F.F. Group GBC 551C PRO, Original Instructions Manual

Page: 10 / 68

| English 10
GBC 540C PRO | GBC 551C PRO
ENGLISH
GENERAL SAFETY WARNINGS
Read and understand this owner’s manual before
operating this unit. You can help prevent accidents
by being familiar with your product’s controls and
by observing safe operating procedures and safety
signs. Do not expose the unit to excessive mois -
ture, dust, dirt or corrosive vapors. Never attempt
to modify the product. Always use your common
sense to avoid all situations considered beyond your
capability. Do not use the unit while you are tired or
under the influence of drugs, alcohol or any other
medication. Keep children and bystanders away
while operating (Fig. 6). Never allow children or
people unfamiliar with these instructions to use the
machine. Local laws can restrict the minimum age of
the operator. Bear in mind that the operator or user
is responsible for accidents or unexpected events
occurring to other people or their property. Consult
your authorized dealer for disassembly and service,
not covered in this manual.
CARBON MONOXIDE HAZARDS
Operate only outdoors. Never run the engine in -
doors as it exhausts poisonous carbon monoxide,
an odorless and colorless gas. Inhaling carbon
monoxide will cause nausea, fainting or death.
FIRE AND BURN HAZARDS
Do not use in areas with high risk of fire. The ex -
haust system gets hot enough to ignite flamma -
ble materials.
Some parts of the unit become very hot during
operation and you should pay attention not to
touch them in order to avoid getting burned. Let
it cool before storing it.
Never smoke near the unit. Potential sources of
fire or spark should be kept away. Pay attention
to fire hazards when refueling the unit. If a fire
occurs, use an appropriate fire extinguisher espe -
cially designed for oil and gasoline fire.
FUEL AND OIL HAZARDS
Gasoline and oil are toxic and flammable. Follow
the instructions provided by each manufacturer
before use.
Make sure that there is some distance between
any spare gasoline tank and the unit, to prevent
unnecessary danger. Refuel only outdoors in a
well-ventilated area with the engine off. Do not
refuel during operation. Do not overfill the fuel
tank. Never smoke near gasoline. Keep sources
of fire and spark away. Always store gasoline in
approved containers. Make sure that any and all
spilled fuel and oil has been wiped off before
starting the engine.
Slowly open the fuel tank to allow the pressure
inside to decrease gradually.
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Always wear appropriate and certified protective
equipment when operating the unit.
Always wear adequate clothing which does not
hamper movements when using the machine. Al -
ways wear slim-fitting protective clothes, helmet,
anti-vibration gloves, protective goggles, half-
mask respirator, acoustic protection equipment
and anti-shear safety boots with non–slip soles.
Never wear scarves, shirts, necklaces or any hang -
ing or flapping accessory that could catch in the
machine. Tie up your hair if it is long. A breathing
mask should be used when there is a risk of dust.
CATEGORY SAFETY WARNINGS
SAFE OPERATION
The throttle trigger must move freely, it must not
need forcing and should return automatically and
rapidly back to the neutral position.
The engine stop switch knob must easily move
from one position to the other.
The electric cables and in particular the spark plug
cable must be in perfect condition to avoid the
generation of any sparks, and the cap must be
correctly fitted on the spark plug.
The machine handgrips and protection devices
must be clean and dry and well fastened to the
machine.
Do not mount equipment or accessories on the
machine not foreseen or approved by the man-
ufacturer. Non-authorized modifications and/or
accessories can result in serious personal injury or
the death of the operator or others.
It is recommended that legs and feet are covered
to protect from flying debris during operation.
Always use proper handles and shoulder straps
when operating.
Make sure that you stop the engine:
ƒ
When mounting or removing accessories.
ƒ
Whenever you leave the machine unattended or
whenever you intend to rest it on the ground.
ƒ
During refueling.
ƒ
When moving between work areas.
WARNING: Rotating parts can cause serious injury,
avoid contacting the rotating parts when they are
still in rotation. In case foreign body has been stuck
on the machine, turn off the engine, inspect the
machine for any damage and make repairs before
starting it again.
WARNING: Never touch the cutting head when the
engine is running.
WARNING: If something breaks or an accident oc -
curs while working, turn off the engine immediate -
ly and move the machine away to prevent further
damage.
The noise and vibration levels shown in these
instructions are the maximum levels for use of
the machine. Insufficient maintenance has a sig -
nificant impact on vibration and noise emissions.
Consequently, it is necessary to take preventive
steps to eliminate possible damage due to high
levels of noise and stress from vibration. Maintain
the machine well, wear ear protection devices
and take breaks while working. Operating the ma -
chine with a stable speed and griping the handle
firmly with suitable force can decrease the vibra -
tion level. Low engine speed means low-noise lev -