Shindaiwa AHS254 Owner's/Operator's Manual page 4

Safety (continued)
Operating Precautions
■
Never transport the articulated
hedge trimmer or leave it
unattended with the engine running.
An engine that's running could be
accidently accelerated causing the
blades to oscillate.
■
Make sure that the blade cover is in
place when transporting or storing
the articulated hedge trimmer.
■
Always make sure that the cutter
attachment and all handles and
guards are properly installed and
firmly tightened before operation.
■
Inspect for broken, missing or
improperly installed parts or
attachments.
■
Never use a cracked or warped
cutter or cutter bar: replace it with
a serviceable one and make sure it
fits properly.
■
Make sure there are no missing or
loose fasteners, and that the stop
switch and throttle controls are
working properly.
■
Never adjust blades when the
engine is operating.
WARNING!
Hedge Trimmer blades are very sharp. Touching them may lead to severe personal injury. Avoid touching
blades whenever possible, and always wear gloves to protect hands
CAUTION!
■
Always maintain the articulated
hedge trimmer according to
this owner's manual and follow
the recommended scheduled
maintenance.
■
Never modify or disable any of the
hedge trimmer's safety devices.
Doing so may cause damage and
lead to personal injury
■
Always use genuine Shindaiwa
parts and accessories when
repairing or maintaining this
machine.
4
WARNING!
■
Make sure there is always good
ventilation when operating the
articulated hedge trimmer. Fumes
from engine exhaust can cause
serious injury or death. Never run
the engine indoors!
■
Never smoke or light fires near the
hedge trimmer. Keep the unit away
from excessive heat. Engine fuel
is very flammable and fire could
lead to serious personal injury or
property damage.
■
Make sure the cutters are correctly
adjusted before operating the
articulated hedge trimmer (see the
section "Cutter Blade Adjustment"
for cutter adjustment procedures).
Never attempt cutter adjustment
with the engine running!
■
Before starting the engine, make
sure the cutter is not contacting
anything.
■
Always confirm safe operation
when using the machine.
■
Immediately stop the engine with
the stop switch if the machine
suddenly begins to vibrate or
shake.
■
Do not make unauthorized
modifications to the articulated
hedge trimmer or its components.
■
Keep the cutters sharp and
properly adjusted.
■
Never allow the engine to run at
high speed without a load. Doing
so could damage the engine.
■
When transporting the hedge
trimmer in a vehicle, tie it down
securely to prevent fuel spillage or
damage to the machine.
■
Always stop the engine
immediately and check for
damage if you strike a foreign
object or if the machine becomes
tangled. Do not operate with
broken or damaged equipment.
■
When cutting a branch that is
under tension, be alert for spring-
back so that you will not be struck
by the moving branch.
■
If a cutter should bind fast in a cut,
shut off the engine immediately.
Push the branch or tree to ease
the bind and free the cutter.
■
Always stop the engine and allow
it to cool before refueling. Avoid
overfilling and wipe off any fuel
that may have spilled.
■
To reduce fire hazard, keep the
engine and muffler free of debris,
leaves, or excessive grease
■
Keep a Solid Stance. Maintain
footing and balance at all times.
Do not stand on slippery, uneven
or unstable surfaces. Do not work
in odd positions or on ladders. Do
not over reach.
■
Always stop the engine and allow
it to cool before refueling. Avoid
overfilling and wipe off any fuel
that may have spilled.
■
Never place flammable material
close to the engine muffler and
never run the engine without the
spark arrestor screen in place.
■
Always clear your work area of
trash or hidden debris to help
ensure good footing.
■
Keep the articulated hedge trimmer
as clean as possible. Keep it free
of loose vegetation, mud, etc.