Flextool Portavibe fve-bp User manual

FOR MORE INFORMATION

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

FLEXTOOL PORTAVIBE®BACKPACK

FVE-BP

Version 2.0 (May 2022)

FLEXTOOL OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS PORTABIVE BACKPACK FVE-BP

1300 353 986 ﬂextool.com.au

CONTENT

Introduction 2

Applications 2

Functions and controls 2

Hazards and risks 2

Operation 3

Care and preventive maintenance 3

Cleaning and storage 3

INTRODUCTION

General Safety Instructions for the Operation of

Power Equipment

The goal of Flextool is to produce power equipment that helps

the operator work safely and eciently. The most important

safety device for this or any tool is the operator. Care and good

judgement are the best protection against injury. All possible

hazards cannot be covered in this manual, but we have tried to

highlight some of the important items. Operators should look

for and obey Caution, Warning and Danger labels placed on the

equipment. Operators should read and follow safety instructions

packed with each product to learn how each machine works.

Even if you have previously used similar equipment carefully

check out each machine before you use it, get the “feel” for it

and know its capabilities, limitations, potential hazards, how it

operates, and how it stops.

APPLICATIONS

Civil: roadways, kerbing, runways, pre-cast beams, bridge

decks, piers and columns.

Commercial building: strip and raft foundations, stairs, walls,

wall panels and columns, oors, suspended slabs, tilt panels and

retaining walls.

Residential building: oor stumps, wall cavities, house slabs,

wall footings, septic tanks, paving slabs. And driveways

FUNCTION AND CONTROLS

BACKPACK

This PortaVibe Backpack drive unit is designed to power exshaft

driven eccentric concrete vibrators. The motor is controlled by an

ON/OFF push button which is mounted on the hinged operator

control handle. The motor speed is controlled by throttle lever

also mounted on the hinged operator control handle

VIBRATOR & FLEXSHAFT

This vibrator is designed for the compaction of concrete by

immersion of the vibrator head into the concrete. Compaction

improves the strength and nish of concrete by driving out

entrapped air. High frequency vibration allows the ecient

compaction of low slump concrete mixes. The vibrator head is

driven by a rotating exible drive shaft that transmits the drive

from the PortaVibe Backpack drive unit. The vibrator head uses

an eccentric mass to produce vibration. Bearings support the

rotor at each end.

HAZARDS AND RISKS

NEVER allow any person to operate equipment without

adequate instruction.

ENSURE all operators read, understand and follow the

operating instructions.

SERIOUS INJURY may result from improper or careless use of

this machine

MECHANICAL HAZARDS

DO NOT operate the machine unless all protective guards are

in place.

ENSURE that the motor operation switch is in the OFF position

and the spark plug ignition lead is disconnected before

removing the guards or making adjustments.

KEEP hands and feet clear of rotating and moving parts as

they will cause injury if contacted.

 BE CAREFUL not to come in contact with the muer during or

immediately after operation as it will be extremely hot and can

cause severe burns.

DO NOT leave the equipment in operation while it is

unattended.

 EXERCISE CARE when handling concrete vibrators. Exposure

to vibration or repetitive work actions may be harmful to hands

and arms.

DO NOT hold the vibrator head in your hands while it is

running. Hold the vibrator by the exible shaft to isolate your

hands from the vibration.

 NEVER stand on the vibrating head while it is operating.

ENSURE that repairs to machinery are carried out by

COMPETENT personnel.

ENSURE that petrol is only stored in an approved storage

container.

FLEXTOOL OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS PORTABIVE BACKPACK FVE-BP

1300 353 986 ﬂextool.com.au

FIRE & EXPLOSION HAZARDS

 PETROL is extremely ammable and explosive under certain

conditions.

ENSURE that petrol is only stored in an approved storage

container.

 DO NOT refuel the motor while it is in operation or hot.

DO NOT refuel the motor in the vicinity of sparks, a naked

ame or a person smoking.

 DO NOT over ll the fuel tank and avoid spilling petrol when

refuelling. Spilled petrol or petrol vapour may ignite. If spillage

occurs, ensure that the area is dry before starting the motor.

Motor vibrations can cause an improperly tightened fuel cap

to loosen or come o and can result in fuel spills. In order to

reduce risk of fuel spillage and re, ensure fuel tank caps are

suciently tightened

NEVER attempt to refuel a petrol engine until it has been

stopped & completely removed from the operator.

CHEMICAL HAZARDS

 DO NOT operate or refuel a petrol motor in a conned area

without adequate ventilation.

CARBON MONOXIDE exhaust gases from petrol engines can

cause death in conned spaces.

NOISE HAZARDS

EXCESSIVE NOISE can lead to temporary or permanent loss

of hearing.

WEAR an approved hearing protection device to limit noise

exposure as required by Occupational Health and Safety

regulations. Noise levels in excess of 85dB(A) may be

produced by engines and concrete vibrators.

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

ALWAYS wear protective clothing and footwear to prevent the

skin coming into contact with wet concrete.

PROTECTIVE FOOTWARE should be worn to reduce injuries

from penetration through the sole, contact with cutting

objects, slipping and contact with wet concrete.

 EYE PROTECTION must also be worn to prevent eye injuries.

 USE GLOVES when handling and inspecting the exible shaft

outer casing. Excessive wear of the rubber cover can expose

the wire braided reinforcement, allowing it to project and

cause injury.

ADDITIONAL HAZARDS

To reduce the risk of injury from loss of balance and muscle

strain do not start the engine whilst it is on the operators back.

To start the engine place the unit on an elevated at level

surface, and only place on the operators back once the engine

is idling.

 Exercise care when using the backpack unit. Ensure shoulder

and waist straps are adjusted to suit the operator, ensure the

weight of the unit is evenly distributed across both shoulders

and hips to reduce back injuries. An incorrectly tted and

unbalanced PortaVibe Backpack may cause you to become

unbalanced, particularly on uneven surfaces or elevated

positions. Slip/Trip/Fall can be a major cause of serious injury.

OPERATION

 Do not engage the exshaft drive coupling into an engine that

is already running. Flexshafts must only be connected to the

drive engine prior to it being started.

 Set your backpack unit on the ground and attach the exshaft

using the quick connect adaptor that is on the unit.

Start the engine - For information on correct engine starting

procedures refer to the engine manufacturers operation

manual.

Once the backpack has been started place it on the operators

back and adjust the straps to suit the operator.

Do not use an immersion vibrator head as an external vibrator

by applying it to the outside of formwork.

Do not operate the vibrating head out of concrete for extended

periods.

Do not leave it running while you wait for fresh supplies of

concrete to be placed. Vibrator heads are designed to be

cooled by the concrete in which they are immersed.

During periods when the vibrator head is not immersed in the

concrete drop the engine speed back to idle

CARE AND PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE

Keep the PortaVibe Backpack drive unit clean and free of

concrete residue and build up.

Concrete vibrators must be handled with care and be properly

maintained in order to avoid unnecessary breakdowns. Check

regularly for signs of wear and rectify any faults immediately.

 The exterior of the exshaft and the vibrator head are subject

to abrasion and wear. If the vibrator is operated unchecked,

concrete will eventually enter the vibrator head or the exshaft.

Naturally, the cost of repairing a vibrator which has been

allowed to deteriorate in this way will be greater.

 Regular inspection of the vibrator and the exible shaft will

avoid these problems.

 Check the exible shaft for kinks and external damage by

laying it out straight on a workbench or the oor. Although

it still operates a badly kinked exible shaft may result in a

broken inner core.

CLEANING AND STORAGE

It is advisable to wash the vibrator head and exshaft with clean

water after each use and before storing. This will ensure that

concrete does not accumulate on the exterior of the unit that can

cause overheating and premature failure of the unit.

Parchem Construction Supplies Pty Ltd

1956 Dandenong Road, Clayton VIC 3168, Australia

Phone: 1300 353 986

flextool.com.au

ABN 80 069 961 968

This manual summarises our best knowledge of the product based on the information available at the time of publication. You should read this manual carefully and

consider the information in the context of how the product will be used. Our responsibility for products sold is subject to our standard terms and conditions of sale.

DISCLAIMER:

Any advice, recommendation, information, assistance or service provided by us in this manual is given in good faith and is believed by us to be appropriate and reliable.

However, any advice, recommendation, information, assistance or service provided by us is provided without liability or responsibility PROVIDED THAT the foregoing shall

not exclude, limit, restrict or modify the right entitlements and remedies conferred upon any person or the liabilities imposed upon us by any condition or warranty implied

by Commonwealth, State or Territory Act or ordinance void or prohibiting such exclusion limitation or modification. The product can be expected to perform as indicated