Craftsman 172.79957 User manual

Operator's Manual
3.2 Amp 22-in.
ELECTRIC
HEDGE TRIMMER
Model No.
172.79957
IWARNING: Read, understand and follow
_1 all Safety Rules and Operating Instructions
l in this manual before using this product.
• SAFETY
• ASSEMBLY
• OPERATION
• MAINTENANCE
• PARTS LIST
? For answers to your questions about this product:
Call 7AM - 7 PM, Mon.-Sat; Sun, 10 am -7pm
1-800-4-MY-HOME® (Hours listed are Central Time)
Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179 U.S.A.

Warranty. ................................................................. Page 2
Safety Rules ......................................................... Pages 3-8
Description .............................................................. Page 9
Specifications .......................................................... Page 9
Operation ............................................................ Pages 10-13
Maintenance ........................................................... Pages 14-15
Repair Parts ............................................................ Pages 16-17
ONE YEAR FULL WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN
ELECTRIC HEDGE TRIMMER
If this Craftsman Electric HedgeTrimmer fails due to defects in material or
workmanship within one year from the date of purchase, RETURN IT TO
THE NEAREST SEARS STORE IN THE UNITED STATES, and Sears will
replace it, free of charge.
If this Craftsman Electric Hedge Trimmer is used for commercial or rental
purposes, this warranty applies for only 90 days from the date of purchase.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other
rights which vary from state to state.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., Dept. 817 WA, Hoffman Estates, IL 60179
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS!
2

The purpose of safety symbols is to attract your attention to possible
dangers. The safety symbols and their explanations deserve your careful
attention and understanding. The safety warnings do not by themselves
eliminate any danger. The instructions or warnings they give are not
substitutes for proper accident prevention measures.
I SYMBOL MEANING I
di_ _ k DANGER: Failure to obey a safety
warning will result in serious injury to
yourself or to others. Always follow the
safety precautions to reduce the risk of
fire, electric shock and personal injury.
A!.WARNING: Failure to obey a safety
4!I_ warning can result in serious injuryto
yourself or to others. Always follow the
safety precautions to reduce the risk of
fire, electric shock and personal injury.
CAUTION: Failure to obey a safety
warning may result in property damage
or personal injury to yourself or to others.
Always follow the safety precautions to
reduce the risk of fire, electric shock and
personal injury.
NOTE: Advises you of information or instructions vital to the operation or
maintenance of the equipment.
Read the operator's Manual(s) and follow all warnings and safety
instructions.
Failure to do so can result in serious injury to the operator and/or
bystanders.
3

GENERAL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS/PLAN AHEAD
SYMBOL MEANING
WARNING: If correctly used, this hedge
trimmer is a quick, easy to handle and efficient
tool; if used improperly or without the due
precautions it could become a dangerous tool.
For pleasant and safe work, ALWAYS strictly
comply with the safety rules that are contained
in this manual.
WARNING: BE SURE to read and understand
all instructions.Failure to follow all instructions
listed below may result in electric shock, fire
and/or serious personal injury.
Safety is a combination of common sense, staying alert, and knowing
how to use your tool.
WARNING: To avoid mistakes that could [
cause serious injury, DO NOT plug in the I
hedge trimmer until the following steps have
been read and understood.
1. ALWAYS avoid dangerous conditions. DO NOT use in wet or damp areas
or expose to rain.
2. DO NOT use in the presence of flammable gases or liquids.
3. ALWAYS keep bystanders at a safe distance. NEVER allow children
near the tool.
4. ALWAYS dress for safety. DO NOT wear loose clothing, gloves,
neckties, or jewelry (rings, watches, etc.) when operating tool. They can
get caught and draw you into moving parts.
5. ALWAYS wear eye protection.
6. ALWAYS remove the power cord plug from the electrical outlet when
making adjustments, changing parts or cleaning.
7. ALWAYS avoid accidental start-ups. ALWAYS make sure the power
switch is in the OFF position BEFORE plugging in the power cord.
8. DO NOT abuse the power cord. DO NOT use it to carry the tool.
ALWAYS keep the cord away from heat, oil, sharp edges or moving
parts. Replace damaged cord immediately; they may create a shock or
fire hazard.
9. NEVER leave a running tool unattended. Turn the power switch to OFF.
DO NOT leave the tool until it has come to a complete stop.
10. DO NOT overreach. ALWAYS keep proper footing and balance at all
times. SAVE THESE SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
4

GENERAL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS cont.
11. DO NOT operate this unit while tired, ill or under the
influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication.
12. Children MUST NOT operate the unit.
13. Secure hair above shoulder length. DO NOT wear loose
clothing or jewelry; they can get caught in moving parts.
14. ALWAYS inspect the unit before use. Replace all damaged
parts prior to starting. MAKE SURE the unit is in original
operating condition before operating.
15. Know the controls and know how to stop the blade quickly.
16. Wear protective gear. ALWAYS use appropriate work
shoes, snug-fitting clothing; heavy- duty non-slip gloves;
eye protection such as non-fogging, vented goggles or
face screen; and sound barriers (ear plugs or muffles to
protect your hearing.
17. MAINTAIN TOOLS PROPERLY. ALWAYS keep tools clean
and in good working order.
18. CHECK FOR DAMAGED PARTS. Check for alignment of
moving parts, binding, breakage, or any other conditions
that may affect the tool's operation. Any part that is
damaged should be properly repaired or replaced before
use.
19. KEEP THE HANDLE DRY, CLEAN AND FREE OF OIL AND
GREASE. ALWAYS use a clean cloth when cleaning.
DO NOT use solvents, brake fluids, gasoline, or other
petroleum products to clean the tool, they may damage
plastic parts.
ARNING! The operation of any trimmer can
result in foreign objects being thrown into your
eyes, which can result in severe eye damage.
Before beginning power tool operation,
ALWAYS wear safety goggles or safety glasses
with side shield and a full face shield when
needed. We recommend a Wide Vision Safety
Mask for use over eyeglasses or standard
safety glasses with side shield, available at
Sears Retail Stores.
SAVE THESE SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
5

ELECTRICAL SAFETY
1. Double insulated tools are equipped with a polarized plug
(one blade is wider than the other). This plug will fit in a
polarized outlet only one way. If the plug does not fit fully
into the outlet, reverse the plug. If it still does not fit,
contact a qualified electrician to install a polarized outlet.
DO NOT change or alter the plug in any way.
2. Double insulation SYMBOL eliminates the need for the three
wire grounded power cord and grounded power supply
system. Applicable only to Class II (double insulated) tools.
3. Before plugging in the tool, BE SURE that the outlet voltage
supplied is within the voltage marked on the tool's data plate.
DO NOT use "AC only"rated tools with a DC power supply.
4. If operating the power tool in damp locations is
unavoidable, ALWAYS use a Ground Fault Circuit
Interrupter to supply power to your tool. ALWAYS wear
electrician's rubber gloves and footwear in damp
conditions.
5. DO NOT expose power tools to rain or wet conditions.
Water entering a power tool will increase the risk of electric
shock.
6. DO NOT abuse the cord. NEVER use the cord to carry the
tools or pull the plug from the outlet. Keep cord away
from heat, oil, sharp edges or moving parts. Replace
damaged cords immediately. Damaged cords increase the
risk of electric shock.
8. When operating a power tool outside, ALWAYS use an
outdoor extension cord marked "W-A" or "W". These cords
are rated for outdoor use and reduce the risk of electric
shock.
NOTE: The extension cord must have adequate wire size AWG
(American Wire Gauge) for safe, efficient use. Smaller gauge wires,
have greater capacity (16 gauge wire has more capacity than 18 gauge wire).
6

SPECIFIC SAFETY RULES FOR HEDGE TRIMMERS
1. ALWAYS avoid accidental starting. DO NOT carry a
plugged in trimmer with you finger on the switch. Be sure the
switch is in the OFF position BEFORE plugging it in.
2. DO NOT carry the trimmer by the cord or yank cord to
disconnect it from power receptacle. Keep cord away from
heat oil and sharp edges.
DANGER: Risk of Cut. Keep hands away from blades. Keep
both hands on handle when operating trimmer.
3. DO NOT attempt to remove cut material or hold material to be cut
when blades are moving. ALWAYS make sure the trimmer switch is
OFF when clearing jammed material from blades. DO NOT hold the
exposed cutting blades or cutting edges when picking up or holding
the hedge trimmer.
I_'I CAUTION: The blades continue to coast after the trimmer is shut off
4. DO NOT FORCE THE TRIMMER. It will do the job better and with less
chance of injuryat the rate for which it was designed.
5. DO NOT OVERREACH. Keep proper footing and balance at all times
6. STAY ALERT. Watch what you are doing. Use common sense. DO NOT
operate the trimmer when you are tired.
7. ALWAYS disconnect the trimmer from power source when not in use,
or when you are cleaning or servicing it.
8. ALWAYS store the trimmer indoors, when not in use. It should be stored
dry and high or locked in place that is out of the reach of children.
9. ALWAYS maintain the trimmer with care. ALWAYS Keep cutting blades
sharp and clean for best performance and to reduce the risk of injury.
ALWAYS inspect the extension cord periodically and replace it if damaged.
ALWAYS keep handles dry, clean and free from oil and grease.
7

10. CHECK FOR DAMAGED PARTS. Before further use of the
hedge trimmer, aguard or other par that is damaged
should be carefully checked to determine that it will operate
properly and perform its intended function. Check for
alignment of moving parts; binding of moving parts:
breakage of parts: mounting and any other condition that
may affect its operation. A guard or other part that is
damaged, should be properly repaired or replaced at an
authorized Sears Service Center.
WARNING: Some dust particles created by using lawn and
garden tools contains chemicals known to cause cancer,
birth defects or other reproductive harm. Some examples
of these chemicals are:
• Compounds in fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, insecticides.
•Arsenic and chromium from chemically-treated lumber.
Your risk from these exposures varies, depending upon how
often you do this type of work. To reduce your exposure to these
chemicals:
• Work in a well-ventilated area.
•Work with approved safety equipment, such as those dust
masks that are specially designed to filter out microscopic
particles.
8

Your hedge trimmer has many built-in convenience features for fast, efficient
cutting. These features include the trigger switch with a saftey switch to
prevent accidental starts. Both must be pressed to start unit.
Fig. 1 Trigger Switch
Saftey Switch
Cord
Cord
Retainer
Guard
\Two Screws
to attach Guard
Blade Length 22 inches
Speed (Cutting Strokes per Minute) 3000
Cutting Capacity 3/4-inch
Cutting Action Dual
Power Requirement 120-volt, 60 Hertz AC
9

A'n'ACHING THE SAFETY GUARD (Figure 2)
After removing your hedge trimmer from the carton. Install the safety guard as
follows:
I_. I WARNING: To prevent serious personal injury, NEVER operate
Iyour trimmer without the safety guard in place.
1. Place the safety guard on
the trimmer, at the base of the
cutting blade (see Fig. 2).
2. Align the screw holes in the
guard with the holes in the
trimmer (see Fig. 2).
3. Insert a screw on each end
of the safety guard, using a
Phillips screwdriver.
DO NOT over tighten.
I Fig. 2
A'I-rACHING AN EXTENSION CORD (Figure 3)
An extension cord retainer is attached to the
power cord of the trimmer. This helps to
prevent the tool from unplugging. To use this
feature, simply double the extension cord about
8 inches from the end and insert it into the two
open slots at the end of the retainer (see Fig. 3).
Gently tug on the extension cord to be sure it's
firmly attached, then plug the extension cord
into a standard household receptacle.
Fig. 3
Power
Cord
Cord
ALWAYS use the trimmer properly. Before starting trimmer,
hold the unit with both hands with the blade facing away from you.
ALWAYS keep the cord behind the trimmer when in use.
DO NOT place cord over hedge where it can be cut by the blade.
TO TURN TOOL ON
Your trimmer is equipped with a safety switch to help prevent accidental starts.
You must press both the safety switch and the trigger switch to start the unit.
10