Stihl FS 55 Instruction Manual

{

STIHL FS 55

Instruction Manual

Contents

English

Guide to Using this Manual 2
Safety Precautions and Working

Techniques 2
Approved Combinations of Cutting

Attachment, Deflector, Handle and
Harness 11

Mounting the Bike Handle 12
Mounting the Loop Handle 13
Fitting the Carrying Ring 15

Original Instruction ManualPrinted on chlorine-free paper

Mounting the Deflector 15
Mounting the Cutting Attachment 16
Fuel 19
Fueling 20
Fitting the Harness 20
Balancing the Trimmer/Brushcutter 21
Starting / Stopping the Engine 22
Operating Instructions 25
Cleaning the Air Filter 26
Adjusting the Carburetor 26
Spark Plug 29
Engine Running Behavior 30
Rewind Starter 30

Printing inks contain vegetable oils, paper can be recycled.

Lubricating the Gearbox 30
Storing the Machine 31
Sharpening Metal Cutting Blades 31
Inspections and Maintenance by

Dealer 31
Maintenance and Care 32
Main Parts 34
Specifications 35
Special Accessories 36
Maintenance and Repairs 37

Disposal 37
EC Declaration of Conformity 37
Quality Certification 38

Dear Customer,

Thank you for choosing a quality
engineered STIHL product.

It has been built using modern
production techniques and
comprehensive quality assurance.
Every effort has been made to ensure
your satisfaction and troublefree use of
the product.

Please contact your dealer or our sales
company if you have any queries
concerning this product.

Your

Dr. Nikolas Stihl

{

© ANDREAS STIHL AG & Co. KG, 2013

0458-233-8321-E. VA1.F13.

0000000066_007_GB

FS 55, FS 55 C, FS 55 R, FS 55 RC

This instruction manual is protected by copyright. All rights reserved, especially the rights to reproduce, translate and process
with electronic systems.

1

English

Guide to Using this Manual

Pictograms

The meanings of the pictograms
attached to the machine are explained in
this manual.

Depending on the model concerned, the
following pictograms may be attached to
your machine.

Fuel tank; fuel mixture of
gasoline and engine oil

Operate decompression
valve

Manual fuel pump

Operate manual fuel
pump

Tube of grease

Intake air: Summer
operation

Intake air: Winter
operation

Handle heating

Symbols in text

WARNING

Warning where there is a risk of an
accident or personal injury or serious
damage to property.

NOTICE

Caution where there is a risk of
damaging the machine or its individual
components.

Engineering improvements

STIHL's philosophy is to continually
improve all of its products. For this
reason we may modify the design,
engineering and appearance of our
products periodically.

Therefore, some changes, modifications
and improvements may not be covered
in this manual.

Safety Precautions and
Working Techniques

Some special safety pre­cautions must be
observed to reduce the
risk of personal injury
when operating this
power tool because of the
very high speed of its cut­ting attachment.

It is important that you
read the instruction man­ual before first use and
keep it in a safe place for
future reference. Non­observance of the
instruction manual may
result in serious or even
fatal injury.

Observe all application local safety
regulations, standards and ordinances.

If you have not used this type of power
tool before: Have your dealer or other
experienced user show you how to
operate your unit or attend a special
course in its operation.

Minors should never be allowed to use a
power tool.

Keep bystanders, especially children,
and animals away from the work area.

When the power tool is not in use, shut it
off so that it does not endanger others.
Secure it against unauthorized use.

The user is responsible for avoiding
injury to third parties or damage to their
property.

2

FS 55, FS 55 C, FS 55 R, FS 55 RC

English

Do not lend or rent your power tool
without the instruction manual. Be sure
that anyone using it understands the
information contained in this manual.

The use of noise emitting power tools
may be restricted to certain times by
national or local regulations.

To operate the power tool you must be
rested, in good physical condition and
mental health.

If you have any condition that might be
aggravated by strenuous work, check
with your doctor before operating a
power tool.

Persons with pacemakers only: The
ignition system of your power tool
produces an electromagnetic field of a
very low intensity. This field may
interfere with some pacemakers. STIHL
recommends that persons with
pacemakers consult their physician and
the pacemaker manufacturer to reduce
any health risk.

Do not operate the power tool if you are
under the influence of any substance
(drugs, alcohol) which might impair
vision, dexterity or judgment.

Depending on the cutting attachment
fitted, use your power tool only for
cutting grass, wild growth, shrubs,
scrub, bushes, small diameter trees and
similar materials.

Do not use your power tool for any other
purpose because of the increased risk of
accidents.

Only use cutting attachments and
accessories that are explicity approved
for this power tool model by STIHL or
are technically identical. If you have any
questions in this respect, consult a

servicing dealer. Use only high quality
parts and accessories in order to avoid
the risk of accidents and damage to the
machine.

STIHL recommends the use of original
STIHL replacement parts. They are
specifically designed to match the
product and meet your performance
requirements.

Never attempt to modify your unit in any
way since this may increase the risk of
personal injury. STIHL excludes all
liability for personal injury and damage
to property caused while using
unauthorized attachments.

Do not use a pressure washer to clean
the unit. The solid jet of water may
damage parts of the unit.

The deflector on this power tool cannot
protect the operator from all objects
thrown by the cutting attachment
(stones, glass, wire, etc.). Such objects
may ricochet and then hit the operator.

Clothing and Equipment

Wear proper protective clothing and
equipment.

Clothing must be sturdy
but allow complete free­dom of movement. Wear
snug-fitting clothing, an
overall and jacket combi­nation, do not wear a
work coat.

Avoid clothing that could
get caught on branches
or brush or moving parts
of the machine. Do not
wear a scarf, necktie or
jewelry. Tie up and con­fine long hair (e.g. with a
hair net, cap, hard hat,
etc.).

Wear steel-toed safety
boots with non-slip soles.

Sturdy shoes with non-slip soles may be
worn as an alternative only when using
mowing heads.

Wear a safety hard hat
for thinning operations,
when working in high
scrub and where there is
a danger of head injuries
from falling objects. To
reduce the risk of injury
from thrown objects,
always wear a face shield
and safety glasses.

A face shield alone does not provide
adequate eye protection.

Wear hearing protection, e.g. earplugs
or ear muffs.

Wear heavy-duty gloves.

STIHL offers a comprehensive range of
personal protective clothing and
equipment.

FS 55, FS 55 C, FS 55 R, FS 55 RC

3

English

002BA079 KN

Transporting the Power Tool

Always turn off the engine.

Carry the unit hanging from the shoulder
strap or properly balanced by the drive
tube. Fit transport guard on metal cutting
attachments to avoid the risk of injury
from blade contact

In vehicles: Properly secure your power
tool to prevent turnover, fuel spillage and
damage.

Fueling

Gasoline is an extremely
flammable fuel. Keep
clear of naked flames. Do
not spill any fuel – do not
smoke.

Always shut off the engine before
refueling.

Do not fuel a hot engine – fuel may spill
and cause a fire.

Open the fuel cap carefully to allow any
pressure build-up in the tank to release
slowly and avoid fuel spillage.

Fuel your power tool only in well­ventilated areas. If you spill fuel, wipe
the machine immediately – if fuel gets on
your clothing, change immediately.

Your power tool comes standard with
either a screw-type or bayonet-type fuel
cap.

After fueling, tighten
down the screw-type fuel
cap as securely as
possible.

Insert the fuel cap with
hinged grip (bayonet-type
cap) correctly in the
opening, turn it clockwise
as far as stop and fold the
grip down.

This reduces the risk of unit vibrations
causing the fuel cap to loosen or come
off and spill quantities of fuel.

To reduce the risk of serious or fatal
burn injuries, check for fuel leakage. If
fuel leakage is found, do not start or run
the engine until leak is fixed.

Before Starting

Check that your power tool is properly
assembled and in good condition – refer
to appropriate chapters in the instruction
manual.

– Use only an approved combination

of cutting attachment, deflector,
handle and harness. All parts must
be assembled properly and
securely.

– Slide control / stop switch must

move easily to STOP or 0.

– Smooth action of throttle trigger

lockout (if fitted) and throttle trigger
– the throttle trigger must return
automatically to the idle position.

– Check that the spark plug boot is

secure – a loose boot may cause
arcing that could ignite combustible
fumes and cause a fire.

– Check cutting tool or attachment for

correct and secure assembly and
good condition.

– Check protective devices (e.g.

deflector for cutting attachment,
rider plate) for damage or wear.
Always replace damaged parts. Do
not operate your machine with a
damaged deflector or worn rider
plate (lettering and arrows no longer
legible).

– Never attempt to modify the controls

or safety devices in any way.

4

FS 55, FS 55 C, FS 55 R, FS 55 RC

English

002BA055 KN

002BA080 KN

15m (50ft)

– Keep the handles dry and clean –

free from oil and dirt – for safe
control of the power tool.

– Adjust the harness and handle(s) to

suit your height and reach. See
chapters on "Fitting the Harness"
and "Balancing the
Trimmer/Brushcutter".

To reduce the risk of personal injury, do
not operate your power tool if it is
damaged or not properly assembled.

If you use a shoulder strap or full
harness: Practice removing and putting
down the power tool as you would in an
emergency. To avoid damage, do not
throw the power tool to the ground when
practicing.

Start the engine.

Start the engine at least 3 meters from
the fueling spot, outdoors only.

Place the unit on firm ground in an open
area. Make sure you have good balance
and secure footing. Hold the unit
securely. The cutting attachment must
be clear of the ground and all other
obstructions because it may begin to run
when the engine starts.

Your power tool is a one-person unit. To
reduce the risk of injury from thrown
objects, do not allow other persons
within a radius of 15 meters of your own
position – even when starting.

To reduce the risk of
injury, avoid contact with
the cutting attachment.

Do not drop start the
power tool – start the
engine as described in
the instruction manual.
Note that the cutting
attachment continues to
run for a short period
after you let go of the
throttle trigger – flywheel
effect.

Check idle speed setting: The cutting
attachment must not rotate when the
engine is idling with the throttle trigger
released.

To reduce the risk of fire, keep hot
exhaust gases and hot muffler away
from easily combustible materials (e.g.
wood chips, bark, dry grass, fuel).

Holding and Controlling the Unit

Always hold the power tool firmly with
both hands on the handles.

Make sure you always have good
balance and secure footing.

Models with bike handle

Right handle on control handle, left hand
on left handle.

Models with loop handle

On models with a loop handle and
barrier bar, left hand on loop handle,
right hand on control handle, even if you
are left-handed.

During Operation

Make sure you always have good
balance and secure footing.

In the event of impending danger or in
an emergency, switch off the engine
immediately by moving the slide control
/ stop switch to STOP or 0.

The cutting attachment may catch and
fling objects a great distance and cause
injury - therefore, do not allow any other
persons within a radius of 15 meters of
your own position. To reduce the risk of
damage to property, also maintain this
distance from other objects (vehicles,
windows). Even maintaining a distance
of 15 meters or more cannot exclude the
potential danger.

FS 55, FS 55 C, FS 55 R, FS 55 RC

5

English

The correct engine idle speed is
important to ensure that the cutting
attachment stops rotating when you let
go of the throttle trigger.

Check and correct the idle speed setting
regularly. If the cutting attachment
continues to rotate when the engine is
idling, have the machine checked by
your servicing dealer. STIHL
recommends a STIHL servicing dealer.

Take special care in slippery conditions,
on slopes or uneven ground.

Watch out for obstacles: Roots, tree
stumps or holes which could cause you
to trip or stumble.

Always stand on the ground while
working, never on a ladder, work
platform or any other insecure support.

Be particularly alert and cautious when
wearing hearing protection because
your ability to hear warnings (shouts,
alarms, etc.) is restricted.

To reduce the risk of accidents, take a
break in good time to avoid tiredness or
exhaustion.

Work calmly and carefully – in daylight
conditions and only when visibility is
good. Stay alert so as not to endanger
others.

Your power tool produces
toxic exhaust fumes as
soon as the engine is
running. These fumes
may be colorless and
odorless and contain
unburned hydrocarbons
and benzol. Never run
the engine indoors or in
poorly ventilated loca­tions, even if your model
is equipped with a cata­lytic converter.

To reduce the risk of serious or fatal
injury from breathing toxic fumes,
ensure proper ventilation when working
in trenches, hollows or other confined
locations.

To reduce the risk of accidents, stop
work immediately in the event of
nausea, headache, visual disturbances
(e.g. reduced field of vision), problems
with hearing, dizziness, deterioration in
ability to concentrate. Apart from other
possibilities, these symptoms may be
caused by an excessively high
concentration of exhaust gases in the
work area.

Operate your power tool so that it
produces a minimum of noise and
emissions – do not run the engine
unnecessarily, accelerate the engine
only when working.

To reduce the risk of fire, do not smoke
while operating or standing near your
power tool. Note that combustible fuel
vapor may escape from the fuel system.

The dusts, vapor and smoke produced
during operation may be dangerous to
health. If the work area is very dusty or
smoky, wear a respirator.

If your power tool is subjected to
unusually high loads for which it was not
designed (e.g. heavy impact or a fall),
always check that it is in good condition
before continuing work – see also
"Before Starting".

Check the fuel system in particular for
leaks and make sure the safety devices
are working properly. Do not continue
operating your power tool if it is
damaged. In case of doubt, have the unit
checked by your servicing dealer.

Do not operate your power tool in the
starting throttle position – engine speed
cannot be controlled in this position.

To reduce the risk
of injury from
thrown objects,
never operate the
unit without the
proper deflector for
the type of cutting
attachment being
used.

Inspect the work area:
Stones, pieces of metal
or other solid objects may
be thrown more than 15
meters and cause per­sonal injury or damage
the cutting attachment
and property (e.g. parked
vehicles, windows).

Special care must be taken when
working in difficult, over-grown terrain.

When cutting high scrub, under bushes
and hedges: Keep cutting attachment at
a minimum height of 15 cm to avoid
harming small animals.

6

FS 55, FS 55 C, FS 55 R, FS 55 RC

English

Always shut off the engine before
leaving the unit unattended.

Check the cutting attachment at regular
short intervals during operation or
immediately if there is a noticeable
change in cutting behavior:

– Turn off the engine. Hold the unit

firmly and wait for the cutting
attachment to come to a standstill.

– Check condition and tightness, look

for cracks.

– Check sharpness.

– Replace damaged or dull cutting

attachments immediately, even if
they have only superficial cracks.

Clean grass and plant residue off the
cutting attachment mounting at regular
intervals – remove any build up of
material from the cutting attachment and
deflector.

To reduce the risk of injury, shut off the
engine before replacing the cutting
attachment.

Do not continue using or attempt to
repair damaged or cracked cutting
attachments by welding, straightening or
modifying the shape (out of balance).

This may cause parts of the cutting
attachment to come off and hit the
operator or bystanders at high speed
and result in serious or fatal injuries.

When using mowing heads

Equip the deflector with the additional
components specified in the instruction
manual.

Use only the deflector with properly
mounted line limiting blade to ensure the
mowing lines are automatically trimmed
to the approved length.

To reduce the risk of injury, always turn
off the engine before adjusting the nylon
line of manually adjustable mowing
heads

Using the unit with over-long nylon
cutting lines reduces the motor's
operating speed. The clutch then slips
continuously and this causes
overheating and damage to important
components (e.g. clutch, polymer
housing components) – and this can
increase the risk of injury from the
cutting attachment rotating while the
engine is idling.

Using metal cutting attachments

STIHL recommends the use of original
STIHL metal cutting attachments. They
are specifically designed to match your
model and meet your performance
requirements.

Metal cutting attachments rotate at very
high speed. The forces that occur act on
the machine, the attachment and the
material being cut.

Sharpen metal cutting attachments
regularly as specified.

Unevenly sharpened metal cutting
attachments cause out-of-balance
which can impose extremely high loads
on the machine and increase the risk of
breakage.

Dull or improperly sharpened cutting
edges can put a higher load on the
cutting attachment and increase the risk
of injury from cracked or broken parts.

Inspect metal cutting attachments for
cracks or warping after every contact
with hard objects (e.g. stones, rocks,
pieces of metal). To reduce the risk of
injury, remove burrs and other visible
build-ups of material (use a file) because
they may become detached and be
thrown at high speed during operation.

To reduce the above-mentioned risks
when using a metal cutting attachment,
never use a metal cutting attachment
with a diameter larger than specified. It
must not be too heavy. It must be
manufactured from materials of
adequate quality and its geometry must
be correct (shape, thickness).

To reduce the risk of injury, a metal
cutting attachment not manufactured by
STIHL must not be heavier, thicker,
have a different shape or a diameter
larger than the largest metal cutting
attachment approved by STIHL for this
power tool model.

Vibrations

Prolonged use of the power tool may
result in vibration-induced circulation
problems in the hands (whitefinger
disease).

No general recommendation can be
given for the length of usage because it
depends on several factors.

The period of usage is prolonged by:

– Hand protection (wearing warm

gloves)

– Work breaks

FS 55, FS 55 C, FS 55 R, FS 55 RC

7

English

The period of usage is shortened by:

– Any personal tendency to suffer

from poor circulation (symptoms:
frequently cold fingers, tingling
sensations).

– Low outside temperatures.

– The force with which the handles

are held (a tight grip restricts
circulation).

Continual and regular users should
monitor closely the condition of their
hands and fingers. If any of the above
symptoms appear (e.g. tingling
sensation in fingers), seek medical
advice.

Maintenance and Repairs

Service the machine regularly. Do not
attempt any maintenance or repair work
not described in the instruction manual.
Have all other work performed by a
servicing dealer.

STIHL recommends that you have
servicing and repair work carried out
exclusively by an authorized STIHL
servicing dealer. STIHL dealers are
regularly given the opportunity to attend
training courses and are supplied with
the necessary technical information.

Only use high-quality replacement parts
in order to avoid the risk of accidents
and damage to the machine. If you have
any questions in this respect, consult a
servicing dealer.

STIHL recommends the use of original
STIHL replacement parts. They are
specifically designed to match your
model and meet your performance
requirements.

To reduce the risk of injury, always shut
off the engine before carrying out any
maintenance or repairs or cleaning the
machine. – Exception: Carburetor and
idle speed adjustments.

Do not turn the engine over on the
starter with the spark plug boot or spark
plug removed unless the slide control /
stop switch is on STOP or 0 since there
is otherwise a risk of fire from
uncontained sparking.

To reduce the risk of fire, do not service
or store your machine near open flames.

Check the fuel filler cap for leaks at
regular intervals.

Use only a spark plug of the type
approved by STIHL and make sure it is
in good condition – see "Specifications".

Inspect the ignition lead (insulation in
good condition, secure connection).

Check the condition of the muffler.

To reduce the risk of fire and damage to
hearing, do not operate your machine if
the muffler is damaged or missing. –

Do not touch a hot muffler since burn
injury will result.

Symbols on Deflectors

An arrow on the deflector shows the
correct direction of rotation of the cutting
attachments.

Some of the following symbols are
applied to the outside of the deflector to
indicate the approved combination of
cutting attachment and deflector.

Deflector may be
used with mowing
heads. Not
approved for use
with brush knives,
shredder blades
or circular saw
blades.

Deflector may be used
with grass cutting blades.

Shoulder strap

N Use a shoulder strap.
N With the engine running, attach the

machine to the shoulder strap.

Grass cutting blades must always be
used in combination with a shoulder
strap.

8

FS 55, FS 55 C, FS 55 R, FS 55 RC

English

000BA015 KN

002BA049 KN

002BA135 KN

Mowing Head with Nylon Line

Nylon line achieves a soft cut for edging
and trimming around trees, fence posts,
etc. – less risk of damaging tree bark.

The mowing head comes with an
instruction leaflet. Refill the mowing
head with nylon line as described in the
instruction leaflet.

N If the raised moldings (1) on the

base of the attachment are worn as
shown in the illustration (above
right), do not continue using the
mowing head. Install a new one.
There is otherwise a risk of injury
from thrown parts of the head.

STIHL Polycut Mowing Head with
Polymer Blades

For mowing unobstructed edges of
meadows (without posts, fences, trees
or similar obstacles).

Check the wear limit marks!

It is important to follow the maintenance
instructions for the PolyCut mowing
head.

The PolyCut can also be equipped with
mowing line in place of the polymer
blades.

The mowing head comes with
instruction leaflets. Equip the mowing
head with polymers blades or nylon line
as described in the instruction leaflets.

WARNING

Never use wire in place of the nylon
mowing line – risk of injury.

Risk of Kickout (Blade Thrust) with Metal
Cutting Blades

When using grass cutting blades there is
a risk of kickout when the rotating blade
comes into contact with a solid object
like a tree trunk, branch, tree stump,
rock or similar. The machine is thrown to
the right or to the rear – opposite to the
blade's direction of rotation.

WARNING

To reduce the risk of serious injury,
never use wire or metal-reinforced line in
place of the nylon line.

STIHL FixCut

Check the wear limit marks!

FS 55, FS 55 C, FS 55 R, FS 55 RC

If one of the wear limit marks on the
PolyCut mowing head is worn through
(arrow): Do not continue using the
mowing head. Install a new one. There
is otherwise a risk of injury from thrown
parts of the head.

The risk of kickout is greatest when the
black area of the rotating blade comes
into contact with a solid object.

9

English

000BA020 KN

Grass Cutting Blade

Use for grass and weeds only – sweep
the brushcutter in an arc like a scythe.

WARNING

Improper use may damage the grass
cutting blade – risk of injury from thrown
parts.

Resharpen the grass cutting blade
according to instructions when it has
dulled noticeably.

10

FS 55, FS 55 C, FS 55 R, FS 55 RC

Approved Combinations of Cutting Attachment, Deflector, Handle and Harness

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

15

16

17

19

20

20

19

18

20

681BA126 KN

10

Cutting attachment Deflector Handle Harness

English

Permissible combinations

Choose the proper combination from the
table depending on the cutting
attachment!

FS 55, FS 55 C, FS 55 R, FS 55 RC

WARNING

For safety reasons only the cutting
attachments, deflectors, handles and
harness versions within one line of the
table may be combined with one
another. Other combinations are not
permissible – risk of accident!

Cutting attachments

Mowing heads

1 STIHL SuperCut 20-2
2 STIHL AutoCut C 25-2
3 STIHL AutoCut 25-2

11

English

1

3

2

5

7

6

4

233BA025 KN

4

A

3

233BA018 KN

4 STIHL TrimCut 31-2
5 STIHL FixCut 25-2
6 STIHL PolyCut 20-3

Metal mowing tools

7 Grass cutting blade 230-2
8 Grass cutting blade 230-4
9 Grass cutting blade 230-8

WARNING

Grass cutting blades are metal cutting
attachments and ones made of
materials other than metal are not
permissible.

Deflectors

10 Deflector for mowing headsand

grass cutting blades
11 Deflector with
12 Skirt and blade for all mowing heads
13 Deflector without skirt and blade for

all metal mowing tools

Handles

14 Loop handle
15 Loop handle with
16 Barrier bar
17 Bike handle

Harnesses

18 Shoulder strap can be used
19 Shoulder strap must be used
20 Full harness can be used

Mounting the Bike Handle

Mounting the handlebar

N Fasten handlebar (4) at a

distance (A) of approx. 15 cm (6 in)
ahead of the engine housing on the
shaft (3)

N Align the handlebar and tighten the

screws

N Position the clamp (1) and

handlebar support (2) on the
shaft (3)

N Place the handlebar (4) in the

handlebar support – the rubber
handle (5) must be on the left
(viewing direction from engine to
handlebar)

N Place the clamp (6) on the

handlebar support

N Insert screws (7) through the holes

in the parts and screw them into the
clamp (6) as far as they will go

12

FS 55, FS 55 C, FS 55 R, FS 55 RC