•
3. The felling direction
(Fig. 25)
•
Always stop the engine before you move the
product.
•
Make sure you firmly plant your feet on the ground
and distribute your weight evenly.
(Fig. 26)
•
Only operate the product with your feet on stable
ground. Without stable ground, operation can cause
serious injury or death to the operator or others. Do
not do operate the product on a ladder or in a tree.
(Fig. 27)
Kickbacks, skating, bouncing and dropping
Different forces can have an effect on the safe control of
the product.
•
Skating is when the guide bar moves quickly across
the wood.
•
Bouncing is when the guide bar lifts off the wood and
touches it again and again.
•
Dropping is when the product drops down after the
cut is made. This can cause the moving chain to
touch a part of the body or other objects, causing
injury or damage.
•
Kickback is when the end of the guide bar touches
objects and moves rearward, up or suddenly
forward. Kickback also occurs when the wood closes
in and pinches the saw chain during the cut. Loss of
control can result if the product touches an object in
wood.
(Fig. 28)
•
Rotational Kickback can occur when the moving
chain touches an object at the top of the guide
bar. This can cause the chain to bury into the
object and cause the chain to stop immediately.
The result is a very fast, reverse reaction that
moves the guide bar up and rearward in the
direction of the operator.
(Fig. 29)
•
Pinch-Kickback can occur when the saw chain
suddenly stops during the cut. The wood closes
in and pinches the moving saw chain along the
top of the guide bar. The sudden stop of the
chain reverses the chain force and causes the
product to move in the opposite direction of the
turn of the chain. The product moves rearward in
the direction of the operator.
(Fig. 30)
•
Pull-In can occur when the saw chain suddenly
stops when the moving chain touches an object
in the wood along the bottom of the guide bar.
The sudden stop pulls the product forward and
away from the operator, which can easily cause
the loss of control of the product by the operator.
(Fig. 31)
Make sure that you understand the different forces
and how to prevent them before you operate the
862 - 003 - 09.07.2022
To prevent kickbacks, skating, bouncing
product. See
and dropping on page 13 .
To prevent kickbacks, skating, bouncing and
dropping
•
While the motor runs, make sure to hold the product
tightly. Keep your right hand on the rear handle and
the left hand on the front handle. Tightly hold with
thumbs and fingers around the handles. Do not let
go.
•
Keep control of the product during the cut and after
the wood falls to the ground. Do not let the weight of
the product drop down after the cut is made.
•
Make sure that the area in which you are cutting is
free from blockage. Do not let the nose of the guide
bar touch a log, branch or other blockages while you
operate the product. (Fig. 32)
•
Cut at high motor speeds.
•
Do not overreach or cut above shoulder height. (Fig.
33)
•
Obey the sharpening and maintenance instructions
by the manufacturer for the saw chain.
•
Only use replacement guide bars and saw chains
specified by the manufacturer.
•
The risk of kickback is increased if the depth gauge
is set too large.
Personal protective equipment
•
Always use the correct personal protective
equipment when you operate the product. Personal
protective equipment decreases the grade of injury if
an accident occurs, but does not erase it.
•
Do not use loose clothing that can become caught in
the saw chain.
•
Use an approved protective helmet.
•
Always use approved ear protection while you
operate the product. Noise for a long period can
cause hearing loss.
•
Use protective glasses or a face visor to decrease
the risk of injury from flying objects. The product can
move objects with strong force, such as wood chips
and small pieces of wood. This can result in serious
injury, including to the eyes.
•
Use gloves with chainsaw protection.
•
Use pants with chainsaw protection.
•
Use boots with chainsaw protection, steel toe-caps
and nonslip soles.
•
Make sure that you have a first aid kit near.
•
Sparks can come from the muffler, the guide bar
and saw chain or other sources. Always keep fire
extinguishing tools and a shovel to help prevent
forest fires.
Protective devices on the product
•
Do not use a product with damaged protective
equipment. If the product is damaged, speak to an
approved service center.
13