WIXLIB

EnglishWARNINGTo reduce the risk ofinjury to your eyes neveroperate your power toolunless wearing gogglesor properly fitted protective glasses withadequate top and sideprotection complying withANSI Z 87.1 (or yourapplicable national standard). To reduce the risk ofinjury to your face STIHLrecommends that youalso wear a face shield orface screen over yourgoggles or protectiveglasses.Wear an approved safetyhard hat to reduce therisk of injury to your headwhen there is a danger ofhead injuries.Power tool noise maydamage your hearing.Wear sound barriers (earplugs or ear mufflers) toprotect your hearing.Continual and regularusers should have theirhearing checkedregularly.Be particularly alert and cautious whenwearing hearing protection becauseyour ability to hear warnings (shouts,alarms, etc.) is restricted.Always wear heavy dutywork gloves (e.g. made ofleather or other wearresistant material) whenhandling the machineand metal blades. Heavyduty, nonslip glovesimprove your grip andhelp to protect yourhands.Clothing must be sturdyand snug-fitting, but allowcomplete freedom ofmovement. Wear longpants made of heavymaterial to help protectyour legs. Do not wearshorts, sandals or gobarefoot.Avoid loose-fitting jackets, scarfs,neckties, jewelry, flared or cuffed pants,unconfined long hair or anything thatcould become caught on branches,brush or the moving parts of the unit.Secure hair so it is above shoulder level.Good footing is veryimportant. Wear sturdyboots with nonslip soles.Steel-toed safety bootsare recommended.THE POWER TOOLFor illustrations and definitions of thepower tool parts see the chapter on"Main Parts."use with the specific STIHL model areauthorized. Although certainunauthorized attachments are useablewith STIHL power tools, their use may,in fact, be extremely dangerous. For thecutting attachments authorized bySTIHL for your unit, see the chapter"Approved Combinations of CuttingAttachment, Deflector, Handle andHarness" in the instruction manual or theSTIHL "Cutting Attachments, Parts &Accessories" catalog.If this tool is subjected to unusually highloads for which it was not designed (e.g.heavy impact or a fall), always checkthat it is in good condition beforecontinuing work. Check in particular thatthe fuel system is tight (no leaks) andthat the controls and safety devices areworking properly. Do not continueoperating this machine if it is damaged.In case of doubt, have it checked by yourSTIHL servicing dealer.THE USE OF THE POWER TOOLTransporting the Power ToolWARNINGTo reduce the risk of injury from loss ofcontrol and blade or line contact, nevercarry or transport your power tool withthe cutting attachment moving.WARNINGNever modify this power tool in any way.Only attachments supplied by STIHLand expressly approved by STIHL forFS 240, FS 240 R5

002BA601 KNEnglishSTIHL recommends that you keep metalblades covered with the transport guard(optional accessory.)build up inside the fuel tank dependingon the fuel used, the weather conditionsand the tank venting system.FuelIn order to reduce the risk of burns andother personal injury from escaping gasvapor and fumes, remove the fuel fillercap on your power tool carefully so as toallow any pressure build-up in the tankto release slowly. Never remove the fuelfiller cap while the engine is running.Your STIHL power tool uses an oilgasoline mixture for fuel (see thechapter on "Fuel" of your instructionmanual.)002BA272 KNWARNINGIt may be carried only in a horizontalposition. Grip the shaft in a manner thatthe machine is balanced horizontally.Keep the hot muffler away from yourbody and the cutting attachment behindyou.WARNINGTo reduce the risk of burninjury, do not touch hotparts of the machine andthe gear housing whenthey are hot.WARNINGAlways shut off the engine and makesure the cutting attachment has stoppedbefore putting a trimmer / brushcutterdown. When transporting it in a vehicle,properly secure it to prevent turnover,fuel spillage and damage to the unit.6Gasoline is an extremelyflammable fuel. If spilledand ignited by a spark orother ignition source, itcan cause fire and serious burn injury orproperty damage. Useextreme caution whenhandling gasoline or fuelmix. Do not smoke orbring any fire or flamenear the fuel or the powertool. Note that combustible fuel vapor mayescape from the fuelsystem.Fueling InstructionsWARNINGTo reduce the risk of serious injury fromburns, never attempt to refuel the unituntil it has been completely removedfrom the operator.Select bare ground for fueling and moveat least 10 feet (3 m) from the fuelingspot before starting the engine. Wipe offany spilled fuel before starting yourmachine.WARNINGCheck for fuel leakagewhile refueling and duringoperation. If fuel leakageis found, do not start orrun the engine until theleak is fixed and anyspilled fuel has beenwiped away. Take carenot to get fuel on yourclothing. If this happens,change your clothingimmediately.WARNINGIn order to reduce the risk of fuel spillageand fire from an improperly tightenedfuel cap, correctly position and tightenthe fuel filler cap in the fuel tank opening.WARNINGFuel your power tool in well-ventilatedareas, outdoors. Always shut off theengine and allow it to cool beforerefueling. Gasoline vapor pressure mayFS 240, FS 240 R

EnglishWARNINGUnit vibrations can causean improperly tightenedfuel filler cap to loosen orcome off and spill quantities of fuel. In order toreduce the risk of fuelspillage and fire, tightenthe fuel filler cap by handas securely as possible.Before StartingWARNINGAlways check your power tool for propercondition and operation before starting,particularly the throttle trigger, throttletrigger lockout, stop switch, cuttingattachment, deflector and harness. Thethrottle trigger must move freely andalways spring back to the idle position.Never attempt to modify the controls orsafety devices.WARNINGCheck fuel system for leaks, especiallythe visible parts, e.g., filler cap, hoseconnections, manual fuel pump (only forpower tools equipped with a manual fuelpump). Do not start the engine if thereare leaks or damage – risk of fire! Havethe machine repaired by a servicingdealer before using it.WARNINGDo not attach any cutting attachment toa unit without proper installation of allrequired parts. Failure to use the properparts may cause the blade or head to flyoff and seriously injure the operator orbystanders.WARNINGThe cutting attachment must be properlytightened and in safe operatingcondition. Inspect for loose parts (nuts,screws, etc.) and for cracked ordamaged heads or cracked, bent,warped or damaged blades. Replacedamaged heads or blades before usingthe power tool. Always keep bladessharp.Keep the handles clean and dry at alltimes; it is particularly important to keepthem free of moisture, pitch, oil, fuel mix,grease or resin in order for you tomaintain a firm grip and properly controlyour power tool.WARNINGCheck that the spark plug boot issecurely mounted on the spark plug – aloose boot may cause arcing that couldignite combustible fumes and cause afire.WARNINGTo reduce the riskof personal injuryto the operatorfrom blade or linecontact andthrown objects,make sure yourunit is equippedwith the properdeflector, handleand harness forthe type of cuttingattachment beingused (see chart inthe chapter on"Approved Combinations of CuttingAttachment,Deflector, Handleand Harness".)As can be seen in that chart, somecutting attachments may require you tochange your deflector, handle and / orharness.Keep the deflector (and the attachedskirt where appropriate) adjustedproperly at all times (see chapters on"Mounting the Deflector" and "Mountingthe Cutting Attachment" of yourinstruction manual.)WARNINGNever operate your power tool if it isdamaged, improperly adjusted ormaintained, or not completely orsecurely assembled.FS 240, FS 240 R7

EnglishThe deflector may beused in combination withbrush knives.002BA600 KNAThe deflector must not beused in combination withmowing heads.specified in your instruction manual forproper control and less fatigue inoperation. To be better prepared in caseof an emergency, practice releasing theunit from the harness as quickly aspossible.StartingWARNINGB002BA599 KNThe deflector must not beused in combination withgrass cutting blades.Arrows on the deflector (A) and limitstop (B) (as seen from the underside)show the correct direction of rotation ofthe cutting attachment. When viewedfrom above, however, the cuttingattachment rotates counterclockwise.Some of the following symbols may beembossed on the outside of the deflectorin order to indicate the approvedcombination of cutting attachment anddeflector.The deflector may beused in combination withmowing heads.The deflector may beused in combination withgrass cutting blades.The deflector must not beused in combination withbrush knives.The deflector must not beused in combination withcircular saw blades.The deflector must not beused in combination withbrush knives or circularsaw blades.The deflector must not beused in combination withgrass cutting blades,brush knives or circularsaw blades.Adjust carrying harness and hand grip tosuit your size before starting work. Themachine should be properly balanced as8Start the engine at least 10 feet (3 m)from the fueling spot, outdoors only.For specific starting instructions, see theappropriate section of your manual.Place the power tool on firm ground orother solid surface in an open area.Maintain good balance and securefooting.WARNINGTo reduce the risk of injury from blade orline contact, be absolutely sure that thecutting attachment is clear of you and allother obstructions and objects, includingthe ground, because when the enginestarts at starting-throttle, engine speedwill be fast enough for the clutch toengage and move the cuttingattachment.Once the engine has started,immediately blip the throttle trigger,which should release the starting throttleand allow the engine to slow down toidle.With the engine running only at idle,attach the power tool to the spring hookof your harness (see appropriatechapter of this manual.)FS 240, FS 240 R

EnglishYour power tool is a one-personmachine. Do not allow other persons inthe general work area, even whenstarting.WARNINGTo reduce the risk of injury from loss ofcontrol, do not attempt to "drop start"your power tool.WARNINGWhen you pull the starter grip, do notwrap the starter rope around your hand.Do not let the grip snap back, but guidethe starter rope to rewind it properly.Failure to follow this procedure mayresult in injury to your hand or fingersand may damage the startermechanism.Important AdjustmentsWARNINGWARNINGThis unit is equipped with an ignitionsystem that is normally in operationalreadiness. After the stop switch is usedto stop the engine, it automaticallysprings back to the "on" position. If theengine is warm, it may be possible tostart it by simply pulling the starter rope,with no further adjustments. To reducethe risk of injury, be particularly alert tokeep children away from the unit.During OperationHolding and Controlling the Power ToolIf you cannot set the correct idle speed,have your STIHL dealer check yourpower tool and make properadjustments and repairs.FS 240, FS 240 R002BA080 KNWARNINGTo reduce the risk of personal injuryfrom loss of control or contact with therunning cutting attachment, do not useyour unit with incorrect idle adjustment.At correct idle speed, the cuttingattachment should not move. Fordirections on how to adjust idle speed,see the appropriate section of yourinstruction manual.Never attempt to operateyour power tool with onehand. Loss of control ofthe power tool resulting inserious or fatal injury mayresult. To reduce the riskof cut injuries, keephands and feet awayfrom the cutting attachment. Never touch amoving cutting attachment with your hand orany other part of yourbody.WARNING002BA257 KNWARNINGAlways hold the unit firmly with bothhands on the handles while you areworking. Wrap your fingers and thumbsaround the handles. On units with a loophandle and barrier bar, left hand on loophandle, right hand on control handle.This also applies to left-handers.Do not overreach. Keep proper footingand balance at all times. Special caremust be taken in slippery conditions (wetground, snow) and in difficult, overgrownterrain. Watch for hidden obstacles suchas tree stumps, roots and ditches toavoid stumbling. For better footing, clearaway scrub and cuttings. Be extremelycautious when working on slopes oruneven ground.WARNINGTo reduce the risk of injury from loss ofcontrol, never work on a ladder or on anyother insecure support. Never hold thecutting attachment above waist height.Working ConditionsOperate and start your power tool onlyoutdoors in a well ventilated area.Operate it under good visibility anddaylight conditions only. Work carefully.9

EnglishWARNINGAs soon as the engine isrunning, this product generates toxic exhaustfumes containing chemicals, such as unburnedhydrocarbons (includingbenzene) and carbonmonoxide, that areknown to cause respiratory problems, cancer,birth defects, or otherreproductive harm. Someof the gases (e.g. carbonmonoxide) may be colorless and odorless. Toreduce the risk of seriousor fatal injury / illnessfrom inhaling toxic fumes,never run the machineindoors or in poorly ventilated locations.WARNINGIf the vegetation being cut or thesurrounding ground is coated with achemical substance (such as an activepesticide or herbicide), read and followthe instructions and warnings thataccompanied the substance at issue.WARNINGInhalation of certain dusts, especiallyorganic dusts such as mold or pollen,can cause susceptible persons to havean allergic or asthmatic reaction.Substantial or repeated inhalation ofdust and other airborne contaminants, inparticular those with a smaller particlesize, may cause respiratory or otherillnesses. Control dust at the source10where possible. Use good workpractices, such as operating the unit sothat the wind or operating processdirects any dust raised by the power toolaway from the operator. Follow therecommendations of EPA / OSHA /NIOSH and occupational and tradeassociations with respect to dust("particulate matter".) When theinhalation of dust cannot besubstantially controlled, i.e., kept at ornear the ambient (background) level, theoperator and any bystanders shouldwear a respirator approved by NIOSH /MSHA for the type of dust encountered.Operating InstructionsWARNINGDo not operate your power tool using thestarting throttle lock, as you do not havecontrol of the engine speed.In the event of an emergency, switch offthe engine immediately – move the stopswitch to 0 or STOP.WARNINGThe cutting attachmentcontinues to rotate for ashort period after thethrottle trigger is released(flywheel effect).WARNINGThe rotating cutting attachment mayfling foreign objects directly or byricochet a great distance.15m (50ft)To reduce the risk of eye and other injuryalways wear proper eye protection (seethe chapter on "Proper Clothing") andensure that bystanders are at least50 feet (15 m) away. To reduce the riskof damage to property, also maintain thisdistance from such objects as vehiclesor windows. Even maintaining aminimum distance of 15 meters cannotexclude the potential danger. Anycoworkers who must be in the restrictedarea should also wear goggles orprotective glasses. Stop the engineimmediately if you are approached.WARNINGInspect the work area: Toreduce the risk of injury,remove stones, pieces ofmetal and other solidobjects which could bethrown 15 meters or moreby the cutting attachmentor damage the cuttingattachment and property(e.g. parked vehicles,windows).WARNINGThis trimmer / brushcutter is normally tobe used at ground level with the cuttingattachment parallel to the ground. Use ofa trimmer / brushcutter above groundlevel or with the cutting attachmentperpendicular to the ground mayFS 240, FS 240 R

Englishincrease the risk of injury, since thecutting attachment is more fully exposedand the power tool may be more difficultto control. Never use your trimmer /brushcutter as a hedge trimmer.WARNINGDuring cutting, check the tightness andthe condition of the cutting attachment atregular short intervals with the engineand attachment stopped. If the behaviorof the attachment changes during use,stop the engine immediately, wait untilthe cutting attachment stops, and checkthe nut securing the attachment fortightness and the blade or head forcracks, wear and damage.WARNINGA loose blade or head may vibrate,crack, break or come off the trimmer /brushcutter, which may result in seriousor fatal injury. Make sure that the cuttingattachment is properly tightened. Usethe wrench supplied or one of sufficientlength to obtain the proper torque. If theblade or head loosens after beingproperly tightened, stop workimmediately. The retaining nut may beworn or damaged and should bereplaced. If the blade or head continuesto loosen, see your STIHL dealer. Neveruse a trimmer / brushcutter with a loosecutting attachment.WARNINGReplace a cracked, damaged or wornout head or a cracked, bent, warped,damaged, dull or worn out bladeimmediately, even if damage is limited toFS 240, FS 240 Rsuperficial cracks. Such attachmentsmay shatter at high speed and causeserious or fatal injury.WARNINGWhen using rigid blades, avoid cuttingclose to fences, sides of buildings, treetrunks, stones or other such objects thatcould cause the power tool to kick out orcould cause damage to the blade.STIHL recommends use of the nylon lineheads for such jobs. In addition, be alertto an increased possibility of ricochets insuch situations.WARNINGIf a rotating metal blade strikes a rock orother hard object, sparks may becreated, which can ignite flammablematerials under certain circumstances.Flammable materials can include dryvegetation and brush, particularly whenweather conditions are hot and dry.When there is a risk of fire or wildfire, donot use metal blades around flammablematerials or around dry vegetation orbrush.Contact your local fire authoritiesor the U.S. Forestry Service if you haveany question about whether vegetationand weather conditions are suitable forthe use of a metal blade.WARNINGIf the head, blade or deflector becomesclogged or stuck, always shut off theengine and make sure the cuttingattachment has stopped beforecleaning. Grass, weeds, etc. should becleaned off the blade or from around thehead at regular intervals.WARNINGTo reduce the risk of unintentionalrotation of the cutting attachment andinjury, always shut off the engine andremove the spark plug boot beforereplacing the cutting attachment. Toreduce the risk of injury, always shut offthe engine before adjusting the length ofthe nylon line on manually adjustablemowing heads.WARNINGDo not turn the engine on over thestarter with the spark plug boot or sparkplug removed since there is otherwise arisk of fire from uncontained sparking.WARNINGThe gearbox becomes hot duringoperation. To reduce the risk of burninjury, do not touch the gear housingwhen it is hot.WARNINGNever modify your muffler. Anymodification could cause an increase inheat radiation, sparks or sound level,thereby increasing the risk of fire, burninjury or hearing loss. You may alsopermanently damage the engine. Haveyour muffler serviced and repaired byyour STIHL s

neckties, jewelry, flared or cuffed pants, unconfined long hair or anything that could become caught on branches, brush or the moving parts of the unit. Secure hair so it is above shoulder level. THE POWER TOOL For illustrations and definitions of the power tool parts see the chapter on "Main Parts." WARNING Never modify this power tool in any way.