Hercules HE61P User Manual

Model

HE61P

Owner’s Manual &
Safety Instructions

4-1/2" Heavy Duty Angle Grinder

WARNING: To prevent serious injury, User must read and

understand Owner’s Manual. SAVE THIS MANUAL.

When unpacking, make sure that the product is intact and

undamaged. If any parts are missing or broken, please call

1-888-866-5797 as soon as possible. Reference

62801.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

GENERAL POWER TOOL SAFETY WARNINGS

Read all safety warnings and all instructions.

Failure to follow the warnings and instructions may
result in electric shock, fire and/or serious injury. Save

all warnings and instructions for future reference.

The term ″power tool″ in the warnings refers to your
mains-operated (corded) power tool.

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.

Electrical Safety

1. Power tool plugs must match the outlet.
Never modify the plug in any way.
Do not use any adapter plugs with grounded
power tools. Unmodified plugs and matching

outlets will reduce risk of electric shock.

2. Avoid body contact with grounded surfaces
such as pipes, radiators, ranges and
refrigerators. There is an increased risk of

electric shock if your body is 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 Ground Fault Circuit
Interrupter (GFCI) protected supply.

Use of a GFCI reduces the risk of electric shock.

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 safety equipment. Always wear eye
protection. Safety equipment such as

dust mask, non-skid safety shoes, hard hat,

or hearing protection used for appropriate
conditions will reduce personal injuries.

3. Prevent unintentional starting. Ensure the switch/
trigger 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, clothing and gloves
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. Only use safety equipment that has been
approved by an appropriate standards agency.

Unapproved safety equipment may not provide
adequate protection. Eye protection must be
ANSI-approved and breathing protection
must be NIOSH-approved for the
specific hazards in the work area.

Page 2 For technical questions, please call 1-888-866-5797. Item 62801

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
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. 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.

Service

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.

Safety Warnings Common for
Grinding, Sanding, Wire Brushing,
or Abrasive Cutting-off Operations

1. This power tool is intended to function as a
grinder, sander, wire brush, or cut-off tool. Read
all safety warnings, instructions, illustrations
and specifications provided with this power tool.

Failure to follow all instructions listed below may
result in electric shock, fire and/or serious injury.

2. Operations such as polishing are not

recommended to be performed with
this power tool. Operations for which the

power tool was not designed may create
a hazard and cause personal injury.

3. Do not use accessories which are not

specifically designed and recommended
by the tool manufacturer. Just because the

accessory can be attached to your power tool,
it does not assure safe operation.

4. The rated speed of the accessory must be at

least equal to the maximum speed marked on
the power tool. Accessories running faster than

their RATED SPEED can break and fly apart.

5. The outside diameter and the thickness of your

accessory must be within the capacity rating
of your power tool. Incorrectly sized accessories

cannot be adequately guarded or controlled.

6. The arbor size of wheels, flanges, backing

pads or any other accessory must properly
fit the spindle of the power tool. Accessories

with arbor holes that do not match the mounting
hardware of the power tool will run out of balance,
vibrate excessively and may cause loss of control.

7. Do not use a damaged accessory.

Before each use inspect the accessory such
as abrasive wheels for chips and cracks,
backing pad for cracks, tear or excess wear,
wire brush for loose or cracked wires. If power
tool or accessory is dropped, inspect for
damage or install an undamaged accessory.
After inspecting and installing an accessory,
position yourself and bystanders away from
the plane of the rotating accessory and run
the power tool at maximum no-load speed
for one minute. Damaged accessories will

normally break apart during this test time.

8. Wear personal protective equipment. Depending

on application, use face shield, safety goggles
or safety glasses. As appropriate, wear dust
mask, hearing protectors, gloves and workshop
apron capable of stopping small abrasive or
workpiece fragments. The eye protection must
be capable of stopping flying debris generated
by various operations. The eye protection must

be capable of stopping flying debris generated by
various operations. The dust mask or respirator
must be capable of filtering out particles generated
by your operation. Prolonged exposure to high
intensity noise may cause hearing loss.

9. Keep bystanders a safe distance away

from work area. Anyone entering the
work area must wear personal protective
equipment. Fragments of workpiece or of a

broken accessory may fly away and cause
injury beyond immediate area of operation.

10. Hold power tool by insulated gripping surfaces

only, when performing an operation where
the accessory may contact hidden wiring
or its own cord. An accessory contacting a

″live″ wire may make exposed metal parts of
the power tool ″live″ and shock the operator.

Page 3For technical questions, please call 1-888-866-5797.Item 62801

11. Position the cord clear of the spinning

accessory.

If you lose control, the cord may be cut or
snagged and your hand or arm may be
pulled into the spinning accessory.

12. Never lay the power tool down until the

accessory has come to a complete stop.

The spinning accessory may grab the surface
and pull the power tool out of your control.

13. Do not run the power tool while carrying
it at your side. Accidental contact with the

spinning accessory could snag your clothing,
pulling the accessory into your body.

14. Regularly clean the power tool’s air vents.
The motor’s fan will draw the dust inside

the housing and excessive accumulation of
powdered metal may cause electrical hazards.

15. Do not operate the power tool near flammable
materials. Sparks could ignite these materials.

16. Do not use accessories that require liquid
coolants. Using water or other liquid coolants

may result in electrocution or shock.

17. Maintain labels and nameplates on the tool.
These carry important safety information.
If unreadable or missing, contact
Harbor Freight Tools for a replacement.

18. Avoid unintentional starting. Prepare to
begin work before turning on the tool.

19. Do not depress the spindle lock when
starting or during operation.

20. Do not leave the tool unattended when it is plugged
into an electrical outlet. Turn off the tool, and
unplug it from its electrical outlet before leaving.

21. Use clamps (not included) or other practical
ways to secure and support the workpiece to
a stable platform. Holding the work by hand
or against your body is unstable and may
lead to loss of control and personal injury.

22. This product is not a toy.
Keep it out of reach of children.

23. People with pacemakers should consult their
physician(s) before use. Electromagnetic fields in
close proximity to heart pacemaker could cause
pacemaker interference or pacemaker failure.
In addition, people with pacemakers should:

• Avoid operating alone.

• Do not use with Switch locked on.

• Properly maintain and inspect to avoid
electrical shock.

• Properly ground power cord. Ground Fault Circuit
Interrupter (GFCI) should also be implemented
– it prevents sustained electrical shock.

24. The warnings, precautions, and instructions
discussed in this instruction manual cannot cover all
possible conditions and situations that may occur.
It must be understood by the operator that
common sense and caution are factors
which cannot be built into this product,
but must be supplied by the operator.

Kickback and Related Warnings

Kickback is a sudden reaction to a pinched or
snagged rotating wheel, backing pad, brush
or any other accessory. Pinching or snagging
causes rapid stalling of the rotating accessory
which in turn causes the uncontrolled power
tool to be forced in the direction opposite of the
accessory’s rotation at the point of the binding.

For example, if an abrasive wheel is snagged or
pinched by the workpiece, the edge of the wheel
that is entering into the pinch point can dig into the
surface of the material causing the wheel to climb
out or kick out. The wheel may either jump toward
or away from the operator, depending on direction
of the wheel’s movement at the point of pinching.
Abrasive wheels may also break under these conditions.

Kickback is the result of power tool misuse and/or
incorrect operating procedures or conditions and can be
avoided by taking proper precautions as given below.

1. Maintain a firm grip on the power tool and

position your body and arm to allow you to
resist kickback forces. Always use auxiliary
handle, if provided, for maximum control over
kickback or torque reaction during start-up.

The operator can control torque reactions or
kickback forces, if proper precautions are taken.

2. Never place your hand near the rotating
accessory. Accessory may kickback over your hand.

3. Do not position your body in the area where
power tool will move if kickback occurs.

Kickback will propel the tool in direction opposite to
the wheel’s movement at the point of snagging.

4. Use special care when working corners, sharp
edges etc. Avoid bouncing and snagging the
accessory. Corners, sharp edges or bouncing

have a tendency to snag the rotating accessory
and cause loss of control or kickback.

5. Do not attach a saw chain woodcarving
blade or toothed saw blade. Such blades

create frequent kickback and loss of control.

Safety Warnings Specific

for Grinding and Abrasive

Cutting-off Operations

1. Use only wheel types that are recommended
for your power tool and the specific
guard designed for the selected wheel.

Wheels for which the power tool was not designed

cannot be adequately guarded and are unsafe.

Page 4 For technical questions, please call 1-888-866-5797. Item 62801