Shindaiwa T235 User manual

SHINDAIWA GRASS TRIMMER TO BLADE CONVERSION
INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING!
Minimize the risk of injury to yourself and others! Read the Owner's/Opera-
tor's manual originally supplied with the unit that is being upgraded and
familiarize yourself with the contents. Always wear eye and hearing protec-
tion when operating your unit.
X7672231801
06/15
Model 80575A
For Trimmer T235, T254, T344

2
CAUTION!
A statement preceded by the word “CAUTION” contains
information that should be acted upon to prevent mechanical
damage.
IMPORTANT!
A statement preceded by the word “IMPORTANT” is one that
possesses special signicance.
NOTE:
A statement preceded by the word “NOTE” contains information
that is handy to know and may make your job easier.
Throughout this manual are special “attention statements”.
WARNING!
A statement preceded by the triangular attention symbol and the word “WARNING” contains information that should be
acted upon to prevent serious bodily injury.
Attention Statements
Introduction
PAGE
These are instructions to convert a grass trimmer to a blade
capable unit. This is not an Owner's/Operator's manual.
Information on how to operate and maintain the unit can be
found in the Owner's/Operator's manual for the unit you are
converting. Note this kit is supplied with a cutting attach-
ment shield that has been redesigned to provide better
visibility and a larger cutting swath when used as a grass
trimmer.
Attention Statements ........................2
Safety Labels....................................3
Contents
IMPORTANT!
The instructions described in this manual are intended to help
you get the most from your Shindaiwa power tool as well as
to protect you and others from harm. These procedures are
guidelines for safe operation under most conditions, and are
not intended to replace any safety rules and/or laws that may
be in force in your area. If you have questions regarding your
Shindaiwa power tool, or if you do not understand something in
these instructions, your Shindaiwa dealer will be glad to assist
you. You may also contact Shindaiwa at the address printed on
the back of this instructional manual.
General Safety Instructions ..............3
Kit Contents......................................3
Read and follow this
operators manual.
Failure to do so could
result in serious injury.
Wear eye and hearing
protection at all times
during the operation
of this unit.
Keep bystanders
at least 50 feet (15 m)
away during operation.
Beware of thrown or
ricocheted objects.
Do not operate this unit
with a blade unless the
unit is equipped with a
Shindaiwa-approved
handlebar or barrier.
Always wear a harness
when operating this unit
with a blade. A harness
is also recommended when
using trimmer line.
If unit is used as a
brushcutter, beware of
blade thrust. A jammed
blade can cause the unit
to jerk suddenly and may
cause the operator to
lose control of the unit.
Assembly..........................................4
Shoulder Strap..................................7
Using a Brushcutter Blade................8
PAGE PAGE
IMPORTANT!
The information contained in these instructions describes
the product available at the time of publication.
Echo, Inc. reserves the right to make changes to products
without prior notice, and without obligation to make altera-
tions to units previously manufactured.

3
Safety and Operation Information Labels: Make sure all information labels
are undamaged and readable. Immediately replace damaged or missing
information labels. A new label is provided in this kit and additional labels are
available from your local authorized Shindaiwa dealer. Prior to installing the
new label, Remove old label and clean the outer tube with rubbing alcohol or
similar cleaner.
IMPORTANT!
Safety Labels
■When operating with a blade, make sure the handle
is positioned to provide you with maximum protec-
tion from contacting the blade. Always make sure the
handlebar is installed in accordance with the manufac-
turers instruction.
■NEVER use a cracked or warped blade: If a properly
installed blade vibrates, replace it with a new one and
re-check.
WARNING!
■ALWAYS Shut off the engine immediately if a blade
binds in a cut. Push the branch or tree to ease the
bind and free the blade.
■Beware of a coasting blade when brushcutting or
edging. A coasting blade can injure while it contin-
ues to spin after the throttle trigger is released or
after the engine is stopped.
Kit Contents
General Safety Instructions
# Description Qty.
1. Barrier Bar 1
2. Screw 5x25 mm 3
3. Plastic Shield 1
4. Shield Plate 1
5. Nut 10, left hand 1
6. Split Pin 2x22 10
7. Adapter Plate, lower 1
8. Adapter Plate upper 25 mm 1
9. Harness Ring Assembly 1
10. Bolt 5x12mm 1
11. Shoulder Harness 1
12. Caution Label 1
13. 5 mm lock nut 3
Assembly Tool (s)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
12
11
10
913

4
Assembly
Removing the Existing Cutting Attachment Shield
1. Remove gear case locating screw (D) and loosen gear case clamp bolts
(E).
2. Remove gear case from outer tube.
Remove Handle Assembly
1. Remove handle assembly. Retain all parts for
future use.
Remove Gear Case
1. If installed, remove nylon line head, adapter plate, shield plate, and plastic
shield:
a. Align locking hole in adapter plate with notch in edge of gear case
and insert locking tool (A).
b. Remove line head (B) by turning it clockwise until head is completely off
of shaft.
c. Remove locking tool.
d. Remove three screws holding shield plate (E) and plastic shield (C) to
gear case.
e. Retain all parts for conversion back to nylon line head operation.
A
B
C
C
E
D
E
D

5
A
Install Handle and Barrier Bar
1. Install handle and barrier.
Install Hanger
1. Slide hanger (A) onto outer tube & position as
shown. Attach with 5x12 socket head cap screw,
but do not tighten at this time. A
Install Gear Case
IMPORTANT!
T235 ONLY: Replace existing gearcase clamping bolts
with new 5x35mm torx bolts included in kit.
1. Install gear case onto outer tube. Align locating hole
on gear case (A) with locating hole in tube.
2. Install locating screw and tighten clamp bolts (B).
B

6
WARNING!
A cutting attachment shield or other protective device is no guarantee of
protection against ricochet. YOU MUST ALWAYS GUARD AGAINST FLYING
DEBRIS!
Install plastic blade shield
WARNING!
NEVER operate the unit without the cutting attachment shield installed and
tightly secured!
1. Align plastic blade shield (C) with the drive shaft, and install on the
bottom of the gear case ange.
2. Place shield plate (D) on shield and align holes. Install (3) screws (E)
and (3) locknuts (F).
3. Tighten all shield hardware.
The unit should now be completely assembled and ready for use with a blade.
Install Blade
Parts Required: Adapter plate w/25 mm diameter pilot, lower blade
mounting plate, 10 mm hex nut w/L.H. thread, 2 mm x 25 mm
cotter pin, blade w/25 mm arbor diameter.
1. Install adapter plate (D) on splined PTO shaft, pilot side down. Blade installa-
tion requires Adapter Plate (D) with 25 mm pilot.
2. Align hole in adapter plate with notch in gear case, and insert Locking Tool
(A) to prevent splined shaft from turning. Arrow on gear case points to notch.
3. Install Blade (K) on adapter plate pilot. Blades must be installed so that rota-
tion arrow on blade matches rotation of unit: teeth toward direction of rotation
(See debris shield decal). Secure blade with Lower Plate (H), and 10 mm
L.H. nut (G). Turn nut counter-clockwise on PTO shaft to tighten securely.
4. Insert Cotter Pin (L) in hole in PTO shaft, and bend pin legs around shaft
counterclockwise to retain 10 mm nut.
IMPORTANT!
Never reuse a cotter pin - install a new cotter pin each time a blade is installed or
replaced.
5. Remove locking tool.
D
25
A
K
GL
H
Parts Required: Wide Plastic Shield, Shield Place,
3 - 5 x 25 mm screws (plastic shield to gear case).
3 -
5 mm lock nuts
C
D
E
AD
K
H
G
L
F

7
IMPORTANT!
Units with adjustable carburetors must be readjusted for blade use, otherwise serious engine damage can occur.
WARNING!
A standard grass trimmer unit with loop handle should NEVER be operated with blade-type attachments. For blade use,
the trimmer must be tted with a bicycle-type handlebar or barrier bar that is located in front of the operator to reduce the
risk of the operator coming in contact with the cutting attachment. (Per ANSI B175.3). When using a blade, the unit must
be equipped with a harness or strap.
IMPORTANT!
Discard blades that are bent, warped, cracked, broken or damaged in any way.Use a sharp blade. A dull blade is more likely
to snag and thrust.
Balance Unit
NOTE:
Although a shoulder strap accessory is not required for use with a grass
trimmer, a shoulder strap can increase operator comfort during extended
periods of operation.
WARNING!
Always wear a shoulder strap when operating this unit with a blade. A
shoulder strap is also recommended when using trimmer line.
NOTE:
Using a shoulder strap with a brush-cutter allows you to maintain proper
control of the unit and reduces fatigue during extended operation.
Adjust the shoulder strap so the shoulder pad rests comfortably on the off-side
shoulder and the cutting path of the cutting attachment is parallel to the
ground. Tighten hanger screw.
2 - 3"

8
WARNING!
Before working with a blade-equipped unit, always inspect and clean the area of objects that could interfere with or
damage the blade.
Never use a blade near sidewalks, fence posts, buildings or other objects that could cause injury or damage.
Never use a blade for purposes other than those for which it was designed.
Whenever you strike a hard object with a blade, always stop the brushcutter and carefully inspect the blade for dam-
age. NEVER OPERATE THE UNIT WITH A DAMAGED BLADE!
A blade-equipped unit must be equipped with a bicycle-type handlebar or barrier as well as a harness or strap.
Always make sure the cutting attachment shield is properly installed before operating the unit.
Using A Brushcutter Blade
Blade Thrust
‘Blade thrust’ is a sudden sideways or backward motion of the brushcutter.
Such motion may occur when the blade jams or catches on an object such
as a sapling tree or tree stump. BE CONSTANTLY ALERT FOR BLADE
THRUST AND GUARD AGAINST ITS EFFECTS!
Barrier Bar
A brushcutter’s barrier bar helps prevent the operator from moving forward,
or the unit moving rearward, thus preventing inadvertent bodily contact with
the blade. ALWAYS KEEP THE BARRIER BAR SECURELY IN PLACE ON
THE UNIT!
Shoulder Strap or Harness
A shoulder strap or harness provides additional protection against blade
thrust. In addition, a shoulder strap or harness gives signicant support and
comfort to help ensure safe and efcient operation.
When operating a unit equipped with a blade, make sure both the handle/
barrier bar and shoulder strap or harness are adjusted to the size of the
operator using the unit.
The blade rotates counter-clockwise. For best performance and to minimize
being struck by debris, move the blade from right to left while advancing on
your work.
Position the blade so cuts are made between the blade’s 7 o’clock and
11 o’clock positions (as viewed from above). DO NOT cut between the 11
o’clock and 5 o’clock positions (shaded area).
Seven
O’Clock
OK To Cut
Blade
Rotation
D
O
N
O
T
C
U
T
Five
O’Clock
Eleven
O’Clock
BCC17

9
NOTES

10
NOTES

11
NOTES

ECHO Incorporated.
400 Oakwood Road
Lake Zurich, IL 60047-1564 U.S.A.
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.shindaiwa.com
Yamabiko Corporation
7-2 Suehirocho 1-Chome, Ohme,
Tokyo, 198-8760, Japan
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Copyright© 2015 By Echo, Incorporated
All Rights Reserved.
Consumer Product Support
If you require assistance or have questions concerning the application, operation or maintenance of this product you
may call the Shindaiwa Consumer Product Support Department at 1-877-986-7783 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (Central
Standard Time) Monday through Friday. Before calling, please know the model and serial number of your unit.