Flex-Force Power System™ 24in 60V Hedge Trimmer

The safety-alert symbol (Figure 2) shown in this manual and on the machine identifies important safety messages that you must follow to prevent accidents.

Figure 2

Safety-alert symbol

The safety-alert symbol appears above information that alerts you to unsafe actions or situations and is followed by the word DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION.

DANGER indicates an imminently hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury.

WARNING indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.

CAUTION indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury.

This manual uses two other words to highlight information. Important calls attention to special mechanical information and Note emphasizes general information worthy of special attention.

Save all warnings and instructions for future reference.

The term “power tool” in all the warnings refers to your mains-operated (corded) power tool or battery-operated (cordless) power tool.

IMPORTANT SAFETY

INSTRUCTIONS

I. Work area safety

1. Keep work area clean and well lit.Cluttered or dark areas invite accidents.

2. Do not operate power tools in explosive atmospheres, such as in the presence of flammable liquids, gases, or dust.Power tools create sparks which may ignite the dust or fumes.

3. Keep children and bystanders away while operating a power tool.Distractions can cause you to lose control.

II. Electrical safety

1. Power tool plugs must match the outlet. Never modify the plug in any way. Do not use any adapter plugs with earthed (grounded) power tools.Unmodified plugs and matching outlets will reduce risk of electric shock.

2. Avoid body contact with earthed or grounded surfaces, such as pipes, radiators, ranges and refrigerators.There is an increased risk of electric shock if your body is earthed or grounded.

3. Do not expose power tools to rain or wet conditions.Water entering a power tool will increase the risk of electric shock.

4. Do not abuse the cord. Never use the cord for carrying, pulling or unplugging the power tool. Keep cord away from heat, oil, sharp edges or moving parts.Damaged or entangled cords increase the risk of electric shock.

5. When operating a power tool outdoors, use an extension cord suitable for outdoor use.Use of a cord suitable for outdoor use reduces the risk of electric shock.

6. If operating a power tool in a damp location is unavoidable, use a residual current device (RCD) protected supply.Use of an RCD reduces the risk of electric shock.

III. Personal safety

1. Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use common sense when operating a power tool. Do not use a power tool while you are tired or under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or medication.A moment of inattention while operating power tools may result in serious personal injury.

2. Use personal protective equipment. Always wear eye protection.Protective equipment such as dust mask, non-skid safety shoes, hard hat, or hearing protection used for appropriate conditions reduces personal injuries.

3. Prevent unintentional starting. Ensure the switch is in the OFF-position before connecting to power source and/or battery pack, picking up or carrying the tool.Carrying power tools with your finger on the switch or energizing power tools that have the switch on invites accidents.

4. Remove any adjusting key or wrench before turning the power tool on.A wrench or a key left attached to a rotating part of the power tool may result in personal injury.

5. Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance at all times.This enables better control of the power tool in unexpected situations.

6. Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry. Keep your hair and clothing away from moving parts.Loose clothes, jewelry, or long hair can be caught in moving parts.

7. If devices are provided for the connection of dust extraction and collection facilities, ensure these are connected and properly used.Use of dust collection can reduce dust-related hazards.

8. Do not let familiarity gained from frequent use of tools allow you to become complacent and ignore tool safety principles.A careless action can cause severe injury within a fraction of a second.

IV. Power tool use and care

1. Do not force the power tool. Use the correct power tool for your application.The correct power tool will do the job better and safer at the rate for which it was designed.

2. Do not use the power tool if the switch does not turn it on and off.Any power tool that cannot be controlled with the switch is dangerous and must be repaired.

3. Disconnect the plug from the power source and/or remove the battery pack, if detachable, from the power tool before making any adjustments, changing accessories, or storing power tools.Such preventive safety measures reduce the risk of starting the power tool accidentally.

4. Store idle power tools out of the reach of children and do not allow persons unfamiliar with the power tool or these instructions to operate the power tool. Power tools are dangerous in the hands of untrained users.

5. Maintain power tools and accessories. Check for misalignment or binding of moving parts, breakage of parts, and any other condition that may affect the power tool’s operation. If damaged, have the power tool repaired before use.Many accidents are caused by poorly maintained power tools.

6. Keep cutting tools sharp and clean.Properly maintained cutting tools with sharp cutting edges are less likely to bind and are easier to control.

7. Use the power tool, accessories, and tool bits etc. in accordance with these instructions, taking into account the working conditions and the work to be performed.Use of the power tool for operations different from those intended could result in a hazardous situation.

8. Keep handles and grasping surfaces dry, clean and free from oil and grease.Slippery handles and grasping surfaces do not allow for safe handling and control of the tool in unexpected situations.

V. Battery tool use and care

1. Recharge only with the charger specified by the manufacturer.A charger that is suitable for one type of battery pack may create a risk of fire when used with another battery pack.

2. Use power tools only with specifically designated battery packs.Use of any other battery packs may create a risk of injury and fire.

3. When battery pack is not in use, keep it away from other metal objects, like paper clips, coins, keys, nails, screws or other small metal objects, that can make a connection from one terminal to another.Shorting the battery terminals together may cause burns or a fire.

4. Under abusive conditions, liquid may be ejected from the battery; avoid contact. If contact accidentally occurs, flush with water. If liquid contacts eyes, additionally seek medical help.Liquid ejected from the battery may cause irritation or burns.

5. Do not use a battery pack or tool that is damaged or modified.Damaged or modified batteries may exhibit unpredictable behavior resulting in fire, explosion or risk of injury.

6. Do not expose a battery pack or tool to fire or excessive temperature.Exposure to fire or temperature above 130 °C (265 °F) may cause explosion.

7. Follow all charging instructions and do not charge the battery pack or tool outside the temperature range specified in the instructions.Charging improperly or at temperatures outside the specified range may damage the battery and increase the risk of fire.

VI. Service

1. Have your power tool serviced by a qualified repair person using only identical replacement parts.This will ensure that the safety of the power tool is maintained.

2. Never service damaged battery packs.Service of battery packs should only be performed by the manufacturer or authorized service providers.

VII. Hedge trimmer safety warnings

1. Do not use the hedge trimmer in bad weather conditions, especially when there is a risk of lightning.This decreases the risk of being struck by lightning.

2. Keep all power cords and cables away from cutting area.Power cords or cables may be hidden in hedges or bushes and can be accidentally cut by the blade.

3. Wear ear protection.Adequate protective equipment will reduce the risk of hearing loss.

4. Hold the hedge trimmer by insulated gripping surfaces only, because the blade may contact hidden wiring.Blades contacting a "live" wire may make exposed metal parts of the hedge trimmer "live" and could give the operator an electric shock.

5. Keep all parts of the body away from the blade. Do not remove cut material or hold material to be cut when blades are moving.Blades continue to move after the switch is turned off. A moment of inattention while operating the hedge trimmer may result in serious personal injury.

6. When clearing jammed material or servicing the hedge trimmer, make sure all power switches are off and the battery pack is removed or disconnected.Unexpected actuation of the hedge trimmer while clearing jammed material or servicing may result in serious personal injury.

7. Carry the hedge trimmer by the handle with the blade stopped and taking care not to operate any power switch.Proper carrying of the hedge trimmer will decrease the risk of inadvertent starting and resultant personal injury from the blades.

8. When transporting or storing the hedge trimmer, always use the blade cover.Proper handling of the hedge trimmer will decrease the risk of personal injury from the blades.

SAVE THESE

INSTRUCTIONS

A selection of Toro approved attachments and accessories is available for use with the machine to enhance and expand its capabilities. Contact your Authorized Service Dealer or authorized Toro distributor or go to www.Toro.com for a list of all approved attachments and accessories.

To ensure optimum performance and continued safety certification of the machine, use only genuine Toro replacement parts and accessories. Replacement parts and accessories made by other manufacturers could be dangerous.

1. Remove the protective cover from the blades (Figure 4).

   Warning

   The hedge trimmer blades can cause cuts or amputation.

   Be careful when handling the hedge trimmer with the protective cover removed.

   

   Figure 4

   1. Protective cover
   2. Blades

2. Make sure that the vents on the hedge trimmer are clear of any dust and debris.

3. Align the cavity of the battery pack with the tongue in the handle housing, grasp the handle, and push the battery pack into the handle until the latch locks into place (Figure 5).

   

   Figure 5

   1. Auxiliary-handle switch
   2. Auxiliary handle
   3. Lock switch
   4. Trigger
   5. Battery latch
   6. Hedge trimmer venting areas

4. Place 1 hand on the trigger handle. Place the other hand on the auxiliary handle (Figure 5).

5. Press the lock switch and then squeeze the trigger switch while engaging the auxiliary-handle switch to turn on the hedge trimmer (Figure 5).

   The trimmer stays on as long as the auxiliary-handle switch is engaged and the trigger is squeezed. You may release the lock switch once the hedge trimmer is running (Figure 5).

1. Press and hold the rotational lock button (A of Figure 6).

2. Rotate the handle 90° to the right or left depending on desired cutting direction, then release the rotational lock button to lock the handle in the desired position (B of Figure 6).

Figure 6

To shut off the hedge trimmer, release the trigger, auxiliary-handle switch, or both (Figure 5). Allow at least 5 seconds for the cutting blade to stop moving.

Whenever you are not using the trimmer or are transporting the trimmer to or from the work area, remove the battery pack.

Press the battery latch on the tool to release the battery pack and slide the battery pack out of the tool (Figure 7).

Figure 7

1. Battery latch

• Use the power tool for cutting in either direction in a slow, sweeping action.

• When trimming new growth, use a wide sweeping action so that the stems are fed directly into the cutting blade.

• Use a different tool to trim stems that are too large for the trimmer.

• If desired, you can use a string to help cut your hedge level. Decide how high you want the hedge. Stretch a piece of string along the hedge at the desired height as a guideline. Trim the hedge just above the string guideline.

1. Shut off the trimmer, remove the battery pack, and place the trimmer on a flat surface.

2. Clean dirt and debris from the hedge trimmer, using a brush or a damp cloth with a mild detergent.

3. Apply light weight machine oil (such as #10) along the edge of the top blades (Figure 1).

   

   Figure 8

   1. Apply machine oil to the top edge of the blades.