Working Position - Black & Decker BEHTS551 Manual

The use of the hedge trimmer without the proper guard or
handle provided may result in serious personal injury.
Attaching extension cord to trimmer (Fig. B)
A cord retainer (7) is incorporated into the rear of the switch
handle (6).
Near the end of the extension cord, fold the extension
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cord to create a loop.
Feed the loop into the cord retainer housing as shown in
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Fig. B.
Hook the loop onto the cord retainer (7) so it rests in the
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cord retainer.
Plug the extension cord into the unit.
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Use
Warning! Let the tool work at its own pace. Do not overload.
check the hedges and bushes for foreign objects, e.g. wire
fences and hidden wiring.
Before operating the hedge trimmer, the user should make
sure the locking device(s) of any moving elements (e.g. the
extended shaft and pivoting element), if any, are in the locked
position.
Switching on and off
Note: For your safety, this tool is equipped with a double
switching system. This system prevents starting the tool
inadvertently and will only allow operation while holding the
tool with both hands.
Switching on (fig. E)
To turn the tool "ON", press the lock off button (4) in the
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auxiliary handle (3) backward and squeeze the trigger
switch (5). Depress the safety switch in the Bail handle
(3a) as shown in figure C. Once the unit is running, you
may release the lock off button. In order to keep the unit
running you must continue to squeeze the trigger. To turn
the tool "OFF", release the trigger.
Warning! Never attempt to lock a switch in the ON position.
Rotating the Rear Handle (Fig. D)
The rear handle has the capability of rotating 180°. There are
optional stops at 0°, 45° and 90° which are ideal for side cuts
and rounded or irregular shaped shrubs.
To rotate the rear handle, press in on the rotate button (9)
and turn in the desired direction as shown in Figure D.
Figure D depicts the rear handle in 90° left, 0° and 90°
right positions.
Correct hand position (Fig. E)
Always hold the trimmer, as shown in the illustrations in this
manual, with one hand on the switch handle and one hand
on the bail handle (Fig. E). Never hold the unit by the blade
guard.
(Original instructions)
Guidelines for trimming
Extension cord (fig. F)
Always keep extension cord behind trimmer and away
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from the trimming operation as shown in figure F. Never
drape it over a hedge being trimmed.
If you cut or damage the cord, unplug it at the electrical
outlet immediately, before inspecting or repairing cord.

Working position

Maintain proper footing and balance and do not over-
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reach.
Wear safety goggles, non-skid footwear and rubber gloves
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when trimming.
Hold the tool firmly in both hands and turn the tool ON.
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Always hold the trimmer, as shown in Fig. D, with one
hand on the switch handle and one hand on the auxiliary
handle. Never hold the tool by the blade guard.
Trimming new growth (fig.G)
A wide, sweeping motion, feeding the blade teeth through
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the twigs is most effective. A slight downward tilt of the
blade, in the direction of motion gives the best cutting.
Warning! Do not use trimmer for cutting stems greater than
16 mm. Use the trimmer only for cutting normal shrubbery
found around houses and buildings.
Level hedges (fig.H)
To obtain exceptionally level hedges, a piece of string can
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be stretched along the length of the hedge as a guide.
Side trimming hedges (fig.I)
Begin at the bottom and sweep up.
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Sawblade (fig.J)
For branches too large for the blade (1) to cut, use the
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sawblade (8) . Position the sawblade as close to the
bottom of the branch as possible. Place the sawblade
shoe (9) against the branch. Turn the hedge trimmer on as
described above, allowing the tool to work at its own pace
until the branch is fully cut.
The cutting blades are made from high quality, hardened steel
and with normal usage, they will not require resharpening.
However, if you accidentally hit a wire fence (Fig. L), stones,
glass or other hard objects, you may put a nick in the blade.
There is no need to remove this nick as long as it does not in-
terfere with the movement of the blade. If it does interfere, un-
plug the cord and use a fine toothed file or sharpening stone
to remove the nick. If you drop the trimmer, carefully inspect it
for damage. If the blade is bent, housing cracked, or handles
broken or if you see any other condition that may affect the
trimmer's operation contact your local BLACK+DECKER
Service Center for repairs before putting it back into use.
Autogoods "130"
ENGLISH
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