Ryobi RHT-500, Owner'S Operating Manual

STARTING AND STOPPING (Fig. 2)

1. To start the tool, squeeze the hand safety switch (3) and

    switch trigger (7) simultaneously.

2. Release either switch to stop the tool.

CUTTING

DANGER!

Never cut near electric cords or lines. If blade jams on any 

electrical cord or line, DO NOT TOUCH THE BLADE! IT CAN 

BECOME ELECTRICALLY LIVE AND VERY DANGEROUS. 

Continue to hold the hedge trimmer by the insulated rear 

handle or lay it down and away from you in a safe manner. 

Disconnect the electrical service to the damaged line or cord 

before attempting to free the blade from the line or cord. 

Contact with the blade, other conductive parts of the hedge 

trimmer, or live electric cords or lines will result in death

by electrocution or serious injury.

WARNING!

Always keep both hands on the hedge trimmer handles. 

Never hold shrubs with one hand and operate hedge trimmer 

with the other. Improper handling of hedge trimmer could 

result in serious injury.

WARNING!

Clear the area to be cut before each use. Remove all objects 

such as cords, lights, wire, or loose string which can become 

entangled in the cutting blade and create a risk of electric 

shock and serious personal injury. 

CUTTING SEQUENCE

When trimming new growth, use wide sweeping action so

that the stems are fed directly into the blade. Do not try to cut

branches that are thicker that 10mm or those obviously too

large to feed into the blade. Use looping shears, a hand saw

or pruning saw to cut out thick branches first. If a radical cut

is necessary, cut a little at a time in several passes. Cut both

sides of the hedge first and then the top.

CUTTING TECHNIQUES
Horizontal cut (Fig. 3)

Hold the trimmer with the blade tilted 5-10 degrees to your

cutting object makes the operation easier and assures a

better cutting.

Vertical cut (Fig. 4)

Start trimming at the bottom and sweep up for even cutting.
Swing the blades in an arc towards the outsides of the hedge

so that the cuttings are swept on the ground.

WARNING!

When servicing, use only identical replacement parts. Use of 

any other parts can create a hazard or cause product 

damage.

WARNING!

Before inspecting, cleaning, or servicing the machine, 

disconnect the plug from power source and wait for all 

moving parts to stop. Failure to follow these instructions

can result in serious personal injury or property damage.

WARNING!

Before inspecting, cleaning, or servicing the machine, 

disconnect the plug from power source and wait for all 

moving parts to stop. Failure to follow these instructions

can result in serious personal injury or property damage.

NOTE:

Do not oil while the hedge trimmer is running.

NOTE:

Do not use any strong detergents on the plastic housing or 

the handle. They can be damaged by certain aromatic oils 

such as pine and lemon, and by solvents such as kerosene.

LUBRICATING THE BLADE (Fig. 5)

For easier operation and longer blade life, lubricate the 

hedge trimmer blade before and after each use.
1. Stop the motor and disconnect from power supply.
2. Lay the hedge trimmer on a flat surface. Apply light weight 

    machine oil along the edge of the top blade. If you will be 

    using the hedge trimmer for an extended period, it is 

    advisable to oil the blade during use.

SHARPENING THE BLADE

The blade must be re-sharpened if cutting performance and

behavior begin to deteriorate (i.e. if blades frequently snag on

branches).
1. Stop the motor and disconnect from power supply, and

    clamp the blade in a vice.

2. File the exposed cutting surface of each blade tooth with

    a smooth round file. Be sure to retain the original angle of

    tooth when filing.

3. Remove the blade from the vise, and restart it and stop it

    so that unshaped edges of the blade teeth are exposed.

4. Disconnect the trimmer from the power supply and repeat

    the sharpening procedure if necessary.

CLEANING THE HEDGE TRIMMER

1. Stop the motor and disconnect from power supply.

2. Clean dirt and debris from the body of the hedge trimmer,

    using a damp cloth with a mild detergent.

TRANSPORTING AND STORING

1. Always place the blade cover on the blade before storing

    or transporting the hedge trimmer. Use caution to avoid

    the sharp teeth of the blade.

2. Clean the hedge trimmer thoroughly before storing.

    Store the hedge trimmer indoors, in a dry place that

    is inaccessible to children. Keep away from corrosive

    agents such as garden chemicals and de-icing salts.

5

MAINTENANCE

2. The unit is held firmly with both hands. The right arm is

    slightly bent and is holding the rear handle (4), and the

    left arm is straight and is holding the front handle (2).

3. Make sure you have a safe footing and hold the garden

    trimmer so that the cutting blades always clear of your

    body.