Shindaiwa Articulated Hedge AHS254 - Manual (Page 20)

20
Maintenance (continued)
Muffler and spark arrester maintenance
If the engine becomes sluggish and low
on power, check and clean the spark
arrester screen.
wARnInG!
Never operate the unit with a
damaged or missing muffler or spark
arrester! Operating with a missing
or damaged spark arrester is a fire
hazard and could also damage your
hearing.
1. With a 3 mm hex wrench remove the
4 engine cover screws and the engine
cover.
IMPORTAnT!
If you note excessive carbon buildup,
consult with an authorized servicing
dealer.
2. With a 4 mm hex wrench, remove
the 3 muffler bolts and the muffler.
3. With a small screwdriver remove
the 2 screws holding the spark
arrester screen and cover to the
muffler.
4. Remove the screen and clean it with
a stiff bristle brush.
5. Inspect the cylinder exhaust port for
any carbon buildup.
6. Reassemble the spark arrester, muf-
fler and engine cover in the reverse
order of disassembly.
Engine
Cover
Screws
Engine Cover
Muffler
Muffler Gasket
Muffler Bolts
Spark Arrester Screen
Spark Arrester Cover
Cover Screws
Cutting performance of your machine
depends a great deal on proper cutter
blade adjustment. Properly adjusted
blades will oscillate freely yet help pre-
vent binding of cut material between
blades. Adjust blades as follows:
1. Loosen all blade locknuts at least
one full turn.
2. Tighten each blade shoulder bolt
firmly, and then loosen the shoulder
bolts 1/4 to 1/2 turn.
Locknut
Guide Bar
Cutter
Blades
Shoulder Bolt
Washer (should
turn freely)
Adjusting cutter blades
Cutter blade adjustment
3. Working from the gearcase end, lock
each bolt in place by firmly tighten-
ing its locknut while preventing the
shoulder bolt from turning.
4. When shoulder bolt adjustment is
correct, there should be a gap of
0.25–0.50 mm between the cutter
blades and the flat washers, and the
flat washer beneath each bolt head
should turn freely.
wARnInG!
The cutter blades are very
sharp! Always wear gloves when
working around the cutter assembly.
CAUTIOn!
Operating the trimmer with worn
or improperly adjusted cutters will
reduce cutter performance and may
also damage your machine. Never
operate the machine with damaged
or worn cutters.