Maintaining your hedge trimmer

Regular and professional maintenance of your hedge trimmer guarantees a long life of your machine. We show you what to look out for.

Why it is important to maintain your hedge trimmer

Your hedge trimmeris heavily loaded with every use and leaves traces of use and consumption. Regular maintenance of your machine helps to detect and solve these problems quickly. This limits serious damage and defects.

Always use hedge trimmers with care. Regular maintenance of your machine will reveal damage and significantly reduce the risk of injury caused by the machine.

Maintenance before starting work

A visual inspection of the entire hedge trimmer

• Is the rubber coating in good condition or are there cracks?
• Do the screws need to be tightened? Or are they too tight? You will notice this because the cutting part moves with some difficulty. In that case it is useful to apply a little oil and rust protection to the screws.
• Are the knives sharp enough or do they need to be re-sharpened?
• Please check carefully that the main functions are working properly.

Check the gear lever the gear lever lock the gear lever bracket and the lock lever.You will find precise instructions in themanually of your hedge trimmer.

Maintenance of battery and electric petrol hedge trimmers

In addition to the usual maintenance of your STIHL hedge trimmer there are specific tasks for each type. The most important ones are listed here.

Maintenance of a petrol hedge trimmer

Petrol hedge trimmers also require the following maintenance work.

• Check the carburetor at idle before starting work. Adjust if necessary or consult your authorized STIHL dealer.
• Check that the fuel tank is properly closed and that there are no fuel leaks.
• Check the spark plugs regularly. We recommend replacing them after 100 hours of operation.
• Clean the air filter regularly and replace it if necessary.
• Clean the fuel tank. If you are not reachable for three months or more the tank should be emptied. Take all petrol residues to the recycling centre.
• Have the fuel tank suction head replaced annually by a specialist

Maintaining a cordless hedge trimmer

When servicing a battery-powered machine you should pay attention to the battery itself and the charger.

• Are the LEDs lit or flashing as they should? If they are red or not lit at all remove the battery from the unit. Refer to the Troubleshooting section of your hedge trimmer manual for detailed instructions on warning symbols.

Important:After each use remove the battery from the hedge trimmer and clean it with a cloth. We recommend that you always store the battery disconnected from the device and with a charge of 40 to 60 percent (two green LED lights).

Maintaining your electric hedge trimmer

Always unplug the power cord before performing maintenance on an electric hedge trimmer. Otherwise there is a high risk of an accident!

If you use an electric hedge trimmer check the power cord and plug before and after each use.

• Are they well insulated?
• Do they look old or broken?

If you notice any damage during maintenance do not use the device. Electrical components may only be replaced or repaired by a qualified electrician.

• Have the carbon brushes checked by a specialist dealer every 100 hours of operation.
• Have the drive head and connecting rod checked by a specialist dealer every 50 hours of operation.

Maintaining your hedge trimmer:maintenance sprayAndfat

Every time you use your hedge trimmer it is exposed to external influences and stubborn dirt. Our carefully selected range of STIHL maintenance products contains everything you need to keep your machine running smoothly.

Summary

• Regular maintenance of your hedge trimmer will extend its lifespan and reduce the risk of accidents.
• Perform a visual check.
• Please check carefully that the main functions are working properly.
• With a petrol hedge trimmer you should regularly check the fuel tank air filter and spark plugs.
• When using an electric hedge trimmer always unplug it from the power source before carrying out any maintenance.
• With a battery-powered hedge trimmer you should also pay attention to the battery and the charger.