Lister clippers are the absolute workhorse of the Wahl family of clippers! These heavy-duty clippers are amazing at making fast work of the thickest horse coats imaginable. They do have some different care needs than a KM series body clipper or other type of body clipper or trimmer.
The blade system is actually two gigantic blades, the larger blade known as the comb, and the smaller blade that is the cutter. The cutter is the middle piece, sandwiched between the clipper’s body and the comb.
The cutter rests into place on the underside of the clippers. There is a guide on the cutter that rests perfectly into the clipper body. The central piece will flank the cylinder that you see in the top of the clipper body. The comb blade then rests on top of that. There are two circular corners that line up with the blade and click into place.
All surfaces should be clean and oiled before you assemble your clippers! Any bits of dirt or debris that rests between the comb and the cutter can damage your clipper blades.
Once you have your blade components lined up, insert the tension bolt through the blades. You will need to hold it all in place as you turn over the clippers. Then you can pop in the tension spring, and lastly the tension nut, which is just a different way of saying knob.
Now comes the task of tensioning your clippers!
For the Lister Star and Lister Legend to function properly and give your horse the best clip ever, the blades must be tensioned. This means that the pressure between the two blades is just right. This gives the best clip, prevents rattling, helps to work against overheating, and keeps the blades in top shape. This also lengthens the life of your clippers and keeps the motor running smoothly.
When you are putting your clipper body and blades together, you will need to find the best tension for the clippers. It’s pretty easy - only two steps!
Tighten the knob on the top of the clippers all the way to the right. You will feel a distinct difference between easy to tighten and hard to tighten. It’s at this junction that you stop tightening.
Make a note of the raised line on the tension knob. You are going to turn the knob one and a half times to the LEFT to loosen the blades a bit.
Your Listers are now ready to go!
Things to remember as you clip you horse:
You need to keep the blades oiled. Every five to ten minutes, stop and add some oil to your Lister’s! Spray lubricants are not recommended for this clipper.
You might find that your clippers automatically stop. This happens when they are overloaded or overheated! You may need to check the filters or have the gears inside the body serviced. It also might be as simple as adding more oil.
If you have checked everything and added oil, you may press the reset button at the base of the clipper body.
If the blades stop cutting, or are cutting poorly, you need to stop clipping and check some things out. Do not automatically tighten or loosen the tension nut to correct this! This will just create more heat if they are too tight, and create a space for dirt and debris to damage the blades if they are too loose.
Be sure there is no hair or grit or dirt between the blades. Clean the teeth of the blades with a brush, and wipe them clean. Replace them with oil in between. These two guys are a matched set, so they should stay together.
If you see a ding or something on the blades, this may be enough to stop them from cutting. Use a fresh set.
Either way, re-tension the clippers after you have inspected, cleaned, and oiled the blades.
The comb and the cutter can be sharpened and used again if need be.
And, just for good measure, read the directions that come with your clippers!
For more great tips and tutorials from Liv, check out her website Pro Equine Grooms.