RYOBI RPP3600 R36PPS114 Cordless Pole Pruner

Important Information & Intended Use

IMPORTANT! Read these instructions carefully before assembling, operating, and maintaining the product. This manual is subject to technical modification. Safety, performance, and dependability have been prioritized in the design of this cordless pole pruner.

Intended Use: This cordless pole pruner is designed for use by adults who have read and understood the instructions and warnings, and who are responsible for their actions. It is intended for outdoor use in a well-ventilated area and requires two-handed operation for safety. The product is designed for cutting and pruning small limbs and branches (with a diameter less than or equal to the bar length) located high in trees, while the operator maintains steady footing on the ground. Do not exceed the maximum working length specified. It is not intended for use while climbing, as a conventional chainsaw for ground-level limbing, or for any other purpose.

General Product Safety Warnings

WARNING! Read all safety warnings, instructions, illustrations, and specifications provided with this power tool. Failure to follow all instructions may result in electric shock, fire, and/or serious injury. Save all warnings and instructions for future reference.

The term "power tool" refers to your mains-operated (corded) or battery-operated (cordless) product.

Work Area Safety

• Keep the work area clean and well lit. Cluttered or dark areas invite accidents.
• Do not operate power tools in explosive atmospheres (e.g., near flammable liquids, gases, or dust), as power tools create sparks that may ignite dust or fumes.
• Keep children and bystanders away while operating the power tool. Distractions can cause loss of control.

Electrical Safety

• Power tool plugs must match the outlet. Never modify the plug. Do not use adapter plugs with earthed (grounded) power tools. Unmodified plugs and matching outlets reduce the risk of electric shock.
• Avoid body contact with earthed or grounded surfaces (e.g., pipes, radiators, ranges, refrigerators). There is an increased risk of electric shock if your body is earthed or grounded.
• Do not expose power tools to rain or wet conditions. Water entering a power tool increases the risk of electric shock.
• Do not abuse the cord. Never use the cord for carrying, pulling, or unplugging the tool. Keep the cord away from heat, oil, sharp edges, or moving parts. Damaged or entangled cords increase the risk of electric shock.
• When operating outdoors, use an extension cord suitable for outdoor use.
• If operating in a damp location is unavoidable, use a residual current device (RCD) protected supply.

Personal Safety

• Stay alert, watch what you are doing, and use common sense. Do not use the tool when tired or under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or medication.
• Use personal protective equipment (PPE). Always wear eye protection. Protective equipment such as dust masks, non-skid safety shoes, hard hats, or hearing protection reduces personal injuries.
• Prevent unintentional starting. Ensure the switch is OFF before connecting to power/battery, picking up, or carrying the tool.
• Remove any adjusting key or wrench before turning the tool on.
• Do not overreach. Maintain proper footing and balance at all times.
• Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing or jewellery. Keep hair and clothing away from moving parts.
• If dust extraction facilities are provided, ensure they are connected and used properly.
• Do not let familiarity lead to complacency; a careless action can cause severe injury.

Power Tool Use and Care

• Do not force the tool. Use the correct tool for your application.
• Do not use the tool if the switch does not turn it on and off. It must be repaired.
• Disconnect the plug from the power source and/or remove the battery pack before making any adjustments, changing accessories, or storing the tool.
• Store idle power tools out of the reach of children and do not allow untrained persons to operate them.
• Maintain tools and accessories. Check for misalignment, binding, or breakage. Repair if damaged.
• Keep cutting tools sharp and clean.
• Use the tool, accessories, and bits in accordance with instructions, considering working conditions.
• Keep handles and grasping surfaces dry, clean, and free from oil and grease.

Battery Tool Use and Care

• Recharge only with the specified charger.
• Use only with specifically designated battery packs.
• When not in use, keep battery packs away from metal objects to prevent shorting.
• Avoid contact with ejected battery liquid; flush with water if contact occurs, seek medical help for eye contact.
• Do not use damaged or modified battery packs or tools.
• Do not expose battery packs or tools to fire or excessive temperatures (>130°C).
• Follow charging instructions and charge within the specified temperature range.

Service

• Have your tool serviced by a qualified technician using identical replacement parts.
• Never service damaged battery packs.

Cordless Pole Pruner Specific Safety Warnings

• Never allow children or unfamiliar persons to use the product. Check local regulations for age restrictions.
• Do not use during thunderstorms or lightning; store indoors.
• Ensure a clear work area, secure footing, and a planned retreat path.
• Beware of thrown, flying, or falling objects. Keep bystanders, children, and animals at least 15m away.
• Do not operate within 10m of overhead electrical lines. ⚡
• Do not use on a ladder or unstable support. Always cut with both feet on solid ground.
• Nearby tools increase hearing injury risk. Use hearing protection and pay extra attention to surroundings.
• Beware of lubricant mist and saw dust; wear a mask or respirator if required.
• Inspect product before each use: controls, fasteners, guards, handles.
• Check chain tension frequently.
• Check shaft couplings.
• Turn off, remove battery, and allow to cool before servicing, clearing blockages, cleaning, changing accessories, after striking an object, performing maintenance, or if the product vibrates abnormally.
• Do not modify the product or use unrecommended parts/accessories.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Good quality PPE reduces the risk of injury:

• Safety helmet
• Hearing protection
• Eye and face protection
• Gloves
• Footwear

Operation

• Operate between 0°C and 40°C.
• Study tree/branch condition before work. Do not prune damaged/rotten branches yourself.
• Never stand under the branch to be pruned. Branches may not fall cleanly; ensure a safety zone.
• Beware of falling/rebounding branches. Ensure falling branches pose no danger.
• Hold the product with both hands: right on the rear handle, left on the front handle.
• Hold by insulated gripping surfaces only (risk of shock from hidden wiring).
• Use the harness: it assists control, supports weight, and aids movement. Practice the quick-release mechanism. Do not wear clothing that restricts access to it.
• Never operate the pole at an angle greater than 60° from the horizontal.
• Do not cut too close to the trunk; leave about 15cm.
• Rest the saw bar on the branch, push gently, and use the ribbed bumper for stability and cleaner cuts.
• For small branches, a single cut may suffice.
• Use extreme caution with slender material that may catch the chain and pull you off-balance.
• When cutting tensioned limbs, be alert for spring back.
• For larger/heavier branches: make a first cut from the underside (~1/3 depth), then a second cut from the top side, and a final cut near the trunk. Use bucking spikes against the limb. Allow the chain to cut for you. Exert only light downward pressure.
• Consider cutting large branches in manageable sections.
• Never restart a previous cut; always start a new cut to reduce kickback risk.
• If cutting performance deteriorates, check/replace chain.
• If chain/bar becomes pinched, seek professional advice.
• Kickback: Occurs when the tip touches an object or wood pinches the chain. Avoid kickback by: ensuring a clear area, not letting the tip contact obstructions, maintaining a firm grip, proper body positioning, not overreaching, and using specified replacement parts.
• Sharpening the chain is a skilled task; replace worn/dull chains.

Additional Battery Safety Warnings

• Never immerse the product, battery pack, or charger in fluid. Corrosive or conductive fluids can cause short circuits.
• Charge battery pack between 10°C and 38°C.
• Store battery pack between 0°C and 20°C.
• Use battery pack between 0°C and 40°C.

Transportation and Storage

• Turn off, remove battery pack, and allow product to cool before storing or transporting.
• Remove all foreign materials.
• Do not store or transport with battery pack fitted; secure it separately.
• Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place, inaccessible to children, and away from corrosive agents and ignition sources. Do not store outdoors.
• Fit the guide bar cover before storing or transporting.
• For long storage (>1 month), lightly lubricate the chain to prevent rust.
• Store between 0°C and 40°C.
• Secure product against movement during vehicle transport.

Transporting Lithium Batteries

Follow all local and national provisions and regulations for battery transport. Follow special requirements for packaging and labelling. Protect exposed connectors with insulating caps or tape. Do not transport cracked or leaking batteries. Consult the forwarding company for advice.

Maintenance

• Use only original manufacturer's replacement parts, accessories, and attachments.
• Servicing requires extreme care and knowledge; it should be performed only by a qualified service technician or authorised service centre.
• Only make adjustments or repairs described in this manual. For other repairs, contact an authorised service centre.
• Turn off the product and remove the battery pack before any maintenance or cleaning.
• Exercise extreme caution when cleaning, fitting, or removing the blade cover due to the sharp chain. Always wear protective gloves.
• Improper chain maintenance increases kickback risk.
• Follow instructions for lubricating the product and checking/adjusting chain tension.
• Clean the body and handles with a soft, dry cloth after each use.
• Check nuts, bolts, and screws for tightness at frequent intervals.

Maintenance Schedule

The bar may be reversed to distribute wear. Clean the bar daily and check for wear and damage.

Getting Started: Assembly and Setup

Follow these steps to assemble and prepare your pole pruner:

1. Wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side shields, non-slip, heavy-duty gloves, and non-skid, protective footwear.
2. Install the pruner attachment to the boom assembly using the shaft coupling. Tighten the shaft coupling to secure the attachment.
3. Install the boom assembly to the extension pole using the shaft coupling. Tighten the shaft coupling to secure the extension pole.
4. Install the extension pole to the lower shaft using the shaft coupling. Tighten the shaft coupling to secure the attachment.
5. Attach the harness.
6. Loosen and remove the chain lubricant cap.
7. Add bar and chain lubricant in the bar lubricant tank for automatic bar and chain lubrication. NOTE: Use bar and chain lubricant only. Other lubricants will not stick to the chain properly and will result in damage to the chain and bar.
8. Place the chain lubricant cap and tighten securely.
9. Loosen the adjustment knob. Adjust the angle of the front handle.
10. Tighten the adjustment knob to secure the front handle in place.
11. Remove the guide bar cover.
12. Insert the battery pack until the latch clicks into place.
13. Squeeze the trigger release and on/off trigger to test.

Operating the Product

WARNING: Always use two hands to operate the product. Hold the product with the right hand on the rear handle and the left hand on the front handle.

WARNING: Risk of electrocution! Do not operate within 10m of overhead electrical power lines. Position the product at an angle of 60° or less, depending on the situation. Keep bystanders at least 15m away. ⚠️

WARNING: Do not use the product on a ladder or unstable support. Always cut with both feet on solid ground to prevent being pulled off-balance.

Cutting Procedure:

1. Make sure to position the ribbed bumper against the main limb or trunk before making the cut.
2. Make a shallow first cut (approx. 1/4 of limb diameter) on the underside of the limb, close to the trunk.
3. Then, make a second cut from the top side of the limb, outboard from the first cut.
4. Lastly, make a final cut close to the trunk. For second and final cuts, hold the bucking spikes against the limb being cut. Allow the chain to cut for you. Exert only light downward pressure.

For cutting larger branches, consider making them in manageable sections. Never restart a previous cut; always start a new cut to reduce kickback risk.

Maintenance Procedures

Replacing the Chain

1. Remove the battery pack. ?
2. Using the hex key ?, loosen the bar bolt of the sprocket cover.
3. Remove the sprocket cover and guide bar.
4. Dispose of the old chain and prepare the new one.
5. Fit the chain over the sprocket and into the bar groove. The cutters on the top of the guide bar should face toward the bar tip, in the direction of chain rotation. NOTE: Ensure the chain is fitted into the sprocket.
6. Reinstall the sprocket cover and install the bar bolt. NOTE: Ensure the chain follows the direction shown.
7. Using the hex key, partially tighten the bar bolt. The bar must be free to move for tension adjustment.
8. Adjust chain tension until the gap between drive teeth and guide bar is 3-4mm. Turn tensioning screw clockwise to increase tension, counterclockwise to decrease. Frequently check chain tension during use, as it stretches when hot.

Cleaning the Product

1. Remove the battery pack. ?
2. Remove all foreign materials from the product with a soft, dry brush.
3. WARNING: Avoid using solvents when cleaning plastic parts, as most plastics are susceptible to damage from commercial solvents.

Storing the Product

1. Remove the battery pack. ?
2. Cover the guide bar with the guide bar cover.
3. Loosen the shaft coupling to release the boom assembly from the pruner attachment.
4. Loosen the shaft coupling to release the boom assembly from the extension pole.
5. Loosen the shaft coupling to release the extension pole from the lower shaft.
6. Store the product in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated place that is inaccessible to children and away from sources of ignition. Do not store the product outdoors.

Product Specifications

Battery and Charger

NOTE: Visit your local special orders desk or contact RYOBI customer service for replacement parts.

WARNING!

The declared vibration and noise emission values are measured using a standardized test and may be used to compare tools. However, actual exposure levels can vary based on application, accessories, and maintenance. Estimate exposure by considering times when the tool is turned off or running idle. Implement additional safety measures to protect the operator from vibration and noise effects.

Symbols

Symbols on the Product:

• Safety alert
• Read and understand all instructions before operating. Follow all warnings and safety instructions.
• Wear non-slip, heavy-duty gloves.
• Wear non-slip safety footwear when using the product.
• Wear eye, ear, and head protection.
• Do not expose the product to rain or damp conditions.
• Electrical hazard. Keep at least 10m away from overhead electric-powered lines.
• Beware of thrown or flying objects. Keep bystanders, children, and pets at least 15m away from the operating area.
• Guaranteed sound power level: 96 dB(A)
• Pull: Quick-release tab
• Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM). The product meets applicable regulatory requirements.
• Waste electrical products should not be disposed of with household waste. Please recycle where facilities exist. Check with your local authority or retailer for recycling advice.

Symbols in this Manual:

• Parts or accessories sold separately
• Note
• Warning