GENERAL SAFETY RULES
DANGER: Shock Hazard. Serious injury or death
from electrocution if power lines are contacted. Never
use near any electrical source, wires, or power lines.
WARNING: For safe operation read and
understand owner's manual. Wear face shield
(and/or safety glasses) and hard hat to protect
against falling debris. Always have a clear work area,
retreat path, and be aware of limb/branch location to
avoid falling limbs and debris. Keep bystanders 50 ft
(15 m) away when operating saw. To reduce the risk
of electric shock do not use on wet surfaces. Do not
expose to rain. Store indoors.
•
To protect yourself from falling branches do not stand directly
under the branch or limb being cut. This unit should not be
held at an angle over 60° from ground level.
•
Keep the handles dry, clean, and free of oil.
•
Before you start the unit, make sure the chain is not contacting
any object.
•
Make sure the cutting chain has stopped before setting the
unit down.
Guard Against Kickback
WARNING: KICKBACK may occur when the nose or
tip of the guide bar touches an object, or when the
wood closes in and pinches the saw chain in the cut.
Tip contact in some cases may cause a lightning
fast reverse reaction, kicking the guide bar up and
back towards the operator. Pinching the saw chain
along the top of the guide bar may push the guide
bar rapidly back towards the operator. Either of these
reactions may cause you to lose control of the saw
which could result in serious injury to user.
The following precautions should be followed to
minimize kickback:
•
Grip pole saw firmly. Hold the saw firmly with both hands
when the unit is running. Use a firm grip with thumbs and
fingers encircling the saw handle and pole.
•
Do not overreach.
•
Keep proper footing and balance at all times.
•
Don't let the nose of the guide bar contact a log, branch,
ground or other obstruction.
•
Do not extend pole saw handle above shoulder height.
•
Use devices such as reduced kickback chain, chain braking
system and special guide bars that reduce the risks
associated with kickback.
•
Only use replacement bars and chains specified by the
manufacturer or the equivalent.
•
Never let the moving chain contact any object at the tip of
the guide bar.
•
Keep the working area free from obstructions such as
other trees, branches, rocks, fences, stumps, etc. Eliminate
or avoid any obstruction that your saw chain could hit
while you are cutting through a particular log or branch.
•
Keep your saw chain sharp and properly tensioned. A loose
or dull chain can increase the chance of kickback. Check
tension at regular intervals with the motor stopped and
power supply disconnected.
•
Begin and continue cutting only with the chain moving at
full speed. If the chain is moving at a slower speed, there is
a greater chance for kickback to occur.
•
Cut one branch at a time.
•
Use extreme caution when re-entering a previous cut.
Engage spiked bumpers into wood and allow chain to
reach full speed before proceeding with cut.
•
Do not attempt plunge cuts or bore cuts.
•
Watch for shifting branches or other forces that could
close a cut and pinch or fall into chain.
Pole Saw Names and Terms
Drive Sprocket or Sprocket - The toothed part that
•
drives the saw chain.
•
Guide Bar - A solid railed structure that supports and
guides the saw chain.
Guide Bar Scabbard - Enclosure fitted over guide bar to
•
prevent tooth contact when saw is not in use.
•
Kickback - The backward or upward motion, or both
of the guide bar occurring when the saw chain near the
nose of the top area of the guide bar contacts any object
such as a log or branch, or when the wood closes in and
pinches the saw chain in the cut.
Reduced Kickback Chain - A chain that complies
•
with the kickback performance requirements of ANSI
B175.1–2012. (when tested on a representative sample
of chainsaws.
•
Reduced Kickback Guide Bar - A guide bar which has
been demonstrated to reduce kickback significantly.
Replacement Saw Chain - A chain that complies with
•
kickback performance requirements of ANSI B175.1–2012.
when tested with specific chainsaws. It may not meet
the ANSI performance requirements when used with
other saws.
•
Saw Chain - A loop of chain having cutting teeth, that
cut the wood, and that is driven by the motor and is
supported by the guide bar.
Spiked Bumper (Spike) - The pointed tooth or teeth for
•
use when pruning to pivot the saw and maintain position
while sawing.
•
switch - A device that when operated will complete
or interrupt an electrical power circuit to the motor of
the chainsaw.
Switch Lockout - A movable stop that prevents
•
the unintentional operation of the switch until
manually actuated.
•
Trimming (Pruning) - Process of cutting limbs from
a tree.
Undercut - An upward cut from underside of a log or
•
limb. This is done while in normal cutting position and
cutting with top of guide bar.
English
7