Stihl STIHL HT-KM STIHL HT-KM (en)

STIHL HT-KM

Instruction Manual

Contents

English

KombiSystem 2
Guide to Using this Manual 2
Safety Precautions and Working

Techniques 2
Using the Unit 6
Approved KombiEngines 8
Assembling the Unit 9
Mounting the KombiTool 10

Original Instruction ManualPrinted on chlorine-free paper

Cutting Attachment 10
Mounting the Bar and Chain 11
Tensioning the Chain 12
Checking Chain Tension 12
Chain Lubricant 12
Filling Chain Oil Tank 13
Checking Chain Lubrication 15
Fitting the Harness 15
Starting / Stopping the Engine 16
Operating Instructions 17
Taking Care of the Guide Bar 17
Storing the Machine 18
Checking and Replacing the Chain

Sprocket 18

Printing inks contain vegetable oils, paper can be recycled.

Maintaining and Sharpening the
Saw Chain 19

Maintenance and Care 23
Minimize Wear and Avoid Damage 24
Main Parts 25
Specifications 26
Maintenance and Repairs 27
Disposal 27
EC Declaration of Conformity 28
UKCA Declaration of Conformity 29

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 trouble-free 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, 2022

0458-473-0121-D. VA1.D22.

0000009177_006_GB

HT-KM

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

1

English

KombiSystem Guide to Using this Manual Safety Precautions and

Working Techniques

In the STIHL KombiSystem a number of
different KombiEngines and KombiTools
can be combined to produce a power
tool. In this instruction manual the
functional unit formed by the
KombiEngine and KombiTool is referred
to as the power tool.

Therefore, the separate instruction
manuals for the KombiEngine and
KombiTool should be used together for
the power tool.

Always read and and make sure you
understand both instruction manuals
before using your power tool for the first
time and keep them in a safe place for
future reference.

Pictograms

All the pictograms attached to the
machine are shown and explained in this
manual.

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.

The machine should only be provided or
loaned to people familiar with this model
and its operation. The KombiEngine and
KombiTool user manuals should always
be handed over with the machine.

Use your pole pruner for limbing only
(removing or pruning branches). Saw
wood and wooden objects only.

The machine must not be used for any
other purposes – risk of accidents!

Only use guide bars, saw chains, chain
sprockets and accessories that are
explicitly approved for this power tool
model by STIHL or are technically
identical. If you have any questions in
this respect, consult your dealer.

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

Special safety precau­tions must be observed
when working with the
pole pruner because it
operates at a very high
chain speed, has very
sharp cutters and a long
reach.

Both user manuals (Kom­biEngine and KombiTool)
must be read through
attentively before using
the unit for the first time
and kept in a safe place
for future reference. Non­compliance with the user
manuals may cause seri­ous or even fatal injury.

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002BA254 KN

STIHL recommends the use of STIHL
original tools, guide bars, saw chains,
chain sprockets and accessories. They
are specifically designed to match the
product and meet your performance
requirements.

Never attempt to modify your power tool
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 high-pressure washer to
clean the power tool. The solid jet of
water may damage parts of the unit.

Clothing and equipment

Wear proper protective clothing and
equipment.

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

Do not wear clothing which could
become trapped in wood, brush or
moving parts of the machine. Do not
wear a scarf, necktie or jewelry. Tie up
and confine long hair above your
shoulders.

Wear cut protection
safety boots with non-slip
soles and steel toe caps.

WARNING

To reduce the risk of eye
injuries, wear close-fit­ting safety glasses in
accordance with Euro­pean Standard EN 166.
Make sure the safety
glasses are a snug fit.

Wear "personal" sound protection, e.g.
ear defenders.

Wear a safety hard hat where there is a
danger of head injuries from falling
objects.

Wear sturdy protective
gloves made of a resist­ant material (e. g.
leather).

STIHL can supply a comprehensive
range of personal protective equipment.

Transporting the machine

Always stop the engine.
Always fit the chain scabbard – even

when you carry the power tool for short
distances.

Ensure that the power tool is always well
balanced and hold it by the shaft for
carrying.

Do not touch hot parts of the machine ­risk of burn injury!

By vehicle: When transporting in a
vehicle, properly secure your machine to
prevent turnover, damage and fuel
spillage.

Before starting

Check that your power tool is properly
assembled and in good condition – refer
to appropriate chapters in the
KombiEngine and KombiTool user
manuals.

– Correctly mounted guide bar
– Correctly tensioned saw chain
– Never attempt to modify the controls

or safety devices

– Keep the handles dry and clean –

free from oil and dirt – this is
important for safe control of the
machine

– Adjust carrying harness and

handles in accordance with body
height. Observe the chapter "Fitting
the Harness"

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

To prepare for emergencies when using
a harness: Practice setting down the
machine quickly. To avoid damage, do
not throw the machine to the ground
when practicing.

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3

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473BA007 KN

15m (50ft)

15m (50ft)

See also notes on "Before Starting" in
the user manual of the KombiEngine you
are using.

Holding and guiding the machine

Make sure you always have good
balance and secure footing.

Always hold your power tool firmly with
both hands:

Right hand on control handle, left hand
on the loop handle or handle hose, even
if you are left-handed. Wrap your fingers
and thumbs around the handles.

With the KM 94 R KombiEngine, always
use the handle hose of the KombiTool
as the left handle.

While working

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

This power tool is not
insulated. Keep at least
15 m away from electric
power lines – Danger of
fatal electric shock!

Do not allow other persons within a
radius of 15 m of your own position due
to falling branches and ejected wood
particles – Risk of injury! This distance
must also be maintained in relation to
objects (vehicles, window panes) – risk
of property damage!

Keep the bar nose at least 15 m away
from electric power lines . Electric
current may also arc over from high­voltage cables at greater distance. Have
the power switched off before starting
work in the immediate vicinity of power
lines.

Ensure that the engine idling speed is
correct. The saw chain must not move
when the throttle trigger has been
released.

Check and correct the idle speed setting
at regular intervals. If the saw chain still
rotates, have your dealer check your
machine and make proper adjustments
or repairs – see the user manual of the
KombiEngine.

Take special care in slippery, wet
conditions, in snow and on slopes,
uneven ground, etc. – Risk of slipping!

The gear head becomes
hot during operation. To
reduce the risk of burn
injury, do not touch the
gear housing!

Watch out for obstacles: tree stumps,
roots – risk of tripping or stumbling!

Make sure you always have good
balance and secure footing.

When working at heights:

– Always use a lift bucket
– Never use the machine while

standing on a ladder or in a tree

– Never work on an insecure support
– Never use the machine with just one

hand

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

Take breaks when you start getting tired
or feeling fatigue – risk of accidents!

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max

473BA008 KN

Work calmly and carefully – in daylight
conditions and only when visibility is
good. Proceed with caution, do not put
others in danger.

Dust (e. g., sawdust), fumes and smoke
produced while using the machine may
be hazardous to health. If dust levels are
high, wear a suitable respirator.

Do not touch the saw chain while the
engine is running. If the saw chain
becomes jammed by an obstruction,
switch off the engine immediately before
attempting to remove the obstruction –
risk of injury.

Opening the throttle while the saw chain
is blocked increases the load and
reduces engine 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 saw
chain moving while the engine is idling.

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". Make sure the safety
devices are working properly. Never use
a power tool that is no longer safe to
operate. In case of doubt, contact a
dealer.

To reduce the risk of injury, switch off the
engine before changing the saw chain.

If you use a harness, ensure that the
exhaust gas flow is diverted away from
your body – Risk of fire!

Limbing

Hold the power tool at an angle. Do not
stand directly underneath the limb being
cut. Do not exceed an angle of 60° from
the horizontal. Watch for falling wood.

Keep the work area clear – remove
interfering limbs and brush.

Before sawing branches, establish an
escape route and remove all obstacles.

0000003462_002

When performing the separating cut,
position the bar against the branch near
the hook. This will prevent the power tool
from making jolting movements when
you start the separating cut.

Start the cut with the saw chain at full
throttle.

Always cut with a correctly sharpened,
properly tensioned saw chain – the
depth gauge setting must not be too
large.

Perform cross-cut from the top
downward to avoid the chain pinching in
the cut.

If branch is thick or heavy, make a
relieving cut – see chapter on "Using the
Pole Pruner".

Exercise extreme caution when sawing
branches under tension – Risk of injury!
Always make a relieving cut on the
compression side first and then perform
the bucking cut at the tension side.

Be careful when cutting splintered wood
– Risk of injury from ejected pieces of
wood!

If working on a slope, always stand uphill
or to the side of the branch which is to be
sawn. Watch out for rolling branches.

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5

English

Note when reaching the end of a cut that
the power tool is no longer supported by
the guide bar in the cut. The user must
bear the weight of the machine – risk of
loss of control!

Always pull the power tool out of the cut
with the saw chain running.

Use the power tool for limbing and
pruning only, not for felling – Risk of
accidents!

Keep the saw chain away from any
foreign objects: Stones, nails, etc. may
be ejected and damage the saw chain.

If a rotating saw chain hits a stone or
another hard object, sparks may be
generated which may ignite easily
flammable materials under certain
conditions. Also dried-out plants and
brushwood are combustible, above all in
hot and dry weather. If there is a risk of
fire, do not use your pole pruner near
easily flammable materials, dry plants or
scrub. It is mandatory that you ask the
responsible forestry office about the
current fire hazard.

Maintenance and Repairs

Service the machine regularly. Do not
attempt any maintenance or repair work
not described in the KombiTool and
KombiEngine instruction manuals. 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 genuine
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 enginebefore carrying out any
maintenance or repairs or cleaning the
machine. – Exception: Carburetor and
idle speed adjustments.

Stopping the engine

– before checking chain tension.
– before retensioning the chain.
– before replacing the chain.
– before rectifying problems.

Observe sharpening instructions – keep
the chain and guide bar in good
condition at all times for safe and correct
handling of the saw. The chain must be
properly sharpened, tensioned and well
lubricated.

Always change the chain, guide bar and
sprocket in good time.

Store chain lubricant in properly
labelled, safety-type canisters only.

Using the Unit

Preparation

N Wear suitable protective clothing,

observe safety precautions

N Starting the engine
N Fitting the harness

Cutting sequence

To allow branches to free fall, always cut
the lower branches first. Prune heavy
branches (large diameter) in several
controllable pieces.

WARNING

Never stand directly underneath the
branch you are cutting – be wary of
falling branches. Note that a branch may
spring back at you after it hits the ground
– risk of injury

Disposal

Do not throw cuttings into the garbage
can – they can be composted.

Working technique

Hold the control handle with your right
hand, and the loop handle with your left
hand. Your left arm should be extended
to the most comfortable position.

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402BA012 KN

2

1

0000003451_002

3

4

A

390BA024 KN

The shaft should always be held at an
angle of 60° or less.

The least tiring working position is a tool
angle of 60°.

Any lesser angle may be used to suit the
situation.

Cross-cut

downwards. The saw chain can be
positioned precisely using the gauge
bar.

Relieving cut

To avoid tearing the bark on thick
branches, always start by performing a

N relieving cut (1) on the underside of

the branch. To do this, position the
cutting attachment and guide it
down to the bar nose in an arc.

N Perform the cross-cut (2) – position

the bar with the hook against the
branch and then perform the cross­cut

0000003462_003

Flush-cutting thick branches

If the branch diameter is more than
10 cm (4 in), first

N perform the undercut (3) and then

cross-cut at a distance of about
20 cm/8 in (A) from the final cut.
Then carry out the flush-cut (4),
starting with a relieving cut and
finishing with a cross-cut

To avoid pinching the bar in the cut,
position the cutting attachment with the
hook against the branch and then
perform the cross-cut from the top

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7

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402BA013 KN

402BA032 KN

Cutting above obstacles

The machine's long reach makes it
possible to prune branches that are
overhanging obstacles, such as rivers or
lakes. The tool angle in this case
depends on the position of the branch.

Cutting from a lift bucket

30° angle drive (special accessory)

1

2

The angle drive keeps the cutting
attachment at an angle of 30° to the
shaft.

The angle drive may be adjusted on the
shaft to the following positions only:

1 for cross-cutting vertical branches

and bushes

2 for a better view of the cutting

attachment

Approved KombiEngines

KombiEngines

Only use KombiEngines supplied or
explicitly approved by STIHL for use with
the attachment.

This KombiTool may be operated only in
combination with the following
KombiEngines:

STIHL KM 56 R, KM 85 R KM 94 R,
KM 111 R, KM 131 R, KMA 130 R,
KMA 135 R

WARNING

Loop-handled machines must be
equipped with a barrier bar.

0000097201_001

Brushcutters with split boom

The KombiTool can also be fitted to
STIHL brushcutters with a split shaft (T­models) (basic power tools).

This KombiTool can therefore also be
used on the following machine:

STIHL FR 131 T

The machine's long reach enables
cutting to be performed next to the trunk
without the risk of the lift bucket
damaging other branches. The tool
angle in this case depends on the
position of the branch.

8

WARNING

Refer to the User Manual of the power
tool for use of the barrier bar.

HT-KM