FLEXTOOL OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
PORTABIVE BACKPACK FVE-BP
3
1300 353 986
flextool.com.au
FIRE & EXPLOSION HAZARDS
PETROL is extremely flammable and explosive under certain
conditions.
ENSURE that petrol is only stored in an approved storage
container.
DO NOT refuel the motor while it is in operation or hot.
DO NOT refuel the motor in the vicinity of sparks, a naked
flame or a person smoking.
DO NOT over fill the fuel tank and avoid spilling petrol when
refuelling. Spilled petrol or petrol vapour may ignite. If spillage
occurs, ensure that the area is dry before starting the motor.
Motor vibrations can cause an improperly tightened fuel cap
to loosen or come off and can result in fuel spills. In order to
reduce risk of fuel spillage and fire, ensure fuel tank caps are
sufficiently tightened
NEVER attempt to refuel a petrol engine until it has been
stopped & completely removed from the operator.
CHEMICAL HAZARDS
DO NOT operate or refuel a petrol motor in a confined area
without adequate ventilation.
CARBON MONOXIDE exhaust gases from petrol engines can
cause death in confined spaces.
NOISE HAZARDS
EXCESSIVE NOISE can lead to temporary or permanent loss
of hearing.
WEAR an approved hearing protection device to limit noise
exposure as required by Occupational Health and Safety
regulations. Noise levels in excess of 85dB(A) may be
produced by engines and concrete vibrators.
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
ALWAYS wear protective clothing and footwear to prevent the
skin coming into contact with wet concrete.
PROTECTIVE FOOTWARE should be worn to reduce injuries
from penetration through the sole, contact with cutting
objects, slipping and contact with wet concrete.
EYE PROTECTION must also be worn to prevent eye injuries.
USE GLOVES when handling and inspecting the flexible shaft
outer casing. Excessive wear of the rubber cover can expose
the wire braided reinforcement, allowing it to project and
cause injury.
ADDITIONAL HAZARDS
To reduce the risk of injury from loss of balance and muscle
strain do not start the engine whilst it is on the operators back.
To start the engine place the unit on an elevated flat level
surface, and only place on the operators back once the engine
is idling.
Exercise care when using the backpack unit. Ensure shoulder
and waist straps are adjusted to suit the operator, ensure the
weight of the unit is evenly distributed across both shoulders
and hips to reduce back injuries. An incorrectly fitted and
unbalanced PortaVibe Backpack may cause you to become
unbalanced, particularly on uneven surfaces or elevated
positions. Slip/Trip/Fall can be a major cause of serious injury.
OPERATION
Do not engage the flexshaft drive coupling into an engine that
is already running. Flexshafts must only be connected to the
drive engine prior to it being started.
Set your backpack unit on the ground and attach the flexshaft
using the quick connect adaptor that is on the unit.
Start the engine - For information on correct engine starting
procedures refer to the engine manufacturers operation
manual.
Once the backpack has been started place it on the operators
back and adjust the straps to suit the operator.
Do not use an immersion vibrator head as an external vibrator
by applying it to the outside of formwork.
Do not operate the vibrating head out of concrete for extended
periods.
Do not leave it running while you wait for fresh supplies of
concrete to be placed. Vibrator heads are designed to be
cooled by the concrete in which they are immersed.
During periods when the vibrator head is not immersed in the
concrete drop the engine speed back to idle
CARE AND PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE
Keep the PortaVibe Backpack drive unit clean and free of
concrete residue and build up.
Concrete vibrators must be handled with care and be properly
maintained in order to avoid unnecessary breakdowns. Check
regularly for signs of wear and rectify any faults immediately.
The exterior of the flexshaft and the vibrator head are subject
to abrasion and wear. If the vibrator is operated unchecked,
concrete will eventually enter the vibrator head or the flexshaft.
Naturally, the cost of repairing a vibrator which has been
allowed to deteriorate in this way will be greater.
Regular inspection of the vibrator and the flexible shaft will
avoid these problems.
Check the flexible shaft for kinks and external damage by
laying it out straight on a workbench or the floor. Although
it still operates a badly kinked flexible shaft may result in a
broken inner core.
CLEANING AND STORAGE
It is advisable to wash the vibrator head and flexshaft with clean
water after each use and before storing. This will ensure that
concrete does not accumulate on the exterior of the unit that can
cause overheating and premature failure of the unit.
