F.F. Group GHB 223 PLUS, Original Instructions Manual

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ENGLISH
GENERAL SAFETY RULES
Read and understand this owner’s manual before op -
erating this unit. You can help prevent accidents by
being familiar with your product’s controls and by ob-
serving safe operating procedures and safety signs. Do
not expose the unit to excessive moisture, dust, dirt or
corrosive vapors. Never attempt to modify the prod-
uct. Always use your common sense to avoid all situ-
ations 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. Never allow chil-
dren 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 monox-
ide 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 flammable
materials.
Some parts of the unit become very hot during op-
eration 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 especially 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 unnec-
essary danger. Refuel only outdoors in a well-venti -
lated 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 in-
side to decrease gradually.
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Always wear appropriate and certified protective
equipment when operating the unit.
Always wear adequate clothing which does not ham-
per movements when using the machine. Always
wear slim-fitting protective clothes, anti-vibration
gloves, protective goggles, half-mask respirator,
acoustic protection equipment and anti-shear safe-
ty boots with non–slip soles. Never wear scarves,
shirts, necklaces or any hanging or flapping accesso -
ry 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 gen-
eration 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 ma-
chine not foreseen or approved by the manufactur-
er. Non-authorized modifications and/or accessories
can result in serious personal injury or the death of
the operator or others.
Make sure that you stop the engine:
• When mounting or removing accessories for
blowing.
• Whenever you leave the machine unattended.
• Before refuelling.
• 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 entered the machine. In-
spect the machine for any damage and make repairs
before starting it again.
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 in-
structions are the maximum levels for use of the
machine. Insufficient maintenance has a significant
impact on vibration and noise emissions. Conse-
quently, it is necessary to take preventive steps to
eliminate possible damage due to high levels of
noise and stress from vibration. Maintain the ma-
chine well, wear ear protection devices and take
breaks while working. Operating the machine with
a stable speed and griping the handle firmly with
suitable force can decrease the vibration level. Low
engine speed means low-noise level, so operate
the machine at the lowest engine speed necessary
to accomplish the task. During a working day, you
shall take frequent and adequate breaks to prevent
damage from vibration and damage to the ears.
Prolonged exposure to vibrations can cause injuries
and neurovascular disorders (also called “Raynaud’s
syndrome” or “white hand”), especially to people
suffering from circulation disorders. The symptoms
can regard the hands, wrists and fingers and are
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