine crankshaft into back-and-forth cutting motion to drive one or two hedge clipper blades. This back-and-forth, reciprocating motion is produced by the gear case, which is driven by a clutch attached to the engine’s...

  • Page 24: Maintenance

    MAINTENANCE WARNING Operating a poorly maintained hedge clipper can result in serious injuries to operator and others. Maintain unit as instructed in Operator’s Manual. Keep blades sharp and properly adjusted, and replace broken parts imme- diately.
  • Page 25 • NEVER make temporary repairs on a unit - taking shortcuts or using questionable parts and perform- ing repairs that are not approved by Echo may create a safety hazard that can cause serious injury. Improper repair may also cause premature part failures, and void your product warranty.

  • Page 26: Storage

    Operating a unit that has been improperly repaired may result in serious injury. • ALWAYS have major service performed by a quali- fied service technician. See your Echo dealer for authorized service support. STORAGE DANGER Improper storage can result in fire, explosion, damage to equipment and property, and serious injury.

  • Page 27: Electric Hedge Clippers

    Use only UL-approved 3-prong grounded cords approved for outdoor use. • ALWAYS use an extension cord rated for the current required to power the hedge clipper. Keep cord length to a minimum to prevent voltage drop, loss of power, and overheating of motor.
  • Page 28 Size for Extension Cords the work area. Total Cord Correct Cord Length Gauge • NEVER carry the hedge clipper by the power cord, 25 feet 18 AWG or yank on the cord to disconnect it from a power 50 feet 16 AWG...
  • Page 29 ELECTRIC HEDGE CLIPPERS • NEVER touch the gear housing, blades, or any other metal part on the hedge clipper if the blades have nicked or cut into the power cord. Shut off the power, set the unit down carefully, and disconnect the power cord at the power outlet before freeing the cord from the hedge clipper blades.
  • Page 30 Cracked Housing notice a burning smell, or if you see smoke coming from the power cords or hedge clipper. Turn off the power to the power outlet immediately, and carefully disconnect the power cord. Allow the unit to cool before handling, and have the unit inspected and serviced before using it again.

  • Page 31: Definitions

    The engine speed or R.P.M. at which the clutch engages and transmits power to the gear case. Double Reciprocating Blade A hedge clipper with two blades that move over one another in a back and forth motion. Double-sided blade Hedge clipper blade that has cutting teeth on both sides of blade assembly.
  • Page 32 Filter element located on end of fuel line. Filters fuel mix before it enters carburetor. Fuel Tank Contains fuel mix used for engine operation. Gear Case Provides reciprocating motion to hedge clipper blades. GFCI Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter - An electrical circuit breaker that provides protection from shocks. Hand Guard Protective device that prevents hands from contacting blades.
  • Page 33 Eye protection devices that fit flush against the face and cover the complete eye and socket. Single Reciprocating Blade A hedge clipper with one fixed blade and one blade that moves back and forth over the fixed blade. Single-sided blade Hedge clipper blade that has cutting teeth on one side of blade assembly.
  • Page 34 NOTES...
  • Page 35 NOTES...
  • Page 36 ECHO INCORPORATED 400 OAKWOOD ROAD LAKE ZURICH, IL 60047 PHONE: (847) 540-8400 www.echo-usa.com Printed in USA...

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