PETROL is extremely flammable and explosive under certain
conditions.
! CHEMICAL HAZARDS
CARBON MONOXIDE exhaust gases from internal combus-
tion motor driven units 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 reg-
ulations. Noise levels in excess of 85dB(A) may be produced
by engines and 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, contact with wet concrete and electrical hazards.
GOGGLES for eye protection may also be necessary.
USE waterproof protection for hands and knees (if kneeling)
when concreting. If your clothing becomes wet from concrete
contact make sure you change the clothing. Do not walk about
waiting for it to dry.
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
Slip/Trip/Fall is a major cause of serious injury or death.
Beware of the flexible shaft and water left on the walking or
work surface.
Exercise caution and ensure that the perimeter of elevated
formwork or platforms is protected.
Exercise care when working in the vicinity of unprotected holes
or excavations
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Refer to the drive unit operation instructions for additional safe-
ty and operation information on the appropriate drive unit.
These are supplied free of charge by mail or fax.
Information regarding compaction of concrete using immersion
vibrators is available in a FLEXTOOL FACT SHEET.
Check that a petrol or diesel engine is running at 3,000 r/min.
If it is not, the frequency of the vibrator head will be incorrect.
If the speed is low, compaction will not be as quick or as effi-
cient as it should. if the speed is excessive, wear of the motor,
flexshaft and vibrator will be greater. Continued operation at
higher speed may result in failure of the vibrator and flexshaft
components.
Do not engage the drive coupling in a motor that is already run-
ning.
For information on correct starting procedures refer to the
engine manufacturers operation manual.
Before engaging the flexshaft with a petrol drive unit start the
motor using the recoil starter, increase the speed to full throt-
tle and allow it to warm up for a few minutes.
If using an electric motor, switch on and check the motor rota-
tion is in an anti-clockwise direction when viewing its drive dog
front on.
Stop the motor.
Turn the bell housing trigger 180 degrees. Insert the flexshaft
coupling fully into the housing of the drive unit and release the
trigger. Push the coupling into the housing and twist the flexi-
ble shaft until the drive dogs are fully engaged and the trigger
returns to the horizontal position.
The motor may now be started.
It is not uncommon for a pendulum-type vibrator head to fail to
vibrate when the motor is switched on or started. If the vibrat-
ing head does not commence vibrating immediately, tap the tip
of the vibrator head sharply against a solid surface or try rat-
tling the vibrator head.
Do not operate the flexshaft in a coiled condition. Avoid sharp
bends in the flexshaft, particularly when it is in use.
Do not use a pendulum-type 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 sup-
plies of concrete to be placed. Vibrator heads are designed to
be cooled by the concrete in which they are immersed.
Vibrators must be handled with care, and be properly main-
tained in order to avoid unnecessary breakdowns. Check reg-
ularly for signs of wear and rectify any faults immediately.
Hire operators should examine and test run the vibrator on
return from hiring.
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 3-tooth dog on the drive coupling to ensure that it is
fully meshed and not worn.
Check the flexible shaft for kinks and external damage by lay-
ing 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.
Check the outer casing rubber cover for damage where it
enters the ferrule at the vibrator head. Damage is caused by
operators using a crane to retrieve a vibrator trapped in con-
crete reinforcing bars.
It is advisable to wash the vibrator head and flexshaft with
clean water after use each day and before storing. This will
ensure that concrete does not accumulate on the exterior.
SERVICE
CLEANING AND STORAGE
CARE AND PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE
OPERATION
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