Shindaiwa AHS254 User Manual
SHINDAIWA OWNER’S/OPERATOR'S MANUAL
AHS254
ARTICULATED HEDGE TRIMMER
X7502872102
02/12
WARNING!
Always wear eye and ear protection when operating this machine! To minimize the risk of injury to
yourself and others, read this manual and familiarize
yourself with its contents
.
Introduction
The Shindaiwa H4 series of hand-held
power equipment is designed and built
to deliver superior performance and reliability without compromise to quality,
comfort, safety or durability. Shindaiwa
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 by itself!
IMPORTANT!
The information contained in these
instructions describes units available at
the time of publication.
ECHO, Inc. reserves the right to
make changes to products without
prior notice, and without obligation to
make alterations to units previously
manufactured.
WARNING!
The engine exhaust from
this product contains chemicals
known to the State of California
to cause cancer, birth defects or
other reproductive harm.
Contents
Safety ...............................................3
Product Description .......................6
Specifications ..................................7
Emission control ............................7
Assembly .........................................7
PAGE
PAGE
Mixing fuel ....................................10
Filling the fuel tank ......................12
Starting the Engine ..................... 12
Stopping the Engine ....................14
Operation ......................................14
PAGE
Maintenance .................................16
Long Term Storage ......................21
Troubleshooting Guide ...............22
Warranty .......................................25
IMPORTANT!
The operational procedures described in this manual are intended to help you get the most from this 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 Shindaiwa hand-held power
equipment, or if you do not understand something in this manual, contact Shindaiwa at the address printed on the back of this
Manual.
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.
WARNING!
A statement preceded by
the triangular attention symbol and
the word “WARNING” contains information that should be acted upon to
prevent serious bodily injury.
IMPORTANT!
A statement preceded by the word
“IMPORTANT” is one that possesses
special significance.
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.
Safety and operation 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.
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.
Wear non-slip heavy-duty
gloves.
33 ft
10 M
Safety tip shoes or boots
with non-slip sole should be
worn.
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 of the danger of
falling debris.
2
Safety
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.
WARNING ! Surface can
be hot. Always wear gloves
when handling this unit.
DANGER!
THE ARTICULATED
HEDGE TRIMMER IS NOT INSULATED
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!
ized modications or alterations to
your articulated hedge trimmer or its
components.
Never operate this tool or any other
power equipment if you are tired,
WARNING!
Do not make unauthor-
WARNING!
ill, or under the inuence 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
Safety (continued)
Operating Precautions
■ 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 working properly.
■ Never adjust blades when the
engine is operating.
WARNING!
■ 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!
■ Before starting the engine, make
sure the cutter is not contacting
anything.
■ Always conrm safe operation
when using the machine.
■ 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
overlling and wipe off any fuel
that may have spilled.
■ To reduce re hazard, keep the
engine and mufer 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
overlling and wipe off any fuel
that may have spilled.
■ Never place ammable material
close to the engine mufer 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 trimmer
as clean as possible. Keep it free
of loose vegetation, mud, etc.
Safety Equipment and Labels
Handle
Ignition
(STOP)
switch
Throttle
interlock
Cutter blade cover
Cutter blade cover
IMPORTANT!
Caution, Danger, Warning, and Operation
Information Labels: Make sure all information labels are undamaged and readable.
Immediately replace damaged or missing
information labels. New labels are available
from your local authorized Shindaiwa dealer.
5
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 wear eye and hearing protection.
Shindaiwa recommends wearing a
face shield as additional face and eye
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.
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.
ALWAYS wear close-tting
clothing. Gloves offer added
proctection and are strongly
recommended. Do not wear
clothing or jewelry that could
get caught in machinery.
Product Description
Spark Plug
Ignition
Using the illustration as a
guide, familiarize yourself
with the Shindaiwa AHS254
articulated hedge trimmer
and its various components.
Understanding your machine
helps ensure top performance,
longer service life, and safer
operation.
Throttle
interlock
Throttle Trigger
Powerhead Assembly
Fuel Tank
Guard
Air Filter
Assembly
Fuel
Tank
Handle
Cutter
Assembly
Adjustment
Lever
Fuel
Tank
Guard
Hedge Trimmer Cutter
Assembly
Outer
Latch Release
Latch Lock
WARNING!
Do not alter this machine
or any of its components!
Tube
Gearcase
Cutter
Blade
Cover
Hedge Trimmer
Cutter Assembly
Cutter Bar and
Cutter Blades
6
Specications
Model AHS254
Engine Type 4-cycle, single cylinder, air cooled
Engine Bore x Stroke 34 x 27 mm/1.34 x 1.06 in.
Engine Displacement 24.5cc/1.5 cu. in.
Unit Weight, Less Fuel 6.35 kg/14.0 lbs.
Unit Dimensions (LxWxH) 1668 x 224 x 341 mm / 65.7 x 8.82 x 13.43 in.
Fuel Tank Capacity 590 ml/20.1 oz.
Fuel/oil ratio 50:1 with *ISO-L-EGD or JASO FD class engine oil
Carburetor Diaphragm type
Ignition Electronic
Spark Plug NGK CMR5H
Electrode Gap 0.6 mm/ .024 in.
Torque 16.7 - 18.6 N∙m (148-165 in • lbf)
Air Cleaner Foam pre-lter; main lter: sealed felt
Starting Method Recoil type
Stopping Method Slide switch, grounding type
Blade Length 568 mm / 22.4 in
Clutch Type Centrifugal clutch
Gear Type Spur gears
Gear Lubrication Lithium-based grease
Standard Equipment
Idle Speed 3,000 RPM
Clutch Engagement Speed 4,100 RPM
Wide Open Throttle Speed (W.O.T.) 10,500 RPM
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
Tool kit, blade cover.
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 modication) 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 may only be 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 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:
■ Unit assembly
■ Operator's Manual
■ Cutter blade cover
■ Assembly Tool (s)
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!
7
Assembly (continued)
Blade Stiffener Removal/Install
NOTE:
For normal cutting, Shindaiwa strongly recommends the blade stiffener be installed. In extreme conditions, such as com-
mercial cutting, or when cutting thick and/or dense branches, efciency may be increased by trimming without the blade
stiffener.
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 Stiffener 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.
A
3. Remove four (4) blade stiffener locknuts (A).
4. Remove blade stiffener.
5. Install (4) locknuts.
NOTE:
Use new locknuts every other time blade stiffener is installed or removed.
6. Adjust blades. See “Cutter blade adjustment” section.
Install Blade Stiffener
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 stiffener.
5. Secure blade stiffener with four (4) locknuts.
6. Adjust blades. See “Cutter blade adjustment” section.
B
IMPORTANT!
If blade stiffener is damaged or show signs of wear, replace it.
NOTE:
Use new locknuts every other time blade stiffener is installed or removed.
8
Assembly (continued)
Handle
This unit comes with the handle
Socket-head
Capscrews
installed. It can be re-adjusted for operator comfort in the following manner.
1. Loosen the four hex screws.
2. Rotate/slide handle assembly to best
position for operator comfort, usually
25 cm (10 in.) ahead of the throttle
assembly.
Outer Tube
3. Tighten hex screws in a crisscross
manner.
Position the handle on the outer tube as shown
Adjusting the Hedge Trimmer Cutter Assembly
WARNING!
Never run the engine
when adjusting the cutter assembly.
Adjustment Lever
Handle
Throttle Assembly
Mounting Bracket
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 flat,
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.
3. With the index finger of your left
hand, press the latch lock. With your
left thumb, press the latch release.
Grasp the outer tube near the handle
Latch Lock
Latch Release
Press the latch lock
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.
IMPORTANT!
The latch lock provides an interlock to
help prevent inadvertent depression of
the latch release.
5. Release the latch lock and the latch
release. Make sure the latch lock and
the latch release retur n 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”.)
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
Latch release
Latch lock
With the index nger of your left hand,
press the latch lock. With your left
thumb, press the latch release.
9
Assembly (continued)
Travel limiter and adjustment range
NOTE:
This articulated hedge trimmer is
equipped with a travel limiter that prevents the cutter assembly from rotating outside of the 90°- 225° range.
The cutter assembly can be adjusted to
10 different positions ranging from 90°
to 225° from the outer tube as shown.
Always make sure the latch lock is
securely locked after each adjustment.
WARNING!
Always make sure the latch
lock is securely locked after each
adjustment
Adjusting cutter assembly for storage or transportation
1. With the engine off, install the blade
cover onto the blade.
2. Using the procedures described
above, 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 blade before storing or
transporting.
Travel Limiter
The travel limiter prevents the cutter
assembly from rotating outside of the 90°225° range
WARNING!
Never run the engine
when adjusting the cutter
assembly.
225°
135°
The cutter assembly can be adjusted to 10
different positions
Transport / storage position
Make sure the blade cover is in place before
storing or transporting
90°
Various
positions
possible
Throttle trigger free play
The throttle trigger free play should
be approximately 4 - 6 mm. Make
sure that the throttle trigger operates smoothly without binding. If it
becomes necessary to adjust the trigger free play, follow the procedures and
illustrations that follow.
1. Loosen the air cleaner cover
knob(s) and remove the air cleaner
cover.
2. Turn the cable adjuster in or out as
Throttle trigger free play
4 - 6 mm
Cable
Adjuster
required to obtain proper free play
4 - 6mm.
3. Reinstall the air cleaner cover.
Mixing Fuel
WARNING!
Alternative fuels, such as E15 (15% ethanol), E-85 (85% ethanol) or any fuels not meeting Shindaiwa
requirements are NOT approved for use in Shindaiwa gasoline engines. Use of alternative fuels may cause
performance problems, loss of power, overheating, fuel vapor lock, and unintended machine operation, including,
but not limited to, improper clutch engagement. Alternative fuels may also cause premature deterioration of fuel
lines, gaskets, carburetors and other engine components.
10
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