Husqvarna 345FR User manual

EE
EEnn nngg ggll llii iiss sshh hh
345FR 545FX 545FXT
545RX 545RXT
Oper ator’s manual
Please r ead the operator’s manual carefully and make sure you understand the instructions
before using the machine.

KEY T O SYMBOLS
2 – English
Symbols
W ARNING! Clearing saws,
brushcutters and trimmers can be
dangerous! Careless or incorrect use
can result in serious or fatal injury to
the operator or others. It is extremely
important that you read and
understand the contents of the operator’s manual.
Please read the operator’s manual
carefully and make sure you
understand the instructions before
using the machine.
Always wear:
• Wear a protective helmet where
there is a risk of falling objects
• Approved hearing protection
• Approved eye protection
Max. speed of output shaft, rpm
Watch out for thrown objects and
ricochets.
The operator of the machine must
ensure, while working, that no
persons or animals come closer than
15 meters (50 ft.).
Machines fitted with saw blades or
grass blades can be thrown violently
to the side when the blade comes
into contact with a fixed object.This is
called blade thrust. The blade is
capable of amputating an arm or leg.
Always keep people and animals at least 15 meters (50
ft.) from the machine.
Always wear approved protective
gloves.
Wear sturdy, non-slip boots.
Primer bulb
Choke: Set the choke control in the
choke position.
Decompression v alve: The valve is to
reduce the pressure in the cylinder and
make starting easier. You should always
use the decompression valve when
starting the machine.
Heated handles
Only use non-metallic, flexible cutting
attachments, i.e. trimmer heads with
trimmer cord.
Other symbols/decals on the mac hine
refer to special certification
requirements for certain markets.
Switch off the engine b y moving the
stop switch to the STOP position
before carrying out any checks or
maintenance.
Always wear approved protective
gloves.
Regular cleaning is required.
Visual check.
Approved eye protection must always
be used.
50FT
15 m
50FT
15 m

CONTENTS
English – 3
Contents
• Maintenance, replacement, or repair of the emission
control devices and system may be performed by any
nonroad engine repair establishment or individual.
Your warranty may not cover damage or liability
caused by the use of non-authorized accessories or
replacement parts.
The Emissions Compliance Period referred to on the
Emission Compliance label indicates the number of
operating hours for which the engine has been shown to
meet Federal emissions requirements.
KEY TO SYMBOLS
Symbols ................................................................ 2
CONTENTS
Contents ............................................................... 3
INTR ODUCTION
Dear customer! ..................................................... 4
WHA T IS WHAT?
What is what on the br ush cutter? ........................ 5
GENERAL SAFETY PRECA UTIONS
Measures to tak e before using new clearing saws,
brushcutters or trimmers. ...................................... 6
Important .............................................................. 6
Personal protective equipment ............................. 7
Machine ′ s safety equipment ................................. 7
Cutting equipment ................................................ 10
ASSEMBL Y
Assemb ling the handlebar and throttle ................. 13
Transport position, handlebar ............................... 13
Assembling the cutting equipment ....................... 13
Fitting the guard extension ................................... 14
Fitting the blade guard/combination guard, grass
blade and grass cutter .......................................... 14
Fitting the blade guard and saw blade .................. 15
Fitting other guards and cutting attachments ....... 16
Adjusting the harness and brush cutter ................ 16
Balance X ............................................................. 16
Balance XT ........................................................... 17
FUEL HANDLING
Fuel saf ety ............................................................ 19
Fuel ...................................................................... 19
Fueling .................................................................. 20
ST ARTING AND STOPPING
Chec k before starting ........................................... 21
Starting and stopping ........................................... 21
W ORKING TECHNIQUES
Gener al working instructions ................................ 23
MAINTENANCE
Carb uretor ............................................................ 27
Muffler .................................................................. 27
Cooling system ..................................................... 28
Air filter ................................................................. 28
Bevel gear ............................................................ 29
Drive shaft ............................................................ 29
Spark plug ............................................................ 29
Winter use ............................................................ 29
Maintenance schedule ......................................... 31
TECHNICAL D ATA
T echnical data ...................................................... 32
FEDERAL EMISSION CONTR OL WARRANTY
STATEMENT
Y OUR WARRANTY RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS 36
The engine exhaust from this product
contains chemicals known to the State
of California to cause cancer, birth
defects or other reproductive harm.

4 – English
INTR ODUCTION
Dear customer!
Cong ratulations on your choice to buy a Husqvarna product! Husqvarna is based on a tradition that dates back to 1689,
when the Swedish King Karl XI ordered the construction of a factory on the banks of the Huskvarna River, for production
of muskets. The location was logical, since water power was harnessed from the Huskvarna River to create the water-
powered plant. During over 300 years of continuous operation, the Husqvarna factory has produced a lot of different
products, from wood stoves to modern kitchen appliances, sewing machines, bicycles, motorcycles etc. In 1956, the first
motor driven lawn mowers appeared, followed by chain saws in 1959, and it is within this area Husqvarna is working
today.
Today Husqvarna is one of the leading manufacturers in the world of forest and garden products, with quality as our
highest priority. We develop, manufacture and market high quality motor driven products for forestry and gardening as
well as for building and construction industry.
Your purchase gives you access to professional help with repairs and service whenever this may be necessary. If the
retailer who sells your machine is not one of our authorized dealers, ask for the address of your nearest servicing dealer.
It is our wish that you will be satisfied with your product and that it will be your companion for a long time. Think of this
operator
′ s manual as a valuable document. By following its ′ content (using, service, maintenance etc) the life span and
the second-hand value of the machine can be extended. If you ever lend or sell this machine, make sure that the borrower
or buyer gets the operator
′ s manual, so they will also know how to properly maintain and use it.
Thank you for using a Husqvarna product.
Husqvarna AB has a policy of continuous product development and therefore reserves the right to modify the design and
appearance of products without prior notice.

English – 5
WHA T IS WHA T?
What is what on the brush cutter?
30
31 32
22
34
35
11
10
9
8
12
26
27
29
24 25
1
33
28
4
5
6 7
14 16
13
21
20
19
18
17
15
9
8
11
2
2524
26
27
25
3
24
23
345FR, 545RX,RXT 545FX, FXT
1 Grass blade (345FR, 545RX, 545RXT)
2 Saw blade (345FR, 545FX, 545FXT)
3 Trimmer head (345FR, 545RX, 545RXT)
4 Bevel gear
5 Grease filler cap, bevel gear
6 Shaft
7 Handle adjustment
8 Throttle trigger
9 Stop switch
10 Start throttle button
11 Throttle trigger lockout
12 Adjusting the throttle wire
13 Suspension ring
14 Fuel tank
15 Decompression valve
16 Muffler
17 Spark plug cap and spark plug
18 Starter handle
19 Primer bulb
20 Air filter cover
21 Choke control
22 Harness, quick release
23 Harness, hip pad
24 Drive disc
25 Cutting attachment guard
26 Locking nut
27 Support flange
28 Handlebar
29 Support cup
30 Transport guard
31 Allen key
32 Carburettor screwdriver
33 Locking pin
34 Operator’s manual
35 Socket spanner

GENERAL SAFETY PRECA UTIONS
6 – English
Measures to take bef ore using
new clearing saws, brushcutters
or trimmers.
• Please read this manual carefully.
• Check that the locking nut of the cutting equipment is
tighten correctly. See instructions under the heading
Assembly.
Impor tant
!
W ARNING! Long-term exposure to noise
can result in permanent hearing
impairment. Always use approved
hearing protection.
!
W ARNING! Under no circumstances may
the design of the machine be modified
without the permission of the
manufacturer. Always use genuine
accessories. Non-authorized
modifications and/or accessories can
result in serious personal injury or the
death of the operator or others.
!
W ARNING! A clearing saw, brushcutter
or trimmer can be dangerous if used
incorrectly or carelessly, and can cause
serious or fatal injury to the operator or
others. It is extremely important that you
read and understand the contents of this
operator’s manual.
IMPOR TANT!
The clearing saw or grass trimmer is only designed for
trimming grass, grass clearing and/or forestry clearing.
National or local regulations may regulate the use.
Comply to given regulations.
The only accessories you can operate with this engine
unit are the cutting attachments we recommend in the
chapter on Technical data.
Never use the machine if you are tired, if you have drunk
alcohol, or if you are taking medication that could affect
your vision, your judgement or your co-ordination.
Wear personal protective equipment. See instructions
under the heading ”Personal protective equipment”.
Never use a machine that has been modified in any way
from its original specification.
Never use a machine that is faulty. Carry out the safety
checks, maintenance and service instructions
described in this manual. Some maintenance and
service measures must be carried out by trained and
qualified specialists. See instructions under the heading
Maintenance.
All covers, guards and handles must be fitted before
starting. Ensure that the spark plug cap and ignition lead
are undamaged to avoid the risk of electric shock.
National legislation could regulate the use of this
machine. Find out what legislation is applicable in the
place where you work before you start using the
machine.
The machine operator must ensure that no people or
animals come closer than 15 meters while working.
When several operators are working in the same area
the safety distance should be at least twice the tree
height and no less than 15 meters.
Do an overall inspection of the machine before use, see
maintenance schedule.
!
W ARNING! This machine produces an
electromagnetic field during operation.
This field may under some
circumstances interfere with active or
passive medical implants. To reduce the
risk of serious or fatal injury, we
recommend persons with medical
implants consult their physician and the
medical implant manufacturer before
operating this machine.
!
W ARNING! Running an engine in a
confined or badly ventilated area can
result in death due to asphyxiation or
carbon monoxide poisoning.

GENERAL SAFETY PRECA UTIONS
English – 7
P ersonal protective equipment
HELMET
A helmet should be w orn if the trees being cleared are
taller than 2 m.
HEARING PROTECTION
Wear hearing protection that provides adequate noise
reduction.
EYE PROTECTION
Always wear approved eye protection. If you use a visor
then you must also wear approved protective goggles.
Approved protective goggles must comply with standard
ANSI Z87.1 in the USA or EN 166 in EU countries.
GLOVES
Gloves should be worn when necessary, e.g., when fitting
cutting attachments.
BOOTS
Wear boots with steel toe-caps and non-slip sole.
CLOTHING
Wear clothes made of a strong fabric and avoid loose
clothing that can catch on twigs and branches. Always
wear heavy, long pants. Do not wear jewellery, shorts
sandals or go barefoot. Secure hair so it is above shoulder
level.
FIRST AID KIT
Always have a first aid kit nearby.
Mac hine ′′′′ s safety equipment
This section descr ibes the machine ′ s safety equipment,
its purpose, and how checks and maintenance should be
carried out to ensure that it operates correctly. See the
”What is what?” section to locate where this equipment is
positioned on your machine.
The life span of the machine can be reduced and the risk
of accidents can increase if machine maintenance is not
carried out correctly and if service and/or repairs are not
carried out professionally. If you need further information
please contact your nearest servicing dealer.
IMPORTANT!
A clearing saw, brushcutter or trimmer can be
dangerous if used incorrectly or carelessly, and can
cause serious or fatal injury to the operator or others. It
is extremely important that you read and understand the
contents of this operator’s manual.
You must use approved personal protective equipment
whenever you use the machine. Personal protective
equipment cannot eliminate the risk of injury but it will
reduce the degree of injury if an accident does happen.
Ask your dealer for help in choosing the right equipment.
!
W ARNING! Listen out for warning signals
or shouts when you are wearing hearing
protection. Always remove your hearing
protection as soon as the engine stops.
IMPOR TANT!
All servicing and repair work on the machine requires
special training. This is especially true of the machine
′ s
safety equipment. If your machine fails any of the checks
described below you must contact your service agent.
When you buy any of our products we guarantee the
availability of professional repairs and service. If the
retailer who sells your machine is not a servicing dealer,
ask him for the address of your nearest service agent.
!
W ARNING! Never use a machine with
faulty safety equipment. The machine’s
safety equipment must be checked and
maintained as described in this section.
If your machine fails any of these checks
contact your service agent to get it
repaired.

GENERAL SAFETY PRECA UTIONS
8 – English
Thr ottle trigger lockout
The throttle loc kout is designed to prevent accidental
operation of the throttle control. When you press the lock
(A) (i.e. when you grasp the handle) it releases the throttle
control (B). When you release the handle the throttle
control and the throttle lockout both move back to their
original positions. This movement is controlled by two
independent return springs.This arrangement means that
the throttle control is automatically locked at the idle
setting.
Make sure the throttle control is locked at the idle setting
when the throttle lockout is released.
Press the throttle lockout and make sure it returns to its
original position when you release it.
Check that the throttle trigger and throttle lockout move
freely and that the return springs work properly.
See instructions under the heading Start. Start the
machine and apply full throttle. Release the throttle and
check that the cutting attachment stops and remains at a
standstill. If the cutting attachment rotates with the throttle
in the idle position then the carburettor idle setting must
be checked. See instructions under the heading
Maintenance.
Stop s witch
Use the stop s witch to switch off the engine.
Start the engine and make sure the engine stops when
you move the stop switch to the stop setting.
Cutting attac hment guard
This guard is intended to pre vent loose objects from being
thrown towards the operator. The guard also protects the
operator from accidental contact with the cutting
attachment.
Check that the guard is undamaged and not cracked.
Replace the guard if it has been exposed to impact or is
cracked.
Always use the recommended guard for the cutting
attachment you are using. See chapter on Technical data.
!
WARNING! Never use a cutting
attachment without an approved guard.
See the chapter on Technical data. If an
incorrect or faulty guard is fitted this can
cause serious personal injury.

GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
English – 9
Vibration damping system
Your machine is equipped with a vibration damping
system that is designed to reduce vibration and make
operation easier.
Use of incorrectly wound cord or an incorrect cutting
attachment increases the level of vibration. See
instructions under the heading Cutting equipment.
The machine′s vibration damping system reduces the
transfer of vibration between the engine unit/cutting
equipment and the machine′s handle unit.
Regularly check the vibration damping units for cracks or
deformation. Check that the vibration damping element is
undamaged and securely attached.
Quick release
There is an easily accessible, quick release fitted at the
front as a safety precaution in case the engine catches
fire, or in any other situation that requires you to free
yourself from the machine and harness. See instructions
under the heading Adjusting the harness and brush
cutter. Certain harnesses also have a quick release fitted
to the support hook.
Check that the harness straps are correctly positioned.
Once the harness and machine have been adjusted,
check that the harness quick release works correctly.
Muffler
The muffler is designed to keep noise levels to a minimum
and to direct exhaust fumes away from the user. A muffler
fitted with a catalytic converter is also designed to reduce
harmful exhaust gases.
In countries that have a warm and dry climate there is a
significant risk of fire.We therefore fit certain mufflers with
a spark arrestor screen. Check whether the muffler on
your machine is fitted with this kind of screen.
For mufflers it is very important that you follow the
instructions on checking, maintaining and servicing your
machine. See instructions under the heading Checking,
maintaining and servicing the machine’s safety
equipment.
Never use a machine that has a faulty muffler.
Regularly check that the muffler is securely attached to
the machine.
If the muffler on your machine is fitted with a spark
arrestor screen this must be cleaned regularly. A blocked
screen will cause the engine to overheat and may lead to
serious damage.
!
WARNING! Overexposure to vibration
can lead to circulatory damage or nerve
damage in people who have impaired
circulation. Contact your doctor if you
experience symptoms of overexposure
to vibration. Such symptoms include
numbness, loss of feeling, tingling,
pricking, pain, loss of strength, changes
in skin colour or condition. These
symptoms normally appear in the
fingers, hands or wrists. The risk
increases at low temperatures.

GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
10 – English
Locking nut
A locking nut is used to secure some types of cutting
attachment.
When fitting, tighten the nut in the opposite direction to the
direction of rotation of the cutting attachment. To remove
it, undo the nut in the same direction as the cutting
attachment rotates. (CAUTION! The nut has a left-hand
thread.) When loosening and tightening the saw blade
nut, there is a risk of injury from the teeth of the saw blade.
You should therefore always ensure that your hand is
shielded by the blade guard when doing this. Always use
a socket spanner with a shaft that is long enough to allow
this. The arrow in the diagram shows the area where you
should operate the socket spanner when loosening or
tightening the nut.
The nylon lining inside the locking nut must not be so worn
that you can turn it by hand. The lining should offer a
resistance of at least 1.5 Nm. The nut should be replaced
after it has been put on approx. 10 times.
Cutting equipment
This section describes how to choose and maintain your
cutting equipment in order to:
• Reduce the risk of blade thrust.
• Obtain maximum cutting performance.
• Extend the life of cutting equipment.
Cutting equipment
Saw blades are intended for cutting fibrous types of wood.
Grass blades and grass knifes are intended for cutting
coarse grass.
Shredder blades are intended for cutting coarse grass
and bushes.
!
WARNING! Mufflers fitted with catalytic
converters get very hot during use and
remain so for some time after stopping.
This also applies at idle speed. Contact
can result in burns to the skin.
Remember the risk of fire!
!
WARNING! The inside of the muffler
contain chemicals that may be
carcinogenic. Avoid contact with these
elements in the event of a damaged
muffler.
IMPORTANT! The exhaust fumes from the engine are
hot and may contain sparks which can start a fire. Never
start the machine indoors or near combustible material!
IMPORTANT!
Only use cutting attachments with the guards we
recommend! See the chapter on Technical data.
Refer to the instructions for the cutting attachment to
check the correct way to load the cord and the correct
cord diameter.
Keep the teeth of the blade correctly sharpened! Follow
our recommendations. Also refer to the instructions on
the blade packaging.
Maintain the correct blade setting! Follow our
instructions and use the recommended file gauge.
!
WARNING! Always stop the engine
before doing any work on the cutting
attachment.This continues to rotate even
after the throttle has been released.
Ensure that the cutting attachment has
stopped completely and disconnect the
spark plug cap before you start to work
on it.
!
WARNING! Using an incorrect cutting
attachment or an incorrectly sharpened
blade increases the risk of blade thrust.