the Ultimate MULCHER
SHREDS LEAVES, GRASS CLIPPINGS, PINE NEEDLES . . .
OWNER’S
MANUAL
Model
LE-900F
• Assembly
• Operation
• Maintenance
• Repair Parts
Always Wear Eye Protection During Operation
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KNOW YOUR FLOWTRON ULTIMATE LEAF-EATER
Your Flowtron Ultimate Leaf-Eater is a quality built product that is designed to
provide you with a unit that is affordable and will perf o rmwith a minimum of care
and maintenance.
1
A. Special Features Include:
• Coarse to fine leaf reduction with special positions for
pine needles and grass clippings.
• Unique leg design – functions upright or straddles trash
barrel.
• Tilt feature makes loading easy; body of unit flips 180°
for simple, compact storage.
5
• Bungee cord surrounding bottom of unit firmly holds
leaf bag in position.
• Storage compartment with hinged door holds cutting
lines, gloves, safety glasses, etc.
6
• Foam cushion handle grips ensure comfort and ease of
carrying.
2
• Powerful universal electric motor.
• Runs on ordinary 120 volt, 15 amp household current.
B. Unpacking Instructions
Your unit has been carefully packed at the factory to
prevent damage during shipment and storage.
3
4
Carefully unpack the carton as follows:
1. Check parts against list shown
2. Examine for damage
FIGURE 2
Carton Contents
NOTE: The Right Hand, (R.H.), and Left Hand, (L.H.),
sides of your FLOWTRON Ultimate Leaf-Eater are deter-
mined when standing at the rear of the machine. See
Figure 1.
Hardware Bag Contents
page 3
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ASSEMBLY
PREPARATION
2. Attach Funnel to Housing
Your Owner’s Manual has been developed to help you
assemble the unit and to understand its safe operation. It
is important that you read your manual completely to
become familiar with the unit before you begin assembly.
Place narrow opening of funnel on upper end of hous-
ing and position funnel so that flat areas of funnel are
located at the right and left housing towers. Align boss
on funnel with hole at top center of housing tower as
shown in figure 5. Repeat for opposite side. With boss-
es aligned, press funnel firmly down onto housing.
Apply pressure all around edge of funnel until funnel is
seated evenly around the housing. Fasten funnel to
right side of housing by inserting a #10 x 3/4" long pan
head phillips screw into large screw hole opening at
top front edge of housing tower, and tighten using a
phillips screwdriver. CAUTION: Do not over tighten
screw. See figure 5. Repeat for left side.
1.
Tools you will need
#2 phillips head screwdriver
1. Assemble Funnel
Place funnel halves on flat surface with narrow opening
facing up. Align both halves and press locating pin
nearest narrow opening of funnel half into locating hole
on adjacent funnel half. See figure 3. Using two (2) #8 x
1/2” screws, fasten both halves together. See Figure 4.
NOTE: While inserting screw into screw hole opening,
keep funnel tab in place by pressing down on inside
surface of funnel opposite tab so that screw passes
through hole in funnel tab.
NOTE: Flange on funnel half overlaps outer surface of
adjacent funnel half as shown in figure 3.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 3
Funnel
Push
Narrow End
of Funnel
Locating Pin
Hole
Screw
#10 x 3/4" Long
Funnel
Boss
Locating Pin
FLANGE
Housing
Tower
Funnel Tab
Rotate Funnel 180º and press locating pin nearest
large opening of funnel half into locating hole on adja-
cent funnel half. See figure 3. Using two (2) #8 x 1/2”
screws, fasten both halves together. See Figure 4
FIGURE 4
Wide
Opening
#8 x 1/2” screw
(two places)
Narrow Opening
page 4
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ASSEMBLY CONTINUED
3. Assemble Legs
Connect curved leg sections to form a semi-circle by
attaching the upper and lower leg clamps and tightening
with four #8 x 5/8" screws and #8-32 hex nuts using a
phillips screwdriver. See figure 6.
5. Assemble Housing To Legs
Remove knobs and hubs from both sides of the housing
by unscrewing knob and pulling hub off threaded stems
located on either side of the housing. See figure 8.
FIGURE 6
Place housing on legs with funnel facing downward.
Position with Flowtron Leaf-Eater label facing semi-cir-
cle, and with threaded stems of housing above leg
spacers. Place hub on leg making certain that spacer
on leg passes through slot on hub. See figure 8.
Screw #8-32, 5/8
Upper Leg Clamp
Insert threaded stem through hole in center of hub and
fasten by threading knob onto stem. DO NOT OVER
TIGHTEN. Repeat for opposite side. Position unit at
desired angle and tighten left and right knobs
Leg
Hex Nut #8-32
Lower Leg Clamp
4. Attach Spacer and Handle Grips to Legs
FIGURE 8
Locate holes on sides of horizontal portion of leg
sections. Holes are located approximately 7" from end
of leg.
Install a spacer on a #8 x 1/2" pan head phillips screw
and fasten to outside surface of leg using a phillips
screwdriver. Repeat for opposite side. See figure 7.
Flowtron
Leaf-Eater
label
Place handle grips on horizontal ends of both leg
sections.
FIGURE 7
Threaded
Stem
Leg
Handle Grip
Friction
Pad
Knob
Spacer
Screw #8 x 1/2" Long
Slot
Spacer
Hub
page 5
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SAFETY RULES AND PRECAUTIONS
Warning: To reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, and personal injury, the follow-
ing basic safety precautions should always be followed.
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS
1. Become familiar with all sections of this owner’s man-
ual before attempting to operate the shredder. This
shredder should be used solely for the purpose it was
intended.
14. Disconnect shredder from the power source when not
in use, before servicing, and when changing cutting
lines.
15. When feeding material into the shredder be extremely
careful that pieces of metal, rocks, bottles, cans or
other foreign objects are not included.
2. Use only parts or accessories specifically designed for
use with this shredder. Using other parts or acces-
sories could increase risk of injury.
16. Do not force the shredder. It will do the job better and
with less likelihood of a risk of injury when used at the
rate for which it was designed.
3. Keep Children Away – all visitors should be kept at a
distance from the work area.
4. Never allow your hands or any part of your body or
clothing inside the upper housing area.
17. If the cutting mechanism strikes a foreign object or if
your shredder should start making an unusual noise
or vibration, immediately switch it off, wait until the
shredder has come to a complete stop, then discon-
nect the power cord and take the following steps:
A. Remove any foreign or clogged material.
B. Check for any loose parts and tighten to
5. Avoid Dangerous Environments – do not use shredder
in damp or wet locations. Do not operate or store
shredder in wet areas. Do not operate in rain. Store
indoors when not in use, in a dry, and high or locked-
up place — out of reach of children.
assure continued safe operation.
C. Replace or repair any damaged parts.
6. This shredder should be operated on a solid, level sur-
face.
18. Avoid unintentional starting. Be sure switch is off when
plugging in the shredder.
7. Dress Properly – do not wear loose clothing or jewelry.
They can be caught in moving parts. Use of work
gloves and substantial footwear is advised when
working outdoors. Wear protective hair covering to
contain long hair.
19. Always use safety glasses. Wear face or dust mask if
operation is dusty.
20. Check discharge area periodically after stopping
shredder to assure the processed material does not
build up and clog motor cooling vents.
8. Stay Alert – Watch what you are doing. Use common
sense. Do not operate shredder when you are tired.
21. Do Not Overreach – keep proper footing and balance
at all times.
9. Do not Abuse Power or Extension Cords – Never
carry unit by its power cord or yank cord to disconnect
from receptacle. Keep all cords clean and away from
heat, oil and sharp edges and inspect for damage
before each use.
22. Do not move shredder when motor is running or with
finger on the switch.
23. Maintain Shredder With Care – Follow instructions for
replacing cutting lines and for cleaning air filter.
Inspect shredder power cord periodically, and if dam-
aged, have it repaired by an authorized service facility.
Keep handles dry, clean, and free from oil and grease.
10. Ground unit properly. Follow instructions on page 7
when connecting to electrical outlet.
11. Warning – To reduce the risk of electrical shock, use
only an extension cord intended for outdoor use. See
page 7 for additional information on extension cords.
24. Check Damaged Parts – Before further use of the
shredder, any part that is damaged should be carefully
checked to determine that it will operate properly and
perform its intended function. Check for alignment of
moving parts, binding of moving parts, breakage of
parts, mounting, and any other condition that may
affect its operation. A guard or other part that is dam-
aged should be properly repaired or replaced by an
authorized service center unless indicated elsewhere
in this manual.
12. Ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection
should be provided on the circuit(s) or outlet(s) to be
used for this shredder. Receptacles are available hav-
ing built-in GFCI protection and may be used for this
measure of safety.
13. If it is necessary for any reason to inspect, clean or
repair the shredder, turn the shredder off and wait
until it comes to a complete stop, then disconnect
the power cord before attempting such inspection or
repair.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
page 6
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ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS
Important: Use a 14 ga. or heavier extension cord with a maximum length of 100 ft.
Grounding Instructions
Extensions Cords
This shredder should be grounded while in use to
reduce the risk of electric shock to the operator.
Only use three-wire extension cords that have three-
prong grounding plugs and three-hole receptacles that
accept the shredder’s plug. When using an extension
cord, make sure that it is in good condition.
The shredder is equipped with a three-conductor cord
and three-prong grounding plug. The green or green
and yellow conductor in the cord is the grounding wire.
Never connect the green or green and yellow wire to a
live terminal.
Use a 14 ga. or heavier extension cord with a maxi-
mum length of 100 ft. An undersized extension cord
will cause a drop in line voltage resulting in loss of
power and overheating.
The shredder is intended for use on a circuit that has a
grounded outlet box that looks like the one illustrated
in figure 9, sketch A.
Warning – To reduce the risk of electric shock, only use
extension cords intended for outdoor use, such as cord
types SW-A, SOW-A, STW-A, STOW-A, SJW-A,
SJOW-A, SJTW-A or SJTOW-A.
An adapter which looks like the adapter illustrated in
figure 9, sketch B is available for connecting three-
prong plugs to two-prong receptacles. The green col-
ored rigid ear, lug, or the like on the adapter, must be
connected to a permanent ground, such as a properly
grounded outlet box, using a metal screw.
To prevent disconnection of the shredder cord from the
extension cord during operation, make a knot as
shown in figure 10. Devices for retaining extension
cords are also available at your local hardware retailer.
Check with a qualified electrician or serviceman if the
grounding instructions are not completely understood,
or if in doubt as to whether the shredder is properly
grounded.
FIGURE 9
FIGURE 10
Grounding Method
Adapter
Method of Securing Extension Cord
(A)
(B)
Plug
(A)
(B)
Extension
Cord
Shredder
Cord
Lug
Cover of
Grounded Outlet Box
Metal Screw
Grounding Pin
Tie Cord As Shown
Connect Plug & Receptacle
MOTOR INFORMATION
FIGURE 11
1. ON/OFF Switch
The ON/OFF switch is located on the side of the hous-
ing. To turn unit ''on'', push switch to “ON” position. To
turn unit “OFF”, push switch down to “OFF” position.
See figure 11.
Enclosure
Switch
Motor Housing
2. Circuit Breaker Reset Button
The circuit breaker/reset button is located under the
Flowtron Leaf-Eater enclosure on the side of the motor
housing as shown in figure 11. The unit is designed to
shut down in the event of an overload. To restart, shut
off switch, wait approximately three minutes, push
reset button, and place switch to ON position.
Circuit
Breaker
Under Unit
page 7
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SAFE OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Your Flowtron Ultimate Leaf-Eater can be hazardous if improperly or care l e s s l y
used. The instructions and fig u re shown below demonstrate the right way to use
your machine. Read and understand the operating instructions before you operate
your machine. Always use safe and cautious operating methods. Please remem-
ber, the operating and safety instructions have been written for your use. Failure
to read all instructions may result in injury. Be sure you have read ‘‘Rules for Safe
Operation’’ on page 6 before proceeding.
1. Moving Your Unit
not overload the machine by letting it labor at low
speed: this will cause the circuit breaker to shut the
motor off. If this happens, turn the switch off, unplug
the machine, clear the unshredded material from the
hopper, reset the breaker and continue with your
shredding.
Disconnect the power cord from the extension cord or
power source, grasp the unit along the top of the housing
tower, lift and move to wherever you choose. To place unit
on trash container, lift by grasping hand grips located on
leg extensions. To use on legs with leaf bag, place bag
around unit and retain with bungee cord. See figure 12.
3. Mulching Control Lever
FIGURE 12
Hand Hold
Both Sides
The control lever, see figure 13, controls the particle
size and speed at which material goes through the unit
With the control lever in the COARSE position, material
will process through the unit faster but will give you a
larger particle size than if the lever were in the FINE
position. The FINE position setting will discharge mate-
rial slower, but will give the smallest particle size. Use
special settings for pine needles, grass clippings and
thatch. For best results, material should be shredded
when dry.
FIGURE 13
Bungee
Cord
On Trash
Container
With Leaf Bag
Attached
Mulching Control Lever
2. Loading Your Machine
With the machine running, feed double handfuls of dry
leaves, or single handfuls of wet leaves, into the hop-
per. Allow the machine to shred the load completely
and regain speed before reinserting the next load. Do
page 8
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MAINTENANCE
1. Cleaning Your Unit
3. Replacement of Spinner
Your unit requires a minimum of maintenance other than
cleaning. It is recommended that you clean out built-up
residue from inside the housing area during and after
each use. Replace cutting line as often as necessary,
see paragraph 2 below, and clean air filter frequently,
see paragraph 4 below. Any other maintenance or
repairs should be performed by Flowtron.
Remove screw and ‘‘O’’ ring from center of spinner. Lift
spinner off shaft. Place new spinner over shaft and turn
until hex falls in place. Tighten screw until ‘‘O’’ ring is
depressed slightly.
2. Replacement of Cutting Line
Your unit is supplied with six strips of six (6) cutting
lines each (for a total of 36 cutting lines). To separate
individual lines simply pinch the indent between lines
nearest strip end and peel away.
Replace cutting cord when a noticeable decrease in
shredding efficiency is observed. To remove used cut-
ting lines pull used line out of the spinner head inside
the housing. To install new cutting lines place each end
of new line through the two holes in the post on top of
the spinner head and pull through so that both ends of
the line are even. Thread lines through the two ferrules
on the side of the spinner head and pull tight so that
ends are even. See fig. 14.
4. Cleaning Air Filter
The removable air filter is located on the side of the
housing tower. To remove, grasp filter with fingers and
pull out of compartment. (See figure 15.) Rinse with
clear water and air dry. Replace air filter before using
machine.
5. Storage
To reduce storage space requirements, loosen knobs and
rotate unit 180°, (funnel facing downward).
FIGURE 14
Spinner
FIGURE 15
Housing Tower
Housing
Post
Ferrule
Cutting Lines
Removable
Air Filter
TROUBLE SHOOTING
page 9
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FLOWTRON LEAF-EATER THE ULTIMATE MULCHER
Exploded View — FLOWTRON ELECTRIC LEAF-EATER #LE-900F
1
40
39
10
16
12
31
38
1
4
30
13
14
15
3
6
33
9
4
21
34
32
29
36
7
8
26
27
24
25
20
19
37
22
28
23
35
5
11
18
2
43
41
45
17
42
44
page 10
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FLOWTRON LEAF-EATER THE ULTIMATE MULCHER
Parts List — FLOWTRON ELECTRIC LEAF-EATER #LE-900F
page 11
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page 12
357 3151 Rev 7
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