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CORDLESS HEDGETRIMMERGTC610

CONGRATULATIONS!You have chosen a Black & Decker tool. Our aim isto provide quality tools at an affordable price.We hope that you will enjoy using this tool formany years.

EC DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY

GTC610Black & Decker declares that these toolsconform to: 98/37/EC, 89/336/EEC,73/23/EEC, EN 50260, EN 55014,EN 61000, EN 603352000/14/EC, hedge trimmer, 1300 min-1,Annex V

Level of sound pressure, measured according to2000/14/EC:

GTC610

LpA (sound pressure) dB(A) 72

LWA (acoustic power) dB(A) 86

LWA (guaranteed) dB(A) 90

Hand/arm weighted vibration value according toEN 50260:

< 2.5 m/s2

Colin WillsDirector of Engineering

BDCI, 4/F, 2 Dai Wang StreetTai Po Industrial EstateTai Po NT, Hong Kong

1-7-2003

INTENDED USEYour Black & Decker hedgetrimmer GTC610 hasbeen designed for trimming hedges, shrubs andbrambles. This tool is intended for consumer useonly.Your Black & Decker charger has been designedfor charging Black & Decker batteries of the typesupplied with this tool.

SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Warning symbolsThe following symbols are used in this manual:

Denotes risk of personal injury, loss of lifeor damage to the tool in case of non-observance of the instructions in thismanual.

Denotes risk of electric shock.

Read the manual prior to operation.

Fire hazard.

Know your tool

◆ Warning! Carefully observe theinstructions in this manual to reduce therisk of personal injury or material damage.

◆ Read all of this manual carefully beforeoperating the tool.

◆ Before operating the tool, make surethat you know how to switch the tool offin an emergency.

◆ Retain this manual for future reference.

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General

1. Consider work area environmentDo not expose the tool to rain. Do not use thetool in damp or wet conditions. Keep the workarea well lit. Do not use the tool where there isa risk of causing fire or explosion, i.e. in thepresence of flammable liquids and gases. Keepthe work area free from debris and obstacles.

2. Keep children awayDo not allow children, visitors or animals tocome near the work area or to touch the tool.

3. Store idle toolsWhen not in use, tools and batteries should bestored in a dry place, out of reach of children.

4. Dress properlyDo not wear loose clothing or jewellery, asthese can be caught in moving parts. Preferablywear working gloves and non-slip footwearwhen working outdoors. Wear protective haircovering to keep long hair out of the way.

5. Personal protectionWear safety goggles and a face or dust maskwhenever the operations may produce dust orflying particles. Wear ear protection wheneverthe sound level seems uncomfortable.

6. Do not overreachKeep proper footing and balance at all times.

7. Stay alertWatch what you are doing. Use common sense.Do not operate the tool when you are tired.

8. Use appropriate toolThe intended use is described in thisinstruction manual. Do not force small tools orattachments to do the job of a heavy-duty tool.The tool will do the job better and safer at therate for which it was intended. The use of anyaccessory or attachment or performance of anyoperation with this tool other than thoserecommended in this instruction manual maypresent a risk of personal injury. Do not forcethe tool.

9. Maintain tools with careKeep cutting tools sharp and clean for betterand safer performance. Follow the instructionsfor maintenance and changing accessories.Keep handles and switches dry, clean and freefrom oil and grease.

10.Check for damaged partsBefore using the tool, carefully check it fordamage to ensure that it will operate properlyand perform its intended function. Check formisalignment and seizure of moving parts,breakage of parts and any other conditionsthat may affect its operation. Have anydefective parts repaired or replaced by anauthorised repair agent. Do not use the tool ifany part is defective. Never attempt anyrepairs yourself.

11.Remove the batteryRemove the battery when the tool is not inuse, before changing any parts of the tool,accessories or attachments and beforeservicing.

12.Avoid unintentional startingDo not carry the tool with a finger on theon/off switch.

13.Do not abuse cordNever carry the charger by its cord or pull it todisconnect from the socket. Keep the cordaway from heat, oil and sharp edges.

Additional safety instructions for batteries andchargers

Batteries◆ Never attempt to open for any reason.◆ Do not expose to water.◆ Do not store in locations where the

temperature may exceed 40 °C.◆ Charge only at ambient temperatures between

4 °C and 40 °C.◆ Charge only using the charger provided with

the tool (see technical data).◆ Before charging, make sure that the battery is

dry and clean.◆ Use only the correct type of battery for the tool

(see technical data).◆ When disposing of batteries, follow the

instructions given in the section “Protectingthe environment”.

◆ Under extreme conditions, battery leakagemay occur. When you notice liquid on thebattery, proceed as follows:

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◆ Carefully wipe the liquid off using acloth. Avoid skin contact.

◆ In case of skin or eye contact, follow theinstructions below.

The battery fluid, a 25-30% solution ofpotassium hydroxide, can be harmful. Incase of skin contact, immediately rinsewith water. Neutralise with a mild acidsuch as lemon juice or vinegar. In case ofeye contact, rinse abundantly with cleanwater for at least 10 minutes.Consult a physician.

Fire hazard! Avoid short-circuiting thecontacts of a detached battery (e.g. whenstoring the battery in a toolbox).

Do not incinerate the battery.

Do not attempt to charge damagedbatteries.

Chargers◆ Use your Black & Decker charger only to

charge batteries of the type supplied with yourtool. Other batteries could burst, causingpersonal injury and damage.

◆ Never attempt to charge non-rechargeablebatteries.

◆ Have defective cords replaced immediately.◆ Do not expose to water.◆ Do not open the charger.◆ Do not probe the charger.

Intended for indoor use only.

Additional safety instructions for hedgetrimmers

Wear safety goggles when operating thistool.

Wear gloves when operating this tool.

Do not expose the tool to rain or highhumidity.

◆ Do not carry the tool with your hands on thefront handle switch or the trigger switch unlessthe battery has been removed.

◆ If you have not used a hedgetrimmer before,preferably seek practical instruction by anexperienced user in addition to studying thismanual.

◆ Never touch the blades while the tool is running.◆ Never attempt to force the blades to come to

a standstill.◆ Do not put the tool down until the blades have

come to a complete standstill.◆ Regularly check the blades for damage and

wear. Do not use the tool when the blades aredamaged.

◆ Take care to avoid hard objects (e.g. metalwire, railings) when trimming. Should youaccidentally hit any such object, immediatelyswitch the tool off and check for any damage.

◆ Should the tool start to vibrate abnormally,immediately switch it off and check for anydamage.

◆ If the tool stalls, immediately switch it off.Remove the battery before attempting toremove any obstructions.

◆ After use, place the blade sheath suppliedover the blades. Store the tool, making surethat the blade is not exposed.

◆ Always ensure that all guards are fitted whenusing the tool. Never attempt to use anincomplete tool or a tool with unauthorisedmodifications.

◆ Never allow children to use the tool.◆ Be aware of falling debris when cutting the

higher sides of a hedge.

Additional safety instructions for Australia andNew Zealand

◆ This appliance is not intended for use byyoung or infirm persons without supervision.Children must be supervised to ensure they donot play with the appliance.

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◆ If the supply cord is damaged, it must bereplaced by the manufacturer or an authorisedBlack & Decker Service Centre in order toavoid a hazard.

ELECTRICAL SAFETYYour charger has been designed for a specificmains voltage. Always check that the mains voltagecorresponds to the voltage on the rating plate.

Your charger is double insulated inaccordance with EN 60335; therefore noearth wire is required.

Mains plug replacement (U.K. & Ireland only)

◆ Should your mains plug need replacing and youare competent to do this, proceed as instructedbelow. If you are in doubt, contact an authorisedrepair agent or a qualified electrician.

◆ Disconnect the plug from the supply.◆ Cut off the plug and dispose of it safely; a plug

with bared copper conductors is dangerous ifengaged in a live socket outlet.

◆ Only fit 13 Amperes BS1363A approved plugsfitted with a 3 A fuse (1).

◆ The cable wire colours, or a letter, will be markedat the connection points of most good qualityplugs. Attach the wires to their respective pointsin the plug (see above). Brown is for Live (L) (2),blue is for Neutral (N) (4).

◆ Before replacing the top cover of the mainsplug ensure that the cable restraint (3) isholding the outer sheath of the cable firmlyand that the leads are correctly fixed at theterminal screws.

◆ After replacing the fuse in the moulded plug,make sure that the fuse cover is refitted.Do not use the plug if the fuse cover is missingor damaged.

Never use a light socket.

CARTON CONTENTSThe carton contains:1 Cordless hedgetrimmer1 Battery1 Charger1 Blade sheath1 Instruction manual

◆ Carefully unpack all parts.

OVERVIEW (fig. A)1. Front handle switch2. Trigger switch3. Lock-off button4. Ventilation slots5. Guard6. Battery7. Charger8. Charging indicator9. End of charge indicator10. Blade sheath

ASSEMBLY

Before assembly, remove the battery fromthe tool.

Fitting and removing the battery (fig. B)◆ To fit the battery (6), line it up with the

receptacle on the tool. Slide the battery intothe receptacle and push until the battery snapsinto place.

◆ To remove the battery, push the releasebutton (11) while at the same time pulling thebattery out of the receptacle.

USE

Let the tool work at its own pace.Do not overload.

Charging the battery (fig. A)The battery needs to be charged before first useand whenever it fails to produce sufficient power onjobs that were easily done before.

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When charging the battery for the first time, or afterprolonged storage, it will only accept an 80% charge.After several charge and discharge cycles, thebattery will attain full capacity. The battery maybecome warm while charging; this is normal anddoes not indicate a problem.

Do not charge the battery at ambienttemperatures below 4 °C or above 40 °C.Recommended charging temperature:approx. 24 °C.

◆ To charge the battery (6), remove it from thetool and insert it into the charger (7).The battery will only fit into the charger in oneway. Do not force. Be sure that the battery isfully seated in the charger.

◆ Plug in the charger.

3 hour chargerThe battery will be fully charged in approx. 3 hours.It can be removed at any time or left in theconnected charger indefinitely.

1 hour charger◆ Check if the red charging indicator (8) lights up.

If the green end of charge indicator (9) lightsup now instead, the battery is too hot andcannot be charged. If this happens, removethe battery from the charger, let the batterycool down for approx. 1 hour and re-insert it.

After approx. 1 hour of charging, the red chargingindicator (8) will stop lighting and the green end ofcharge indicator (9) will light up. The battery isnow fully charged.

◆ Remove the battery from the charger.

Switching on and off (fig. C)For your safety, this tool is equipped with adouble switching system. This system preventsstarting the tool inadvertently and will only allowoperation while holding the tool with both hands.

Switching on◆ Squeeze the front handle switch (1).◆ Push the lock-off button (3) forward using your

thumb and at the same time squeeze thetrigger switch (2).

E N G L I S H

◆ Release the lock-off button.

Switching off◆ Release the front handle switch (1) or the

trigger switch (2).

Never attempt to lock a switch in the onposition.

Hints for optimum use◆ Slightly tilt the tool (up to 15° relative to the

line of cut) so that the blade tips point slightlytowards the hedge (fig. D1). This will cause theblades to cut more effectively.

◆ Start by trimming the top of the hedge. Hold thetool at the desired angle and move it steadilyalong the line of cut (fig. D2). The double-sidedblade allows you to cut in either direction.

◆ In order to obtain a very straight cut, stretch apiece of string along the length of the hedgeat the desired height. Use the string (12) as aguideline, cutting just above it (fig. D2).

◆ In order to obtain flat sides, cut upwards withthe growth (fig. D3). Younger stems moveoutwards when the blade cuts downwards,causing shallow patches in the hedge.

◆ Take care to avoid any foreign objects. Especiallyavoid hard objects such as metal wire and railings,as these could damage the blades (fig. D4).

◆ Regularly oil the blades.◆ Consider purchasing a spare battery to extend

the running time of this tool. The cataloguenumber of the battery is found in the technicaldata chart below.

MAINTENANCEYour Black & Decker tool has been designed tooperate over a long period of time with a minimumof maintenance. Continuous satisfactory operationdepends upon proper tool care and regular cleaning.Your charger does not require any maintenanceapart from regular cleaning.

◆ Before performing any maintenance onthe tool, remove the battery fromthe tool.

◆ Unplug the charger before cleaning it.

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◆ After use, carefully clean the blades.After cleaning, apply a film of light machine oilto prevent the blades from rusting.

◆ Regularly clean the ventilation slots in your tooland charger using a soft brush or dry cloth.

◆ Regularly clean the motor housing using adamp cloth. Do not use any abrasive orsolvent-based cleaner.

PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT

Black & Decker provides a facility forrecycling Black & Decker products oncethey have reached the end of theirworking life. This service is provided freeof charge. To take advantage of thisservice please return your product to anyauthorised repair agent who will collectthem on our behalf.

You can check the location of your nearestauthorised repair agent by contacting your localBlack & Decker office at the address indicated inthis manual. Alternatively, a list of authorisedBlack & Decker repair agents and full details of ourafter-sales service and contacts are available onthe Internet at: www.2helpU.com.

Technical dataGTC610

Voltage VDC 18Blade strokes (no load) min-1 1,300Blade length cm 51Blade gap mm 12Blade brake time s < 0.5Weight (without battery) kg 2.2

BatteryVoltage VDC 18Capacity Ah 1.5Weight kg 0.8

ChargerInput voltage VAC 230 230(Australia & New Zealand) VAC 240 240Approx. charging time h 3 1Weight kg 0.4 1.2

GUARANTEEBlack & Decker is confident of the quality of itsproducts and offers an outstanding guarantee.This guarantee statement is in addition to and inno way prejudices your statutory rights.The guarantee is valid within the territories of theMember States of the European Union and theEuropean Free Trade Area.

If a Black & Decker product becomes defectivedue to faulty materials, workmanship or lack ofconformity, within 24 months from the date ofpurchase, Black & Decker guarantees to replacedefective parts, repair products subjected to fairwear and tear or replace such products to ensureminimum inconvenience to the customer unless:

◆ The product has been used for trade,professional or hire purposes;

◆ The product has been subjected to misuse orneglect;

◆ The product has sustained damage throughforeign objects, substances or accidents;

◆ Repairs have been attempted by persons otherthan authorised repair agents or Black & Deckerservice staff.

To claim on the guarantee, you will need tosubmit proof of purchase to the seller or anauthorised repair agent. You can check thelocation of your nearest authorised repair agent bycontacting your local Black & Decker office at theaddress indicated in this manual. Alternatively, alist of authorised Black & Decker repair agents andfull details of our after-sales service and contactsare available on the Internet at: www.2helpU.com.

OTHER OUTDOOR TOOLSBlack & Decker has a full range of outdoor powertools that make life in the garden easy. If youwould like further information on the followingproducts, please contact our Service and InformationCentre (see the address page towards the end ofthis manual) or your local Black & Decker retailer.

Blade and string trimmers ChainsawsCordless shears Cordless trimsawsHedgetrimmers LawnmowersLawnrakers LeafbustersShreddersCordless brooms and shrubbers

Not all products are available in all countries.

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Australia DEWALT Industrial Power Tool Company Tel. 03 9895 92007 Clarice Road Fax 03 9899 7465Box Hill, Victoria 3128

New Zealand Black & Decker Tel. 09 579 760081 Hugo Johnston Drive Fax 09 579 8200Penrose, Auckland, New Zealand

United Kingdom Black & Decker Tel. 01753 511234210 Bath Road Fax 01753 551155Slough, Berkshire SL1 3YD Helpline 01753 574277

585299-00 08/03