Maintenance And Storage; Cutting Techniques - Gardena CST 3018 Manual De Instrucciones

Before performing any maintenance or cleaning,
remove the plug from the mains.
ATTENTION! In cases where work environments
are particularly dirty or dusty, the operations
described must be performed more frequently than
mentioned in the instructions.
Before each use
Check that the chain oil pump functions correctly:
direct the bar towards a clear surface at a distance of
about 20 centimetres; after the machine has run for
about a minute, the surface should show clear traces
of oil (fig.1).
Check that excessive strength is not needed for
activating and deactivating the chain brake. Also
check that it is not activated too easily and that it is
not blocked. Then check chain brake function as
follows: release the chain brake, grip the machine
correctly and start up the machine, activate the chain
brake by pushing the front hand guard forward with
the left wrist or arm but without removing the hand
from the handle (fig.2). If the chain brake is working
correctly, the chain should be stopped immediately.
Check that the chain is sharpened correctly, in good
working condition and that the tension is correct. If
the chain is irregularly worn, or if the cutting teeth are
only 3 mm long, the chain must be replaced (fig.3).
Clean the air vents regularly to prevent motor
overheating (fig 4).
Check that the switch and switch block function
correctly (to be performed with the chain brake
released): press the switch and the switch block and
ensure that they return to idle position as soon as
they are released; check that it is impossible to press
the switch without activating the switch block.
Check that the chain catcher and the right hand
guard are in correct condition without any visible
faults such as damaged material.
Every 2-3 hours of use
Check the bar condition, if necessary clean the
lubrication holes (fig.5) and the guide grooves (fig.6)
carefully; If the groove is worn or shows signs of
deep notching, it must be replaced. Clean the drive
sprocket regularly and check that it has not been
subject to excess wear (fig.7). Lubricate the nose
sprocket with bearing grease through the hole shown
in the illustration (fig.8).
(fig.1) When using the machine, prevent:
- cutting in conditions where the trunk could split during
cutting (wood under pressure, dry dead trees, etc):
sudden splitting can be very dangerous.
- the bar or the chain from becoming blocked in the
cutting notch: if this should occur, disconnect the
machine from the main electricity supply and try to
raise the trunk using an appropriate tool as a lever; do
not attempt to free the machine by shaking or pulling as
this could cause damage or injury.
- situations that can lead to kickback reactions.
- using the product above shoulder height
- cutting wood with foreign objects e.g. nails.
Never use the machine in earth or stones, this leads to
immediate wear of the chain.
G. MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE
H. CUTTING TECHNIQUES
ENGLISH - 7
Chain sharpening
Contact an Authorised Service Centre regarding any
problems with sharpening the chain.
The chain needs to be correctly sharpened. A
wrongly sharpened chain can cause kickback
and a high risk of injury.
If the chain does not cut correctly, or requires hard bar
pressure against the wood, and if the sawdust is very
fine, this is a sign that it is not sharpened correctly. If the
cutting action produces no sawdust, this means the
cutting edge has been worn completely and the chain is
pulverising the wood during cutting. A well-sharpened
chain crosses through the wood without effort or
pressure and produces large long wood shavings.
The cutting side of the chain is composed of the cutting
link (fig.9) with a cutting tooth (fig.10) and a cutting limit
gauge (fig.11). The difference between these
determines the cutting depth; a file guide and a 4mm
diameter round file are needed to obtain good
sharpening results; Follow the instructions below: Once
the chain has been mounted and the tension is correctly
adjusted, and the chain brake is activated, position the
file guide perpendicular to the bar as shown in the
illustration (fig.12), filing the cutting teeth at the angle
shown (fig.13A & 13B), always working from the interior
towards the exterior, lessening the pressure during the
return stage (it is very important to follow the instructions
perfectly: excessive or insufficient sharpening angles or
an incorrect file diameter will increase the risk of
kickback.) To obtain higher precision on side angles, it
is advisable to position the file so that it exceeds the
upper cutter by about 0.5 mm. File all the teeth on one
side first, then turn the machine over and repeat the
operation. Make sure that after sharpening operations,
all teeth are the same length and that the height of the
depth gauge is 0.6 mm lower than the upper cutter:
check the height using a proper template and file
(with a flat file) all protruding parts, rounding off the
front part of the depth gauge (fig.14), paying attention
to not file the kickback protection tooth (fig.15)
Every 30 hours use.
Take the machine to the Authorised Service Centre
Storage/Transport
Allow the product to cool down and place the cover
over the bar and chain.
Store the product in a cool, dry, place and out of
reach of children. Do not store outdoors.
Ensure the oil does not leak out from the product.
(fig.1) During machine use:
- When cutting on sloping ground, always work uphill of
the trunk to avoid being hit if the trunk should roll
downhill.
- When felling trees, always finish the job: a partially cut
tree could break and fall.
- At the end of each cutting operation the user will
notice a considerable change in the strength necessary
for controlling the machine. Great care must be taken
not to loose control.
Below is a description of two different types of cutting
operation:
Cutting action by pulling the chain (from top to bottom)
(fig.2) can lead to dangerous sudden movement of the
machine towards the trunk with consequential loss of
control. Where possible, use the spiked bumper during
cutting operations.