For a battery-powered machine, you should pay attention to the battery itself and the charger during maintenance.
Are the LEDs lighting up or flashing as they should? If they light up red or not at all, remove the battery from the machine. Under "Troubleshooting" in the operating instructions for your hedge trimmer, you will find detailed instructions on how to deal with warning symbols.
For help, see the following article: What do the LED light patterns on the STIHL battery mean?

Important: Remove the battery from the hedge trimmer after each use and clean it with a damp cloth. Dry the battery. We recommend always storing the battery separately from the machine and with a charge of 40 to 60 percent (two LEDs lighting up green).

For petrol hedge trimmers/hedge cutters, the following additional maintenance steps are required:

Before starting:
- Carburettor check: Check the carburettor at idle before starting work. If adjustments are necessary, they can be made quickly.

Safety checks:
- Tightness: Make sure that your hedge trimmer has no leaks and there is no fuel escaping.

Regular maintenance:
- Spark plugs: Check the spark plugs at regular intervals. For optimal performance, we recommend replacing the spark plugs after every 100 operating hours.
- Fuel tank: Clean the tank regularly. For periods of non-use of more than three months, please empty the tank and dispose of old fuel properly.

Annual maintenance:
- Fuel filter: Have the filter in the fuel tank replaced annually by an authorised STIHL specialist dealer.

For more information on emptying the fuel tank, click on this link.

Be sure to remove the spark plug before maintaining your hedge trimmer, to avoid the risk of accidental starting.

If you are using an electric hedge trimmer with a power supply, you should check the electric cable and the power plug before and after each use.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Are they well insulated?
• Do they look old or broken?

If you notice damage during maintenance, you must no longer use the machine. Electrical components may only be replaced or repaired by a qualified technician.

Have the carbon brushes of the engine checked every 100 hours by a STIHL specialist dealer.
You should have the gearbox and connecting rods checked every 50 operating hours by a STIHL specialist dealer.