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_ILWARNING: Avoid kickback
which can resuIt in serious injury.
Kickback is the backward, upward or
sudden forward motion of the guide
bar occurring when the saw chain near
the upper tip of the guide bar contacts
any object such as a log or branch, or
when the wood closes in and pinches
the saw chain in the cut. Contacting a
foreign object in the wood can also re-
suit in loss of chain saw control
• Rotational Kickback can occur
when the moving chain contacts an
object at the upper tip of the guide
bar. This contact can cause the
chain to dig into the object, which
stops the chain for an instant. The
result is a lightning fast, reverse
reaction which kicks the guide bar up
and back toward the operator.
• Pinch-Kickback can occur when the
the wood ctoses in and pinches the
moving saw chain in the cut along
the top of the guide bar and the saw
chain is suddenly stopped. This sud-
den stopping of the chain results in a
reversal of the chain force used to
cut wood and causes the saw to
move in the opposite direction of the
chain rotation. The saw is driven
straight back toward the operator.
• Pull-In can occur when the moving
chain contacts a foreign object in the
wood in the cut along the bottom of
the guide bar and the saw chain is
suddenly stopped. This sudden stop-
ping puils the saw forward and away
from the operator and could easily
cause the operator to lose control of
the saw,
REDUCE THE CHANCE OF
KICKBACK
• Recognize that kickback can hap-
pen. With a basic understanding of
kickback, you can reduce the ele-
ment of surprise which contributes to
accidents.
• Never tet the moving chain contact
any object at the tip of the guide bar.
• Keep the working area free from ob-
structions such as other trees,
branches, rocks, fences, stumps,
etc. Eliminate or avoid any
obstruction that your saw chain couId
hit white you are cutting.
• When cutting a branch, do not let the
guide bar contact branch or other ob-
jects around it.
• Keep saw chain sharp and properly
tensioned, A loose or dull chain can
increase the chance of kickback, Fol-
low manufacturer's chain sharpening
and maintenance instructions. Check
tension at regular intervals, but never
with the engine running. Make sure
the bar nuts are securely tightened.
• Begin and continue cutting at futl
speed. If the chain is moving at a
slower speed, there is greater
chance of kickback occurring.
• Use extreme caution when re-enter-
ing a previous cut,
• Do not attempt cuts starting with the
tip of the bar (plunge cuts),
• Watch for shifting logs or other forces
that could close a cut and pinch or
fail into chain,
• Use the Reduced-Kickback Guide
Bar and Low-Kickback Chain speci-
fied for your saw,
Avoid Pinch-Kickback:
• Be extremely aware of situations or
obstructions that can cause material
to pinch the top of or otherwise stop
the chain.
• Do not cut more than one log at a
time.
• Do not twist the saw as the bar is
withdrawn from an undercut when
bucking.
Avoid Putl-ln:
• Always begin cutting with the engine
at full speed and the saw housing
against wood.
• Use wedges made of ptastic or wood.
Never use metal to ho_dthe cut open.
MAINTAIN CONTROL
Stand to the left of the saw
Thumb on
h O,s,de",{
Never reverse hand positions
• A good, firm grip on the saw with both
hands will heIp you maintain control.
Don't let go. Grip the rear handle with
your right hand whether you are right
or left handed. Wrap the fingers of
your left hand over and around the
front handlebar, and your teft thumb
under the front handlebar. Keep your
ieff arm straight with the elbow locked,