Owner`s manual

C. CONTROLLING KICKBACK
Kickback is a dangerous chain saw reaction that
can cause serious personal injury. Carefully
study this section before you make the first cut
with your new saw, You must understand what
causes kickback, how you can reduce the
chance of kickback, and how you can remain in
the best control of the saw if kickback does oc-
cur.
'1.:WHAT CAUSES KICKBACK
"V::_tKickback can happen when the moving chain
contacts an object at the tip of the guide bar.
• This contact causes the chain to dig.into the
_ _bject and stops the chain for an instant. The
result is a lightning fast, reverse reaction
which kicks the saw tip up and back at the
: operator. The operator can lose control of the
•saw and the cutting chain can cause serious
.,,,.injury if it contacts any part of the body.
..... _ r , • ,1 llJl
; KICKBACK PATH
Figure 20
AVOID
OBSTRUCTIONS
CLEAR
WQR_NG AREA
Figure 21
STAND
TO THE
THESAW
ELBOW
LOCKED
.L
THUMB ON
UNDER SIDE
HANDLEBAR
NEVER
:REVERSE
HAND
POSITIONS
Figure 22
2. HOW YOU CAN REDUCE THE CHANCE
OF KICKBACK
a. Recognize that Kickback can happen, By
understanding and knowing about kick-
back, you can help eliminate the element of
surprise.
b. Avoid letting the moving chain contact any
object at the tip of the guide bar, F!gure 20.
c. Keep the working area free from:obstruc.
tions such as branches, rocks;, fences,
stumps, etc, Figure 21. Eliminate,.or avoid
any obstruction that the chaHi,:could hit
while cutting through a particdlar log or
branch.
d. Keep your saw" chain sharp and properly
tensioned. A loose or dull chain can in-
crease the chance of kickback. ::
e_Operate2the .engine at full thro_{le for all
......cuttirlg; If the Chain is moving _'÷a slower
speed during cutting, there i_s;greater
chance for kickback to occur.
[ Use the Lo Kick Guide Bar and Guard Link
Chain designed {or your particular saw.
These devices have been designed to
reduce the posibility of kickback.
g. Use extra caution if your saw is equipped
with the Power Sharp System, The Power
Sharp saw is equipped with a Lo Kick
Guide Bar and a Guard Link Chain.
However, due to the chain requirements of
the built in sharpening mechanism,
kickback force from the Power Sharp chain
may be greater than that from otherGuard
Link chains.
3. HOW YOU CAN MAINTAIN THE BEST
CONTROL
a. Keep a good firm grip on the saw._with both
hands. F!gure 22. A firm grip:';_-an he!p
neutralize kickback, tKeep the :_i_ige'r's of"
your qefthand-'encircling and your left
thumb under the: front handteb:ar. Keep
your right hand completely around the rear
handle. Keep your left arm straightwith the
elbow locked.
b. Position your left hand on .the front
handlebar so it is in a straight line,with your
right hand on the rear handle. Figure 22.
Never reverse right and left hand positions
on the saw handles.
c. Stand with your weight evenly balanced on
both feet.
d. Stand slightly to the left side of the saw, to
keep your body from being in a direct line
with the cutting chain, Figure 22.
e. Do not over reach. You could be drawn off
balance and lose control of the saw.
f, Do not cut above shoulder height. It is dif-
ficult to maintain control of the saw if you
cut above shoulder height.
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