Echo HC-150 - 03-04 1 User manual

Hedge Clipper
Operator'sManual
MODEL HC-150
WARNING DANGER
Readrulesforsafeoperationandallinstructionscarefully. ECHOprovidesthis
Operator'sManualandaSafetyManual.Bothmustbereadandunderstoodfor
properandsafeoperation.
X7532243700 X753001440
03/04

2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction...............................................................2
- The Operator's Manual.......................................2
- The Safety Manual .............................................2
Manual Safety Symbols and Important Information .....3
Safety .........................................................................3
- Decals .................................................................3
- InternationalSymbols ........................................4
Safety Instructions ....................................................4
- Personal Conditions and Safety Equipment .......4
- ExtendedOperation/ExtremeConditions ............5
- Equipment ...........................................................5
- SafeOperation ....................................................6
EmissionsControl......................................................6
Description ................................................................7
- Contents .............................................................7
Specifications ............................................................9
Assembly ................................................................. 10
- InstallBladeStiffener ....................................... 10
- RemoveBladeStiffener .................................... 10
Pre-Operation........................................................... 11
- Fuel ................................................................... 11
Operation ................................................................. 12
- StartingColdEngine......................................... 12
- StartingWarmEngine ...................................... 13
- Stopping Engine ............................................... 13
- HedgeTrimming ............................................... 14
Maintenance............................................................ 14
- SkillLevels........................................................ 14
- Maintenance Intervals...................................... 15
- AirFilter ........................................................... 16
- FuelFilter.......................................................... 16
- SparkPlug ........................................................ 17
- CoolingSystem ................................................ 17
- ExhaustSystem ................................................ 18
- Carburetor Adjustment..................................... 19
- Lubrication ....................................................... 20
- Sharpening Blades............................................ 21
Troubleshooting...................................................... 22
Storage..................................................................... 23
ServicingInformation .............................................. 24
- Parts.................................................................. 24
- Service .............................................................. 24
- ECHOConsumer ProductSupport ................... 24
- Warranty Card .................................................. 24
- Additional or Replacement Manuals................ 24
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the ECHO family. This ECHO product was designed and manufactured to provide long life and on-the-job
dependability. Read and understand this manual. You will find it easy to use and full of helpful operating tips and
SAFETYmessages.
THE OPERATOR’SMANUAL
Read and understand this manual before operation. Keep it in a safe
place for future reference. It contains specifications and information for
operation, starting, stopping, maintenance, storage, and assembly
specific to this product.
THE SAFETY MANUAL
Copyright©2004ByEcho,Incorporated
All Rights Reserved.
Specifications, descriptions and illustrative material in this
literature are as accurate as known at the time of publica-
tion, but are subject to change without notice. Illustrations
may include optional equipment and accessories, and may
not include all standard equipment.
Read and understand this manual before operation. Keep it in a safe
place for future reference. It explains possible hazards involved with
the use of this product and what measures you should take to make
their use safer.

HEDGE CLIPPER
OPERATOR'SMANUAL 3
MANUAL SAFETY SYMBOLS AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION
P/NX505000270
P/NX505000290
P/N 89016006361
Throughout this manual and on the product itself, you will find safety
alerts and helpful, informational messages preceded by symbols or key
words. The following is an explanation of those symbols and key
words and what they mean to you.
This symbol accompanied by the words WARNING and
DANGER calls attention to an act or condition that can lead to
serious personal injury to operator and bystanders.
The circle with the slash symbol means whatever is shown
within the circle is prohibited.
IMPORTANT
The enclosed message provides
information necessary for the protec-
tion of the unit.
NOTE
This enclosed message provides tips
for use, care and maintenance of the
unit.
SAFETY
DECALS
Locate these safety decals on your unit. Make sure the decals are
legible and that you understand and follow the instructions on them. If
a decal cannot be read, a new one can be ordered from your ECHO
dealer. SeePARTSORDERINGinstructionsforspecificinformation.
Right Front Handle Guard
Hot Decal (near muffler)

4
Symbol
description/application Symbol form/shape Symbol
description/application
Symbol form/shape
Hot
Surface
Carburetor adjustment
- Idle speed
Carburetor adjustment
- High speed mixture
Symbol
description/application Symbol form/shape Symbol
description/application
Symbol form/shape
Read and understand
owners manual.
Wear eyes, ears and
head protection
Emergency stop
Fuel and oil mixture
Finger Severing
Carburetor adjustment
- Low speed mixture
Safety/Alert
Avoid all power
lines. This unit is not
insulated against
electrical current.
Do not operate clos-
er than 15 M (50 ft.)
from electrical haz-
ards.
Plan retreat path
from falling
objects.
Wear hand protec-
tion. Use two handed.
DO NOT smoke
near fuel.
DO NOT allow
flames or sparks
near fuel.
Wear slip resistant
foot wear.
Ignition Ignition
ON/OFF
Do not operate
without guards
in place.
Keep bystanders at least
4.5 meters (15 feet) away.
Primer bulb
INTERNATIONAL SYMBOLS
Choke Control
"Cold Start"
Position
(ChokeClosed)
Choke Control
"Run"
Position
(ChokeOpen)
SAFETYINSTRUCTIONS
PERSONAL CONDITION AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT
WARNING DANGER
Users of this product risk injury to themselves and others if the unit is used improperly and/or safety precautions
are not followed. Proper clothing and safety gear must be worn when operating unit.
Physical Condition
Your judgment and physical dexterity may not be good:
• if you are tired or sick,
• if you are taking medication,
• if you have taken alcohol or drugs.
Operate unit only if you are physically and mentally well.
Eye Protection
Wear eye protection that meets ANSI Z87.1 or CE
requirements whenever you operate the unit.
Hand Protection
Wear no-slip, heavy-duty work gloves to improve your
grip on the handle. Gloves also reduce the transmission
of machine vibration to your hands.
Hearing Protection
ECHOrecommendswearinghearingprotectionwhenever
unit is used.
Proper Clothing
Wear snug fitting, durable clothing;
• Pants should have long legs, shirts with long sleeves.
• DONOTWEARSHORTS,
• DONOTWEARTIES,SCARVES,andJEWELRY.
Wear sturdy work shoes with nonskid soles:
• DONOTWEAROPENTOEDSHOES,
• DONOTOPERATEUNITBAREFOOTED.
Hot Humid Weather
Heavy protective clothing can increase operator fatigue,
which may lead to heat stroke. Schedule heavy work for
early morning or late afternoon hours when temperatures
arecooler.

HEDGE CLIPPER
OPERATOR'SMANUAL 5
EQUIPMENT
WARNING DANGER
Use only ECHO approved attachments. Serious injury may result from the use of a non-approved attachment combi-
nation. ECHO, INC. will not be responsible for the failure of cutting devices, attachments, or accessories which have
not been tested and approved by ECHO. Read and comply with all safety instructions listed in this manual and safety
manual.
• Check unit for loose/missing nuts, bolts, and screws. Tighten and/or
replace as needed.
• Inspect fuel lines, tank and area around carburetor for fuel leaks. DO
NOT operate unit if leaks are found.
• Inspect hand guard for damage. Replace if damaged or missing.
• Check that the blade assembly is firmly attached and in safe operating
condition. Dull, loose or damaged blades should not be used.
EXTENDED OPERATION/EXTREME CONDITIONS
Vibration and Cold
It is believed that a condition called Raynaud’s Phenomenon, which
affects the fingers of certain individuals, may be brought about by
exposure to vibration and cold. Exposure to vibration and cold may
cause tingling and burning sensations, followed by loss of color and
numbness in the fingers. The following precautions are strongly
recommended,becausetheminimumexposure, which might trigger the
ailment,isunknown.
• Keep your body warm, especially the head, neck, feet, ankles, hands,
and wrists.
• Maintain good blood circulation by performing vigorous arm
exercises during frequent work breaks, and also by not smoking.
• Limit the hours of operation. Try to fill each day with jobs where
operating the unit or other hand-held power equipment is not
required.
• If you experience discomfort, redness, and swelling of the fingers
followed by whitening and loss of feeling, consult your physician
before further exposing yourself to cold and vibration.
Repetitive Stress Injuries
It is believed that overusing the muscles and tendons of the fingers,
hands, arms, and shoulders may cause soreness, swelling, numbness,
weakness, and extreme pain in those areas. Certain repetitive hand
activities may put you at a high risk for developing a Repetitive Stress
Injury(RSI).AnextremeRSIconditionisCarpalTunnelSyndrome
(CTS), which could occur when your wrist swells and squeezes a vital
nerve that runs through the area. Some believe that prolonged expo-
sure to vibration may contribute to CTS. CTS can cause severe pain for
months or even years.
To reduce the risk of RSI/CTS, do the
following:
• Avoid using your wrist in a bent, ex-
tended, or twisted position. Instead try to
maintain a straight wrist position. Also,
when grasping, use your whole hand, not
just the thumb and index finger.
• Takeperiodicbreakstominimizerepeti-
tion and rest your hands.
• Reduce the speed and force with which
you do the repetitive movement.
• Do exercise to strengthen the hand and
armmuscles.
• Immediately stop using all power equip-
ment and consult a doctor if you feel
tingling, numbness, or pain in the fingers,
hands, wrists, or arms. The sooner RSI/
CTSisdiagnosed, themorelikelyperma-
nent nerve and muscle damage can be
prevented.

6
SAFE OPERATION
WARNING DANGER
Do not operate this product indoors or in inadequately ventilated
areas. Engine exhaust contains poisonous emissions and can
cause serious injury or death.
ReadtheManuals
• Provide all users of this equipment with the Operator’s Manual and
Safety Manual for instructions on Safe Operation.
CleartheWorkArea
• Spectators and fellow workers must be warned, and children and
animalspreventedfromcoming nearer than 15 m (50 ft.) whilethe unit
is in use.
KeepaFirmGrip
• Hold the front and rear handles with both hands, with thumbs and
fingers encircling the handles.
KeepaSolidStance
• 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.
AvoidHotSurfaces
• Keep exhaust area clear of flammable debris. Avoid contact during
andimmediatelyafteroperation.
WARNING DANGER
Never perform blade maintenance procedures while engine is
running.
IMPORTANTENGINEINFORMATION
ENGINE FAMILY: 4EHXS.0214EH DISPLACEMENT: 21.2 CC
EMISSIONCOMPLIANCE PERIOD : 300 HRS.
THIS ENGINE MEETS U.S. EPA PHA 2 EMISSION REGULA-
TIONS FOR SMALL NON ROAD ENGINE. REFER TO
OWNER'S MANUAL FOR MAINTENANCE SPECIFICATIONS
AND ADJUSTMENTS.
EMISSIONCONTROL
EPA Phase 2
The emission control system for this engine is EM (Engine
Modification).
EmissionControlLabel (locatedonEngine) (EXAMPLEONLY,
informationonlabelvariesbyFAMILY).
PRODUCTEMISSION DURABILITY
The 300 hour emission durability 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.

HEDGE CLIPPER
OPERATOR'SMANUAL 7
DESCRIPTION
After opening the carton, check for damage. Immediately notify your retailer or ECHO Dealer of damaged or missing
parts. Use the contents list to check for missing parts.
CONTENTS
__ 1 - Hedge ClipperAssembly
__ 1 - Operator’s Manual
__ 1 - Safety Manual
__ 1 - Warranty Statement
__ 1 - Warranty Registration Card
__ 1 - T-Wrench13x19
__ 1 - BladeStiffener
__ 4 - Blade Locknuts
__ 4 - Stiffener Washers
__ 1 - EchoPowerBlend TM 2-strokeoilsample
__ 1 - BladeCover
15
12
4
7
8
9
4
5
16
5
6
10
11
12
13 14
3
17

8
1. FRONTHANDLE/GUARD-Comfortable,texturedfinishprovidesanti-slipgripforfronthand.Guardprotectshand
from the blades. Warning decals are located on guard.
2. BLADES - Double reciprocating blades mounted to a blade support bar. The blades are double sided, capable of
cutting on either side.
3. BLADESTIFFENER -Attaches to top of blades and guides material being cut into blades.
4. SPARKPLUG-Providessparktoignitefuelmixture.
5. CHOKE - The choke control lever is located on the front of the air cleaner case. Move choke lever to "COLD
START" ( ) to close the choke for Cold Starting. Move choke lever to "RUN" ( ) position to open choke.
6. PRIMERBULB -Pumpingprimerbulb beforestartingenginedraws freshfuelfromthefueltankprimingthecarbure-
tor for starting. Pump primer bulb until fuel is visible and flows freely in the clear fuel tank return line. Pump bulb an
additional4or 5 times.
7. AIRCLEANER-Containsreplaceablefilterelement.
8. RECOILSTARTERHANDLE-Pullhandleslowlyuntilrecoilstarterengages,thenquicklyandfirmly. DONOTpull
rope all the way out or allow the handle to snap back, damage to the starter will occur.
9. FUELTANK-Containsfuelandfuelfilter.
10. FUELTANKCAP-Coversandsealsfueltankopening.
11. REARHANDLE-ContainsStopSwitch,ThrottleLockoutandThrottleTrigger.
12. THROTTLETRIGGERLOCKOUT-ThislevermustbedepressedbeforeThrottleTriggercanbeactivated.
13. THROTTLETRIGGER-Springloadedtoreturntoidlewhenreleased. TriggerLockoutmustbedepressedfully
before Throttle Trigger will move. During acceleration, depress gradually for best operating technique.
14. STOPSWITCH-"TOGGLESWITCH"located on the left side of the rear handle. Move switch UP to RUN, DOWN
toSTOP.
15. SPARKARRESTOR-CATALYTICMUFFLER/MUFFLER-Themufflerorcatalyticmufflercontrolsexhaustnoise
and emission. The spark arrestor screen prevents hot, glowing particles of carbon from leaving the muffler. Keep
exhaustareaclearofflammabledebris.
16. BLADE COVER - Used to cover blades during transportation or storage. Remove blade cover before using unit.
17. SAFETYVIDEO-(Notincludedwithunit)P/N99922202800EnglishversionandP/N99922203513Spanishversion
areavailableat a cost of $5.00from ECHO, INC.or any authorizedECHO dealer. Thevideo overviews safetyprecau-
tions and proper operating techniques and is supplemental to the Safety Manual. Read and understand the Safety
Manual for complete information on safe operation.

HEDGE CLIPPER
OPERATOR'SMANUAL 9
SPECIFICATIONS
MODEL ------------------------------------------ HC-150
Length-------------------------------------------- 1,040mm (41.0in.)
Width--------------------------------------------- 240mm(9.45in.)
Height -------------------------------------------- 200mm(7.87in.)
Weight, dry-------------------------------------- 4.8kg(10.7lb.)
Type of Engine---------------------------------- Air cooled, two-stroke, single cylinder, gasoline engine
Displacement ------------------------------------ 21.2cc(1.29cu.in.)
Bore----------------------------------------------- 32.2mm(1.27in.)
Stroke--------------------------------------------- 26.0mm(1.02in.)
ExhaustSystem --------------------------------- SparkArrestorMuffler
Carburetor --------------------------------------- Zama w/purge
Ignition System --------------------------------- Flywheel Magneto, Capacitor discharge ignition
SparkPlug --------------------------------------- BPM-8Y(Gap0.65mm(0.026in.)
Fuel ----------------------------------------------- Mixed Fuel - gasoline and oil
Fuel/OilRatio------------------------------------ 50:1two-stroke aircooledengineoil
Gasoline ------------------------------------------ 89 Octane unleaded. DO NOT use fuel containing methyl alcohol, more than
10%ethylalcoholor15%MTBE.
Oil ------------------------------------------------- PowerBlendTM PremiumUniversal2-StrokeOil
FuelTankCapacity ----------------------------- 0.5lit.(16.9fl.oz)
Starter System ----------------------------------- AutomaticRecoilStarter
Clutch -------------------------------------------- CentrifugalType
GearCaseRatio --------------------------------- 5.88:1
Cutter --------------------------------------------- DoubleReciprocatingBlade,Double Edge
Length ----------------------------------------- 490mm (19.3in.)
Pitch -------------------------------------------- 35mm (1.38in.)
Height ------------------------------------------ 21mm (0.83in.)
MaximumDiameterCut
Soft Material ----------------------------------- 25.4mm(1in.)
Woody Material ------------------------------- 13mm(1/2in.)
IdleSpeed(RPM) ------------------------------- 2,400-3,200
WideOpenThrottle(RPM)-------------------- 10,000-11,000

10
3. Tighten blade bolts (B) until snug, then loosen ½ turn.
4. Install blade stiffener and washers. Tighten securely with new
locknuts (A). Do not allow blade bolts to turn.
NOTE
Use new locknuts every time blade stiffener in installed.
ASSEMBLY
NOTE
For normal cutting, Echo strongly recommends the blade stiffener
be installed. In extreme conditions, such as commercial cutting, or
when cutting thick and/or dense branches, efficiency may be
increased by trimming without the blade stiffener.
Tools required: (2)10mmWrenches
Parts Required: BladeStiffener,BladeLockNuts(P/N43302206460),
Washers
WARNING DANGER
Hedge Clipper blades are very sharp. Wear gloves to protect
hands.
IMPORTANT
Follow blade bolt adjustment instructions exactly. Failure to do so
could result in damage to blades or gearbox.
INSTALL BLADE STIFFENER
1. Disconnect spark plug wire.
2. Remove first four blade locknuts (A) closest to handle. Do not
remove blade bolts.
BLADE STIFFENER REMOVAL
1. Disconnect spark plug wire.
2. Remove blade stiffener locknuts (A) and washers. Do not remove
blade bolts.
3. Removebladestiffener
4. Tighten blade bolts (B) until snug, then loosen ½ turn.
5. Secure blades with new locknuts (A). Do not allow blade bolts to
turn.
B
A
B
A