ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING:
Remove the battery from the unit and make sure the switch lock is in the
locked or OFF position before assembling or disassembling any components.
This unit requires assembly.
UNPACKING
1. Carefully remove the product and any accessories from the box.
2. Inspect the product carefully to make sure no breakage or damage occurred during shipping. Do not
discard the packing material until you have carefully inspected and satisfactorily operated the
product. If any parts are damaged or missing, please call 1-866-206-2707 (U.S.) or 1-877-696-5533
(Canada) for assistance.
CHARGING THE BATTERY
Before attempting to charge the battery pack, thoroughly read all safety instructions.
NOTE:
The battery pack is not fully charged at the factory. CHARGE THE BATTERY BEFORE THE
INITIAL USE.
1. Plug the battery charger into any standard 120 Volt 60
Hz electrical outlet.
IMPORTANT: Do not charge by means of an engine
generator or DC power source. Use only 120V AC.
2. Slide the battery onto the battery charger (Fig. 1). Both
LEDs will illuminate. Let the battery charge until the red
LED flashes.
3. Unplug the charger. Slide the battery off the battery
charger (Fig. 1).
Important Charging Notes
• After the initial charge, under normal usage, the battery
pack should be fully charged in 1.5 hours.
NOTE:
A hot battery placed in the charger will not charge. Allow the battery to cool down for 30
minutes before charging after using the unit.
• DO NOT charge the battery pack in an air temperature below 32°F (0 °C) or above 104°F (40 °C). This
is important and will prevent serious damage to the battery pack. Longest life and best performance
can be obtained if battery pack is charged when air the temperature is about 75°F (24°C).
• While charging, the charger may hum and become warm to the touch. This is a normal condition
and does not indicate a problem.
• If the battery pack does not charge properly:
1. Check the current at the receptacle by plugging in a lamp or other appliance.
2. Check to see if the receptacle is connected to a light switch that turns power off to the
receptacle when the light switch is turned off.
3. Move the charger and battery pack to a surrounding air temperature of 32°F (0°C) to 104°F (40 °C).
4. If the receptacle and temperature are OK, and the battery still does not charge properly, call
1-866-206-2707 (U.S.) or 1-877-696-5533 (Canada) for assistance.
• Lithium-ion batteries, while in use, will continue to provide full power without power fade, unlike
typical batteries; when the battery is fully discharged, the battery circuitry will immediately cut
power to the tool and require immediate charging.
• To prolong battery life, avoid leaving the battery pack on the charger for extended periods (over 30
days without use). Although overcharging is not a safety concern, it can significantly reduce battery life.
• The battery pack will reach optimum performance after 5 cycles of normal usage. There is no need
to run the batteries down completely before recharging. Normal usage is the best method of
discharging and recharging the batteries.
INSTALLING AND REMOVING THE BATTERY
Follow these instructions in order to avoid injury and to
reduce the risk of electric shock or fire:
• Verify that the switch lock is in the locked or OFF
position before installing or removing the battery. Refer
to Starting and Stopping Instructions.
• Verify that the battery is removed and the switch lock is
in the locked or OFF position before inspecting, adjusting
or performing maintenance on any part of the unit.
Installing the Battery
1. Align the tongue of the battery with the handle cavity
(Fig. 2).
2. Grasp the rear handle firmly.
3. Slide the battery onto the rear handle until the release buttons "snap" together.
4. Do not use force when inserting the battery. It should slide into position and "click."
Removing the Battery
1. Press down and hold both release buttons on the battery (Fig. 2).
2. Grasp the rear handle firmly and pull the battery out of the handle cavity.
NOTE:
The battery fits into the handle cavity snugly in order to prevent accidental dislodging. It
may require a strong pull to remove it.
STARTING AND STOPPING INSTRUCTIONS
STARTING THE MOTOR
To help prevent accidental start-ups, this unit has a switch
lock and switch trigger that must be used together to start
the unit.
1. Fit the battery into the handle cavity (Fig. 2). Refer to
Installing the Battery.
2. Press and hold the switch lock (Fig. 3). This makes the
switch trigger operational.
3. While holding the switch lock, press and hold the switch
trigger (Fig. 3).
4. Release the switch lock and continue to squeeze the
switch trigger for continued operation.
STOPPING THE MOTOR
1. Release the switch trigger.
NOTE:
It is normal for the blade to coast to a stop once the switch trigger is released.
NOTE:
Upon release of the switch trigger, the switch lock will automatically reset to the locked position.
Battery
Battery
Charger
Fig. 1
Rear Handle
Battery
Release
Button
Battery
Battery Release
Button
Fig. 2
Switch
Lock
Switch
Trigger
Fig. 3
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING:
Do not allow familiarity with this unit to promote carelessness. Remember that a
careless fraction of a second is enough to inflict serious injury.
WARNING:
If any parts are damaged or missing, do not operate the unit until the parts
are replaced. Failure to heed this warning could result in serious personal injury.
WARNING:
Always wear appropriate eye and ear/hearing protection when operating this
unit. Wear safety goggles, or safety glasses with side shields, that are marked as meeting
ANSI Z87.1-1989 standards. Failure to do so could result in serious eye injury caused by
thrown objects. If the operation is dusty, wear a facemask or dust mask.
WARNING:
Wear non-slip gloves for maximum grip and protection. Refer to the Safety
Information section for appropriate safety equipment.
WARNING:
Do not expose the unit to rain. Do not use the unit in damp or wet locations
or conditions.
PROPER GRIP
• Always grip the unit firmly with both hands when the motor is running. Keep the left hand on the front
handle and the right hand on the rear handle. Use a firm grip with thumbs and fingers encircling the
handles. This grip is least likely to be broken. Any grip in which the thumb and fingers are on the
same side of the handle is dangerous because a slight kick of the unit can cause loss of control.
• Keep hands away from the trimmer blade. Keep both hands on the handles and behind the
protective guard whenever the motor is running.
PROPER STANCE
• Balance body weight securely, with both feet on solid
ground (Fig. 4).
WORK AREA PRECAUTIONS
• Keep everyone – helpers, bystanders, children and
animals – at least 50 feet (15 m) away from the work
area. If anyone enters the work area, stop the unit!
• Only operate the unit when visibility and light are
adequate to see clearly.
• Keep the work area clean. Do not start the operation until
the work area is clear and free from obstructions.
Remove all cords, lights, wires, strings or other objects
that could become entangled in the trimmer blade.
BASIC OPERATING PROCEDURES
DANGER:
If the trimmer blade gets caught on an electrical cord or wire, DO NOT
TOUCH THE BLADE! IT MAY BE ELECTRICALLY LIVE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
Release the trimmer in the quickest and safest way. If possible, disconnect the damaged
electrical cord or wire from its power source. If that is not possible, call an electrician,
electrical contractor, or the power company for assistance. Failure to heed this danger
warning will cause serious personal injury or possible death.
WARNING:
Do not attempt to remove cut material or hold material to be cut while the
trimmer blade is moving. Do not grasp the trimmer blade when picking up or holding the
unit. Make sure the battery is removed and the switch lock is in the locked or OFF position
before clearing any jammed material from the trimmer blade.
IMPORTANT: Lubricate the trimmer blade before and after each use. Ignoring this step will decrease the
life of the trimmer blade and hamper operation. Refer to Maintenance and Repair Instructions.
• Use the hedge trimmer for trimming and forming hedges, shrubs and bushes with a branch diameter
of up to 7/16 of an inch (11.1 mm). For larger branches, use a non-powered saw or pruning saw.
• Work slowly, while maintaining a proper grip and stance (Fig. 4).
• Allow the unit to do the cutting. Forcing the unit through dense growth, or attempting to trim too
much at one time, can cause the blade to bind and slow, reducing the cutting efficiency. Forcing
the unit can also result in damage to the blade and can increase the chance of personal injury.
• When trimming new growth, use a wide sweeping action, so that stems are fed directly into the
trimmer blade (Fig. 5). Older growth will have thicker stems and will be trimmed easiest by using a
sawing motion.
• Release the switch trigger as soon as the cut is
completed. Allow the trimmer blade to come to a
complete stop. Unnecessary wear may occur if the unit
is run without a cutting load.
• After completing the cut, wait for the trimmer blade to
stop before moving the unit. Always stop the motor
before moving from hedge to hedge.
• If desired, use a string to help cut hedges level.
Determine the desired height of the hedge, then stretch a
length of string along the hedge at that height. Trim the
hedge to just above the string line. Trim the side of the
hedge so that it will be slightly narrower at the top. More
of the hedge will be exposed when shaped this way, and it will appear more uniform.
• Do not cut from a ladder; this is extremely dangerous. Leave this operation for professionals.
• Do not cut above chest height, as a hedge trimmer held higher is more difficult to control.
MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING:
Before inspecting, cleaning or servicing the unit, stop the motor, make sure
the switch lock is in the locked or OFF position, wait for all moving parts to stop, allow the
unit to cool and remove the battery from the unit. Failure to follow these instructions can
result in serious personal injury or property damage.
WARNING:
To avoid possible serious injury, never touch or adjust the trimmer blade
while the motor is running. The trimmer blade is very sharp; always wear protective gloves
when performing maintenance to the trimmer blade.
SHARPENING THE BLADE
The cutting blades are made from high-quality, hardened
steel and with normal usage will not require sharpening.
However, if the trimmer blade accidentally hits wire fencing,
stones, glass, nails or other hard objects, the blade may
become nicked. There is no need to remove this nick
unless it interferes with the movement of the trimmer blade.
If it does interfere, or if the performance of the unit has
diminished due to blade dullness, have the trimmer blade
sharpened by an authorized service center.
LUBRICATING THE BLADE
• For easier operation and longer blade life, lubricate the
trimmer blade before and after each use.
• During use, occasionally stop the motor, ensure that the switch lock is in the locked or OFF
position, remove the battery and lubricate the trimmer blade as needed.
1. Apply light machine oil along the edge of the top blade (Fig. 6).
CAUTION:
Some spray-on lubricants contain solvents and will cause some types of
grease to break down. To prevent damage to the unit, only use a high-quality machine oil.
CHARGER MAINTENANCE
• To ensure safety and reliability, all repairs should be performed by a qualified service technician.
• Check that the charger contacts have not been shorted by debris or foreign material.
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
3