Shindaiwa AH242 User Manual

SHINDAIWA OWNER’S/OPERATOR'S MANUAL

AH242 ARTICULATED
HEDGE TRIMMER

X7502801003
01/13

WARNING!

Always wear eye and ear protection when oper­ating this machine. To minimize the risk of injury, read
this manual and familiarize yourself with its contents.

Introduction

The Shindaiwa AH242 Articulated
Hedge Trimmer is designed and built to
deliver superior performance and reli­ability without compromise to quality,
comfort, safety or durability.

The information contained in these
instructions describes units available
at the time of publication.

Shindaiwa's engines represent the
leading edge of high-performance,
engine technology, delivering excep­tionally high power with remarkably low
displacement and weight. As an owner/
operator, you'll soon discover for your­self why Shindaiwa is simply in a class

Echo, Inc. reserves the right to make
changes to products without prior
notice, and without obligation to
make alterations to units previously
manufactured.

by itself!

Contents

Safety .............................................3

Product Description .........................6

Specications ..................................6

Emission Control .............................7

Assembly .........................................7

PAGE

Mixing fuel .....................................10

Filling the fuel tank.........................11

Starting the Engine ....................... 11

Stopping the Engine ......................13

Checking Unit Condition ................13

The procedures described in this manual are intended to help you get the most from your unit as well as to protect you
and others from harm. These procedures are guidelines for safe operation under most conditions, and are not intended to
replace any safety rules and/or laws that may be in force in your area. If you have questions regarding your power tool, or
if you do not understand something in this manual, your Shindaiwa dealer will be glad to assist you. You may also contact
Shindaiwa at the address printed on the back of this Manual.

IMPORTANT!

WARNING!

The engine exhaust from
this product contains chemicals
known to the State of California
to cause cancer, birth defects or
other reproductive harm.

PAGE PAGE

Operation .......................................14

Maintenance ..................................15

Long Term Storage ........................20

Troubleshooting Guide ..................21

Warranty Statement .......................24

IMPORTANT!

Attention Statements

Throughout this manual are special “attention statements”.

DANGER!

A statement pre­ceded by the triangular attention
symbol and the word “DANGER”
contains information that should
be acted upon to prevent serious
injury or death.

the triangular attention symbol and
the word “WARNING” contains
information that should be acted
upon to prevent serious bodily
injury.

WARNING!

A statement preceded by

IMPORTANT!

A statement preceded by the word
“IMPORTANT” is one that possesses

special signicance.

Safety and Operational Labels

An articulated hedge trim­mer has the potential to cause
serious personal injury to the
operator or bystanders if mis­used, abused or mishandled.
You must observe all special
safety iinstructions to reduce
the risk of personal injury.

Read and follow this manual,
make sure anyone using the
trimmer does likewise. Fail­ure to do so could result in
serious personal injury or
machine failure. Keep this
manual for future reference.

2

Wear non-slip heavy­duty gloves.

Safety tip shoes or boots with
non-slip sole should be worn.

CAUTION!

A statement preceded by the
word “CAUTION” contains infor­mation that should be acted upon
to prevent mechanical damage.

NOTE:

A statement preceded by the word
“NOTE” contains information that is
handy to know and may make your job
easier.

Keep bystanders at least
50 feet (15 meters) away
from the operating trim­mer to reduce the risk of
being cut by the cutting
blades or struck by falling
objects or thrown debris.

The blades / cutting attach­ments are SHARP!
Handle with care.

Safety

Always wear a hard hat to
reduce the risk of head inju­ries during operation of this
machine. In addition, always
wear eye and hearing protec­tion. Shindaiwa recommends
wearing a face shield as addi­tional face and eye protection.

33 ft
10 M

This product conducts
electricity. Keep the prod­uct and/or operator a mini­mum distance of 33 feet (10
meters) away from electrical
sources and power lines.

Be aware iof the dan­ger of falling debris.

WARNING ! Surface can
be hot. Always wear gloves
when handling this unit.

DANGER!

THE ARTICULATED

HEDGE TRIMMER IS NOT INSU

­LATED AGAINST ELECTRICAL
SHOCK!

Approaching or contacting elec­trical lines with the trimmer could
cause death or serious injury.
Keep the trimmer at least 10
meters away from electrical lines
or branches that contact electri­cal lines.

An articulated hedge trimmer has the
potential to cause serious personal
injury to the operator or bystanders
if misused, abused or mishandled.
To reduce the risk of injury, you must
maintain control at all times, and
observe all safety precautions during
operation. Never permit a person with­out training or instruction to operate
this trimmer!

WARNING!

Do not make unauthorized

modications or alterations to your

articulated hedge trimmer or its
components.

WARNING!

Never operate this tool or any
other power equipment if you are

tired, ill, or under the inuence of

alcohol, drugs, or any substance
that could affect your ability or
judgement.

WARNING!

The ignition components of this machine generate an electromagnetic eld during operation which may interfere

with some pacemakers. To reduce the risk of serious or fatal injury, persons with pacemakers should consult with their
physician and the pacemaker manufacturer before operating this machine. In the absence of such information, ECHO
does not recommend the use of ECHO products by anyone who has a pacemaker.

3

Operating Precautions

WARNING!

■ Never transport the articulated

hedge trimmer or leave it unat­tended with the engine running.
An engine that’s running could be
accidently accelerated causing the
blades to oscillate.

■ Make sure that the blade cover is in

place when transporting or storing
the articulated hedge trimmer.

■ Always make sure that the cut-

ter attachment and all handles and
guards are properly installed and

rmly tightened before operation.

■ Inspect for broken, missing or

improperly installed parts or
attachments.

■ Never use a cracked or warped cut-

ter or cutter bar: replace it with a
serviceable one and make sure it

ts properly.

■ Make sure there are no missing or

loose fasteners, and that the stop
switch and throttle controls are work
ing properly.

■ Never adjust blades when the

engine is operating.

■ Make sure there is always good

ventilation when operating the artic­ulated hedge trimmer. Fumes from
engine exhaust can cause seri­ous injury or death. Never run the
engine indoors!

■ Never smoke or light res near the

hedge trimmer. Keep the unit away
from excessive heat. Engine fuel is

very ammable and re could lead

to serious personal injury or prop­erty damage.

■ Make sure the cutters are cor-

rectly adjusted before operating the
articulated hedge trimmer (see the
section ”Cutter Blade Adjustment”
for cutter adjustment procedures).
Never attempt cutter adjustment
with the engine running!

■ Immediately stop the engine with

the stop switch if the machine sud­denly begins to vibrate or shake.

-

■ Always stop the engine imme-

diately and check for damage if
you strike a foreign object or if the
machine becomes tangled. Do not
operate with broken or damaged
equipment.

■ When cutting a branch that is

under tension, be alert for spring­back so that you will not be struck
by the moving branch.

■ If a cutter should bind fast in a cut,

shut off the engine immediately.
Push the branch or tree to ease
the bind and free the cutter.

■ Always stop the engine and allow

it to cool before refueling. Avoid

overlling and wipe off any fuel

that may have spilled.

■ To reduce re hazard, keep the

engine and mufer free of debris,

leaves, or excessive grease

■ Keep a Solid Stance. Maintain

footing and balance at all times.
Do not stand on slippery, uneven
or unstable surfaces. Do not work
in odd positions or on ladders. Do
not over reach.

WARNING!

Hedge Clipper blades are very sharp. Touching them may lead to severe personal injury. Avoid touching

blades whenever possible, and always wear gloves to protect hands

CAUTION!

■ Always maintain the articu-

lated hedge trimmer according
to this owner’s manual and fol­low the recommended scheduled
maintenance.

■ Never modify or disable any of the

hedge trimmer’s safety devices.
Doing so may cause damage and
lead to personal injury

■ Always use genuine Shindaiwa

parts and accessories when repair­ing or maintaining this machine.

4

■ Do not make unauthorized modi-

cations to the articulated hedge

trimmer or its components.

■ Keep the cutters sharp and prop-

erly adjusted.

■ Never allow the engine to run at

high speed without a load. Doing
so could damage the engine.

■ When transporting the hedge

trimmer in a vehicle, tie it down
securely to prevent fuel spillage or
damage to the machine.

■ Always stop the engine and allow

it to cool before refueling. Avoid

overlling and wipe off any fuel

that may have spilled.

■ Never place ammable material

close to the engine mufer and

never run the engine without the
spark arrestor screen in place.

■ Always clear your work area of

trash or hidden debris to help
ensure good footing.

■ Keep the articulated hedge trim-

mer as clean as possible. Keep it
free of loose vegetation, mud, etc.

Safety (continued)

Safety Equipment and Labels

Ignition
(STOP)

switch

Throttle

interlock

Hand guard

Cutter blade cover

Cutter blade cover

IMPORTANT!

Caution, Danger, Warning, and Operation
Information Labels: Make sure all informa

­tion labels are undamaged and readable.
Immediately replace damaged or missing
information labels. New labels are available
from your local authorized Shindaiwa dealer.

Operator Safety

Always wear a hard hat

to reduce the risk of head

injuries during operation of

this machine.

ALWAYS protect

yourself from hazards

such as thorny brush

and ying debris by

wearing gloves and

close tting clothing

that covers arms and

legs. Never wear

shorts. Don't wear loose

clothing or items such

as jewelry that could

get caught in machinery

or underbrush. Secure
long hair so it is above

shoulder level.

This machine is designed

for trimming hedges. Do
not use this machine for

other purposes.

Always operate with both hands

rmly gripping the machine.

Keep a proper footing

and do not overreach—

maintain your balance

at all times during

operation.

ALWAYS be aware of

your surroundings and

alert to any danger that

you may not hear due to

machine noise.

Wear sturdy footwear with nonslip

soles to provide good footing.

Steel-toed safety boots are

recommended. Never operate

machine bare-footed.

ALWAYS clear your work area

of trash or hidden debris that

could be thrown back at you or

toward a bystander.

Always wear eye and hearing protection.

Shindaiwa recommends wearing a

face shield as additional face and eye

protection.

NEVER allow children to

use the unit. Avoid operating

near bystanders or when

children are nearby.

Keep bystanders at least
15 meters away from the

operating trimmer to reduce

the risk of being struck by

falling objects or thrown

debris.

5

Product Description

Spark Plug

Stop

Switch

Fuel Tank

Throttle Trigger

Using the illustration as a
guide, familiarize yourself with
the unit and its various com
ponents. Understanding your
machine helps ensure top per
formance, longer service life,
and safer operation.

Guard

Powerhead Assembly

-

-

Air Filter

Assembly

Fuel

Tank

Fuel

Tank

Guard

Cutter

Assembly

Adjustment

Lever

Handle

Latch Lock

Hedge Trimmer Cutter

Assembly

Outer

Tube

Handle

guard

Latch Release

Cutter Blade Cover

WARNING!

Do not alter this machine

or any of its components!

Hedge Trimmer
Cutter Assembly

Gearcase

Cutter Bar and

Cutter Blades

Specications

Model AH242

Engine type 2-stroke, single cylinder, air cooled, gasoline engine

Dimensions (L x W x H) 2387 mm (94 in) x 248 mm (9.76 in) x 245 mm (9.65 in)

Weight 6.18 Kg (13.6 lb)

Bore x stroke 33 x 28 mm/1.3 x 1.1 in.

Displacement 23.9 cm

Fuel/oil ratio 50:1 with *ISO-L-EGD or JASO FD class engine oil

Carburetor type Diaphragm-type

Fuel tank capacity .69 L / 23.3 . oz.

Ignition Electronic

Spark plug NGK BPM8Y

Electrode Gap 0.6 mm/ .024 in.

Torque 150-170 kgf cm / 130 - 150 in • lbf

Air cleaner type Double layer felt

Starting method Recoil

Stopping method Slide switch

Transmission type Centrifugal clutch

Blade Length 568 mm/22.4 in.

Gear Lubricant Lithium Based Grease

Idle Speed 3,000 RPM

Clutch Engagement Speed 4,000 RPM

Wide Open Throttle Speed (W.O.T.) 11,800 RPM

3

/1.46 cu. in.

Specications are subject to change without notice.

6

Emission Control (Exhaust & EvaporativE)

EPA 2010 and Later and/or C.A.R.B. TIER III

The emission control system for the engine is EM (engine modication)

and, if the second to last character of the Engine Family on the Emission
Control Information label (sample below) is “C”, “K”, or “T”, the emission
control system is EM and TWC (3-way catalyst). The fuel tank/fuel line
emission control system is EVAP (evaporative emissions). Evaporative
emissions for California models are only applicable to fuel tanks.

An Emission Control Label is located on the engine. (This is an EXAM­PLE ONLY, information on label varies by engine FAMILY).

PRODUCT EMISSION DURABILITY (EMISSION COMPLIANCE PERIOD)

The 50 or 300 hour emission compliance period is the time span selected by the manufacturer certifying the en­gine emissions output meets applicable emissions regulations, provided that approved maintenance procedures
are followed as listed in the Maintenance Section of this manual.

Assembly

Prior To Assembly

Before assembling, make sure you
have all the components required for a
complete unit:

■ Hedge Trimmer Assembly

■ Operator's Manual

■ Cutter blade cover

■ Assembly Tool (s)

■ Safety Glasses

■ Emission Control Warranty

Statement

Carefully inspect all components for
damage.

The terms “left”, “left-hand”, and
“LH”; “right”, “right-hand”, and “RH”;
“front” and “rear” refer to directions as
viewed by the operator during normal
operation.

IMPORTANT!

Blade Guard Removal/Install

NOTE:

For normal cutting, Shindaiwa strongly recommends the blade guard be installed. In extreme conditions, such as commer-

cial cutting, or when cutting thick and/or dense branches, efciency may be increased by trimming without the blade guard.

WARNING!

Hedge Clipper blades are very sharp. Touching them may lead to severe personal injury. Avoid touching blades whenever
possible, and always wear gloves to protect hands.

Blade Guard Removal

1. Move stop switch to stop position.

2. Disconnect spark plug wire.

WARNING!

Hedge clipper blades are very sharp. Touching them may lead to severe personal
injury. Use a socket and extension when removing locknuts in order to keep
hands at a safe distance from sharp blades.

3. Remove four (4) blade guard locknuts (A).

4. Remove blade guard.

5. Install (4) locknuts.

A

NOTE:

Use new locknuts every other time blade guard is installed or removed.

6. Adjust blades. See “Cutter blade adjustment” section.

7

Assembly (continued)

Install Blade Guard

1. Move stop switch to stop position.

2. Disconnect spark plug wire.

WARNING!

Hedge clipper blades are very sharp. Touching them may lead to severe per­sonal injury. Use a socket and extension when removing locknuts in order to
keep hands at a safe distance from sharp blades.

3. Remove (4) locknuts (B).

4. Install blade guard.

5. Secure blade guard with four (4) locknuts.

6. Adjust blades. See “Cutter blade adjustment” section.

IMPORTANT!

If blade guard is damaged or show signs of wear, replace it.

NOTE:

Use new locknuts every other time blade guard is installed or removed.

Adjusting the Hedge Trimmer Cutter Assembly

WARNING!

Never run the engine
when adjusting the cutter
assembly.

Adjustment Lever

B

Latch Lock

WARNING!

■ The cutter blades are very

sharp. Do not grasp the blades
with your hands. Always use
gloves when working near the
cutter assembly.

■ Do not allow the blades to con-

tact your body.

■ Do not touch the cutter blades

when the engine is running.
The blades can oscillate even
if the engine is idling.

1. Position the hedge trimmer on a at,
level surface.

2. With your right hand, grasp the
outer tube near the handle. With
your left hand, grip the adjustment
lever on the cutter assembly.

Grasp the outer tube near the handle

Latch Lock

Latch Release

Press the latch lock

IMPORTANT!

The latch lock provides an interlock to
help prevent inadvertent depression of
the latch release.

3. With the index nger of your left
hand, press the latch lock. With
your left thumb, press the latch
release.

4. While holding the latch release
down, pivot the cutter assembly
away from you using the adjust­ment lever until it is at the desired
cutting angle.

Pivot the cutter assembly using the
adjustment lever...

Adjustment Lever

Make sure the latch lock and the latch release
return securely to the locked position

5. Release the latch lock and the latch
release. Make sure the latch lock
and the latch release return securely
to the locked position.

6. Remove the cover from the cut­ter blade. The engine now may be
started (refer to the section ”Start­ing the Engine”.)

8

Assembly (continued)

Cutter Assembly Positions

The cutter assembly can be adjusted
to eleven different positions rang­ing from 120° to 270° from the outer
tube as shown. Always make sure the
latch lock is securely locked after each
adjustment.

Adjusting for Storage or Transportation

1. With the engine off, install the blade
cover onto the blade.

2. Using the procedures described on
the previous page, rotate the cut­ter assembly so it is parallel to the
tube. Make sure the latch lock and
the latch release return securely to
a locking position.

3. Make sure the blade cover is in
place on the cutters before storing or
transporting.

Throttle trigger free play

The throttle trigger free play should be
approximately 4 - 6 mm. Make sure that
the throttle trigger operates smoothly with
out binding. If it becomes necessary to
adjust the trigger free play, follow the pro
cedures and illustrations that follow.

1. Loosen the air cleaner cover knob(s)
and remove the air cleaner cover.

2. Loosen the lock nut on the cable
adjuster. Turn the cable adjuster in or
out as required to obtain proper free
play 4 - 6 mm.

-

270°

120°

Cutter
Assembly
Positions

-

Throttle trigger free play

3. Tighten the locknut.

4. Reinstall the air cleaner cover.

Various blade

positions

4 - 6 mm

possible

Gearcase rotated to the storage/

transportation position

Adjusting for Storage or Transportation

WARNING!

Never run the engine
when adjusting the cutter
assembly.

Cable

Adjuster

Rotate cable
adjuster in or
out to obtrain proper free play

Lock

Nut

9