I am just guessing here but I think the reference to "timing the blades" may have ment timing the closing of the blades on the power stroke of the engine. Nice theory but it probably wouldn't make a noticable difference. Count the teeth on the gears, if the teeth are prime numbers it won't make any difference for sure.

I don't know what you've been cutting, but my first guess is dull blades.

Just to be clear, these are hedge trimmers and are to be used to cut really small branches and foliage off the outside of bushes and hedges. I've seen a few people try to use them as brush cutters with bad results.

yungman the blade timing as you found it is correct. Alter it so the blade end up chasing each other and cutting will be reduced along with creating severe vibration.

If the blades are still sharp there's a couple of things to look for, actually 3 things.

1. If you haven't cleaned the blades after use you may have a build up of plant goop which hardens when it dries. This pushes the blade apart so it won't shear properly. Look at the back side of the teeth for build up, scrape off with a knife, then start and rev while spraying WD-40 or other spray lube on the blades to disolve and flush out the rest. Then in the future use this flushing step each time you finish using the trimmer to keep blades both clean and lubed.

2. Back to shearing ability, actually all three are. If you have got the blades into something hard, jammed and then twisted the teeth may be bent outward preventing shearing. This usually is only seen on one or two teeth and then by commercial users. Careful straightening may help but not always totally resolve.

3. If this was bought by a dealer he may have loosened the retaining bolts holding the blade sets together. Echo tends to over tighten them and they don't move freely so we often reset the tightness when servicing and someone may have set them too loose. Or if you tinked with it you may have.

Once you have determined or made the blades clean, reset them correctly. Loosen the set nut on the bolt and make sure the bolt is finger tight. Then take a wrench and tighten down until the bolt is snug, the back off 1/2 to 3/4 turn. Keep wrench on bolt and secure the the set nut. Tighten the set nut only moderately tight as really jamming it on will pull so hard on the bolt that it will tighten up the blade setting. In the end you want the blades about as tightly pressed together as possible without restricting movement.

Thanks Bob
I think the timing is correct also. If I change either way, I can see one portion of the cycle, both blades move in the same direction ( I think this is what you called the blade chasing each other.).
I do notice there are dirt between the blades. It is too late to fire it up tonight, I'll try this tomorrow using WD-40.
I follow the adjustment procedure of the manuel by tightening the bolts, back off 1/2 turn and hold the bolt while tightening on the other side. I even measure the space between the blades. A 0.007inch slit slide snugly in between. I never catch anything heavy in the teeth, I don't notice chip or bend. The trimmer is very new, less than 5 hours of use on it. The blade feels sharp.

Thanks, I'll clean the dirt and try again tomorrow.

Have a nice evening.

I tried the WD-40, There was so much crap on the teeth even WD-40 do not clean it out. I have to stop and use a screw driver to scrape all the teeth!!!. I redo the bolts and try it. It does make a diference. This together that I try to tilt the blade at a steeper angle to the surface of the hedge solve the problem. Finally it is working good enough.

Thanks Bob. You are of great help.

I took the gearbox apart to separate the blades completely and clean the blades carefully. I scrape all the crap off. Put it all back together, I only back off the bolts 1/3 turn instead of 1/2 turn as the instruction.

WOW!!!! It work like never before. It had never work like this even when it was brand new!!!! The grease they put between the blade must have dry up when it was new and mixed in with dirt. It wasn't cut right from day one. Now it is going through stuff like butter!!!!
Thanks Bob.