and benzene. Never work with the
machine in closed or poorly ventilated
rooms.
To reduce the risk of serious or fatal injury from
breathing toxic fumes, ensure proper ventilation
when working in trenches, hollows or other con‐
fined locations.
Stop work immediately if you start suffering from
nausea, headaches, impaired vision (e.g. your
field of vision gets smaller), impaired hearing,
dizziness, or impaired concentration – these
symptoms may possibly be the result of too-high
exhaust gas concentration – Risk of accidents!
Operate your power tool so that it produces a
minimum of noise and emissions – do not run the
engine unnecessarily, accelerate the engine only
when working.
To reduce the risk of fire, do not smoke while
operating or standing near your power tool. Com‐
bustible fuel vapor may escape from the fuel sys‐
tem.
If your power tool is subjected to unusually high
loads for which it was not designed (e.g. heavy
impact or a fall), always check that it is in good
condition before continuing work – see also
"Before Starting". Check the fuel system for
leaks and make sure the safety devices are
working properly. Do not continue operating your
power tool if it is damaged. In case of doubt, con‐
tact a dealer.
2.13 After finishing work
Close the valve lever.
Always shut off the engine before taking the
power tool off your back.
After finishing work, put the power tool down on
a level, non-flammable surface. Do not place the
machine near easily flammable materials (e.g.
wood chips, bark, dry grass, fuel) – risk of fire!
Check all parts of the power tool for leaks.
After finishing work, thoroughly clean the power
tool and wash your hands, face and, if neces‐
sary, your clothes.
Keep other people and animals away from the
areas that have been sprayed and do not walk
on them until the plant protection chemical has
dried.
2.14 Vibrations
Prolonged use of the power tool may result in
vibration-induced circulation problems in the
hands (whitefinger disease).
No general recommendation can be given for the
length of usage because it depends on several
factors.
The period of usage is prolonged by:
–Hand protection (wearing warm gloves)
–Work breaks
The period of usage is shortened by:
–Any personal tendency to suffer from poor cir‐
culation (symptoms: frequently cold fingers,
tingling sensations).
–Low outside temperatures.
–The force with which the handles are held (a
tight grip restricts circulation).
Continual and regular users should monitor
closely the condition of their hands and fingers. If
any of the above symptoms appear (e.g. tingling
sensation in fingers), seek medical advice.
2.15 Maintenance and Repairs
Service the machine regularly. Do not attempt
any maintenance or repair work not described in
the instruction manual. Have all other work per‐
formed by a servicing dealer.
STIHL recommends that you have servicing and
repair work carried out exclusively by an author‐
ized STIHL servicing dealer. STIHL dealers are
regularly given the opportunity to attend training
courses and are supplied with the necessary
technical information.
Only use high-quality replacement parts in order
to avoid the risk of accidents and damage to the
machine. If you have any questions in this
respect, consult a servicing dealer.
STIHL recommends the use of genuine STIHL
replacement parts. They are specifically
designed to match your model and meet your
performance requirements.
To reduce the risk of injury, always shut off the
engine before carrying out any maintenance or
repairs or cleaning the machine. – Exception:
Carburetor and idle speed adjustments.
Do not turn the engine over on the starter with
the spark plug boot or spark plug removed
unless the slide control / stop switch is on STOP
or 0 since there is otherwise a risk of fire from
uncontained sparking.
2 Safety Precautions and Working Techniques English
0458-458-9321-C 7
