Rotational
Kickback
Kickback
Danger Zone
Kickback Safety Precautions
Take the following steps to reduce the chance of accident or injury:
•
Do not rely exclusively upon the safety devices built into the unit.
•
Do not overreach. Always keep proper footing and balance. Take
extra care when working on stairs, steep slopes or inclines. To
avoid serious injury, do not operate the unit while on a ladder or
a roof. Do not extend arms above shoulder height.
•
Do not operate the unit in a tree or on a ladder unless
specifically trained to do so.
•
Do not make cuts with the tip of the guide bar.
•
Make sure the area of operation is free from obstructions. Do not
let the tip of the guide bar contact any object, such as a log,
branch, the ground or other obstruction.
•
Always inspect the wood before cutting. Foreign objects could
damage the unit or cause serious personal injury. Never cut
through nails, metal rods, railroad ties or pallets.
•
Do not operate the unit with one hand! Serious injury to the
operator, helpers or bystanders may result from one-handed
operation. This unit is intended for two-handed use. Always grip
the unit firmly with both hands when the unit is running. Do not
let go. A firm grip will help maintain control of the unit and
reduce the chance of kickback.
•
Stand slightly to the left of the unit to avoid being in the direct
line of the saw chain.
• Hold the shaft grip with the right hand. Keep the right arm
slightly bent.
• Hold the handle with the left hand. Keep the left arm straight.
•
Never start the saw when the guide bar is inside an existing cut.
Be extremely careful when re-entering a cut.
•
Always begin a cut with the unit running at full speed. Maintain a
steady cutting speed. Slower speeds increase the chance of
kickback.
•
Keep the saw housing pressed firmly against the wood.
•
Do not cut more than one branch at a time.
•
Do not twist the unit when removing the guide bar from a cut.
Saw Chain
Direction
Fig. B
Pinch
Linear
Kickback
Fig. C
•
Watch out for shifting objects (branches, etc.) that might pinch
or fall onto the saw chain during operation.
•
Follow the manufacturer's sharpening and maintenance
instructions for the saw chain.
•
Only use replacement bars and chains specified by the
manufacturer or the equivalent. These are available from
authorized service centers. Use of any unauthorized parts or
accessories could lead to serious injury to the operator or
damage to the unit and will void the warranty.
•
Use devices that reduce the risks associated with kickback,
such as low-kickback chains, guide bar nose guards, chain
brakes and low-kickback guide bars. There are no other
replacement components for achieving kickback protection in
accordance with CSA Z62.3.
•
A low-kickback saw chain is a chain that has met the kickback
performance requirements of ANSI/OPEI B175.1-2012 when
tested according to the provisions specified in ANSI/OPEI
B175.1-2012. A low-kickback saw chain is a chain that is also in
accordance with CSA Z62.3. Do not use a replacement saw
chain unless it has met these requirements for this specific
model or has been designated as a low-kickback replacement
saw chain in accordance with ANSI/OPEI B175.1-2012. As saw
chains are sharpened, some of the low-kickback qualities are
lost and extra caution should be used.
•
Do not install a bow guide on this unit. Bow guides have larger
kickback zones, which increase the chance of kickback and
serious injury. This increase is not significantly reduced by using
a low-kickback saw chain. Using a bow guide on this unit is
extremely dangerous.
OTHER SAFETY WARNINGS
•
Maintain the unit with care. Follow all maintenance instructions
in this manual.
•
Do not perform maintenance procedures other than those
described in this manual. All service, other than the maintenance
procedures described in this manual, should be performed by an
authorized service dealer.
•
Never remove, modify or make inoperative any safety device
furnished with the unit.
•
Before inspecting, maintaining, cleaning, storing, transporting or
replacing any parts on the unit:
1. Stop the unit. Refer to Starting and Stopping.
2. Make sure all moving parts have stopped.
3. Allow the unit to cool.
4. Disconnect the spark plug wire.
•
Secure the unit while transporting.
•
Never store the unit with fuel in the tank, inside a building where
fumes may reach an open flame (pilot lights, etc.) or sparks
(switches, electrical motors, etc.).
•
Store the unit in a dry place, secured or at a height to prevent
unauthorized use or damage. Keep the unit out of the reach of
children.
•
Never douse or squirt the unit with water or any other liquid.
Keep handles dry and clean (free from debris, oil and grease).
Clean the unit after each use. Refer to Cleaning and Storage. Do
not use solvents or strong detergents.
•
Keep these instructions. Refer to them often and use them to
instruct other users. If you loan this unit to others, also loan
them these instructions.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
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