._ ,l
Avoid
Obstructions
J _z4\ J
Clear The Working
Area
REDUCE
THE
CHANCE
OF
KICKBACK
• Recognize
that
kickback
can
happen.
With a basic understanding
of kickback,
you can reduce
the element
of surprise
which contributes
to accidents.
• Never let the moving chain contact any ob-
ject at the tip of the guide bar.
• Keep the working
area free from obstruc-
tions such as other trees, branches,
rocks,
fences,
stumps,
etc. Eliminate
or avoid
any obstruction
that your saw chain could
hit while you are cutting.
When
cutting
a
branch,
do not let the guide
bar contact
branch or other objects around
it.
• Keep your saw chain sharp and properly
tensioned.
A loose or dull chain can in-
crease the chance
of kickback
occurring.
Follow
manufacturer's
chain
sharpening
and maintenance
instructions.
Check ten-
sion at regular
intervals
with
the engine
stopped,
never with the engine
running.
Make
sure the chain brake
nuts are se-
curely tightened
after tensioning
the chain.
• Beginandcontinuecuttingatfulispeed.
If
the chain
is moving
at a slower
speed,
there is greater chance of kickback
occur-
ring.
• Out one log at a time.
• Use extreme
caution
when re-entering
a
previous
cut.
• Do not attempt cuts starting with the tip of
the bar (ptunge cuts).
• Watch for shifting logs or other forces that
could
close a cut and pinch
or fall into
chain.
• Use
the
Reduced-Kickback
Guide
Bar
and
Low-Kickback
Chain
specified
for
your saw.
MAINTAIN
CONTROL
Stand to the
hand positions
Thumb
on
underside
of
handlebar
\
!
t
Elbow
locked
Thumb on underside
of
handlebar
• Keep a good, firm grip on the saw with both
hands
when
the engine
is running
and
don't let go. A firm grip will help you reduce
kickback
and maintain
control of the saw.
Keep the fingers
of your left hand encir-
cling and your left thumb
under the front
handlebar.
Keep your
right
hand com-
ptetety around
the rear handle
whether
your are right handed or left handed.
Keep
your
left arm
straight
with
the
elbow
locked.
• Position your left hand on the front handle-
bar so it is in a straight
line with your right
hand
on the
rear handle
when
making
bucking
cuts.
Never reverse right and left
hand positions
for any type of cutting.
• Stand with your weight evenly balanced
on
both feet.
• Stand slightly to the left side of the saw to
keep your body from being in a direct
line
with the cutting chain.
• Do not overreach.
You could be drawn or
thrown off balance and lose control
of the
saw.
• Do not cut above shoulder height,
it is diffi-
cult
to maintain
control
of saw
above
shoulder
height.
KICKBACK
SAFETY
FEATURES
_kWARNING:
The following
features
are included on your saw to help reduce the
hazard of kickback;
however,
such features
will not totally
eliminate
this danger.
As a
chain saw user, do not rely only on safety de-
vices.
You must follow
all safety
precau-
tions, instructions,
and maintenance
in this
manual
to help avoid
kickback
and other
forces which can result in serious
injury.
• Reduced-Kickback
Guide
Bar, designed
with a small radius tip which reduces
the
size of the kickback
danger
zone on the
bar tip. A Reduced-Kickback
Guide
Bar
has been demonstrated
to significantly
re-
duce the number and seriousness
of kick-
backs
when
tested
in accordance
with
safety requirements
for gasoline
powered
chain saws as set by ANSI Bt75.1.