Use and Care Manual

6 - English
The following signal words and meanings are intended to explain the levels of risk associated with this product.
SYMBOL SIGNAL MEANING
DANGER:
Indicates a hazardous situation, which, if not avoided, will result in death or
serious injury.
WARNING:
Indicates a hazardous situation, which, if not avoided, could result in death or
serious injury.
CAUTION:
Indicates a hazardous situation, that, if not avoided, may result in minor or
moderate injury.
NOTICE:
(Without Safety Alert Symbol) Indicates information considered important, but
not related to a potential injury (e.g. messages relating to property damage).
SYMBOLS
CHAINSAW SAFETY WARNINGS
• Make sure that the area in which you are cutting is free
from obstructions. Do not let the nose of the guide bar
contact a log, branch, fence, or any other obstruction
that could be hit while you are operating the saw.
• Always cut with the unit running at full speed. Fully
squeeze the throttle trigger and maintain a steady cut-
ting speed.
• Use replacement parts such as low kickback chain,
chain brakes and special guide bars that reduce the
risks associated with rotational kickback. Use only
the replacement guide bars and low kickback chains
specified by the manufacturer for the saw.
 With a basic understanding of kickback, you can reduce
or eliminate the element of surprise. Sudden surprise
contributes to accidents.
 Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance at all
times.
 Do not cut above chest height or overreach when cutting.
Do not let the nose of the guide bar contact a log, branch,
ground, or any other obstruction while you are operating
the unit.
 Follow the sharpening and maintenance instructions for
the saw chain.
 Push and Pull – This reaction force is always opposite to
the direction the chain is moving where wood contact is
made. Thus, the operator must be ready to control the
PULL when cutting on the bottom edge of the bar, and
PUSH when cutting along the top edge. See Figures 4-5.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHAINSAW
SAFETY DEVICES
LOW KICKBACK SAW CHAIN
The rakers (depth gauges) ahead of each cutter can minimize
the force of a kickback reaction by preventing the cutters
from digging in too deeply at the kickback zone. Only use
replacement chain that is equivalent to original chain or has
been certified as low kickback chain per ANSI B175.1.
Low kickback saw chain is chain that has met the kickback
performance requirements of ANSI B175.1 – 2012 (Ameri-
can National Standard for Power Tools – Gasoline-Powered
Chainsaws-Safety Requirements) when tested on the rep-
resentative sample of chainsaws below 3.8 c.i.d. specified
in ANSI B175.1 - 2012.
As saw chains are sharpened during their useful life, they
lose some of the low kickback qualities and extra caution
should be used.
GUIDE BARS
Generally, guide bars with small radius tips have somewhat
lower kickback potentials.
When making a replacement, be sure to order one of the
RYOBI bars listed for the saw in this operator’s manual.
Save these instructions. Refer to them frequently and use
them to instruct others who may use this product. If you
loan someone this product, loan them these instructions
also.