Product Manual
8
9
With a basic understanding of kickback, you can
reduce or eliminate the element of surprise. Sud-
den surprise contributes to accidents.
• Keep proper footing and balance at all times.
• Maintain a rm grip on the pruning
saw and position your body and
arm(s) to allow you to resist kick-
back forces. Kickback forces can be
controlled by the operator, if proper
precautions are taken. Do not let go
of the pruning saw.
• Do not overreach and do not cut above shoulder
height. This helps prevent unintended tip contact
and enables better control of the pruning saw in
unexpected situations.
• 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 cutting speed.
• Only use replacement guide bars and saw chains
specied by the manufacturer. Incorrect replace-
ment guide bars and saw chains may cause chain
breakage and/or kickback.
• Follow the manufacturer’s sharpening and
maintenance instructions for the saw chain.
Decreasing the depth gauge height can lead to in-
creased kickback.
• Follow all instructions when clearing jammed
material, storing or servicing the pruning saw.
Make sure the switch is o and the battery pack
is removed. Unexpected actuation of the pruning
saw while clearing jammed material or servicing
may result in serious personal injury.
• 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.
Reaction
Direction
of rotation
Reaction
Direction
of rotation
Turning the Tool On / O
WARNING
Hold the pruning saw
with your right hand
on the trigger handle and your left
hand on the body grip. Position
your body and arm(s) to allow you
to resist kickback forces. A rm grip
together with a sti left arm will help you maintain
control of the saw if kickback occurs. Keep body to
the left of the chain line. Never straddle the saw
or chain, or lean over past the chain line.
Wear non-slip gloves for maximum grip and
protection.
1. Insert the battery pack.
2. Grip both handles securely, keeping body out of
line with the chain.
3. Press in the lock-o button and pull the trigger.
4. Allow pruning saw to come to full speed before
contacting workpiece.
5. To stop, release the trigger. Hold saw still until
chain comes to a complete stop.
WARNING
Never attempt to lock the trigger in
the ON position.
Proper Cutting Stance
WARNING
Always use the proper cutting
stance described in this section.
Never kneel when using the pruning saw, except
when felling a tree. Kneeling could result in loss
of stability and control of the pruning saw, result-
ing in serious personal injury.
• Weight should be balanced with both feet on
solid ground.
• Keep left arm with elbow locked in a “straight
arm” position to withstand any kickback force.
• Your body should always be to the left of the
chain line.
• Thumb should be on underside of handlebar.
Chain Line
Straight
Arm
Position
Basic Cutting Procedure
Practice cutting a few small logs using the following
technique to get the “feel” of using the saw before
you begin a major sawing operation.
• Take the proper stance in front of the wood with
the saw o.
• Squeeze the switch trigger and let the chain acceler-
ate to full speed before entering the cut.
• Begin cutting with the saw against the log.
• Keep the unit running the entire time you are cutting,
maintain a steady speed.
• Allow the chain to cut for you; exert only light down-
ward pressure. If you force the cut, damage to the
bar, chain, or unit can result.
• Release the switch trigger as soon as the cut is
completed, allowing the chain to stop. If you run the
saw without a cutting load, unnecessary wear can
occur to the chain, bar, and unit.
• Do not put pressure on the saw at the end of cut.
Work Area Precautions
• Cut only wood or materials made from wood, no
sheet metal, no plastics, no masonry, no non-wood
building materials.
• Never allow children to operate the saw. Allow no
person to use this pruning saw who has not read this
Operator’s Manual or received adequate instructions
for the safe and proper use of this pruning saw.
• Do not attempt to fell a tree or sapling greater than
3" (76 mm) in diameter. To avoid death or serious
injury, operator must be trained in safe tree felling
techniques, in the use of all appropriate safety
equipment and use of a pruing saw suitable for the
application.
• Always cut with both feet on solid surface to prevent
being pulled o balance.
• Do not cut above shoulder height, as a saw held
higher is dicult to control against kickback forces.
• Do not fell trees near electrical wires or buildings.
Leave this operation for professionals.
• Cut only when visibility and light are adequate for
you to see clearly.
• Check work area for hazards such as bees, rodents,
snakes, etc., that may live in trees or brush.
Bucking
Bucking is the term used for cutting a fallen tree to
the desired log length.
• Always make sure your footing is secure and your
weight is distributed evenly on both feet.
• Cut only one log at a time.
• Support small logs on a saw horse or another log
while bucking.
• Keep a clear cutting area. Make sure that no objects
can contact the guide bar nose and chain during
cutting, this can cause kickback.
• Never allow someone to hold the log during cutting.
• Never stabilize log with leg or feet.
Kickback
• When bucking on a slope, always stand on the uphill
side of the log. To maintain complete control of the
pruning saw when cutting through the log, release
the cutting pressure near the end of the cut without
relaxing your grip on the grasping surfaces. Do not
let the chain contact the ground. After completing
the cut, wait for the saw chain to stop before you
move the pruning saw. Always stop the motor before
moving from tree to tree.
• Sometimes it is impossible to avoid pinching (with
just standard cutting techniques) or dicult to predict
which way a log will settle when cut. To avoid pinch-
ing while cutting, rotate or move the log so that the
pinch is eliminated.