Poulan 2000-08 Chainsaw User Manual


 
9
CHAIN BRAKE
WARNING:
WE DO NOT REP-
RESENT AND YOU SHOULD NOT AS-
SUME THAT THE CHAIN BRAKE WILL
PROTECT YOU IN THE EVENT OF A
KICKBACK. Kickback i s a lightning fast ac-
tion which throws the bar and rotating chain
back and up toward the operator. Kickback
can be caused byallowing contact of the bar
tip in the danger zone with any hard object.
Kickback canalsobecausedby pinching the
sawchain alongthetopof theguide bar. This
action may push the guide bar rapidly back
toward the operator. Either of these events
may cause you to lose control of the saw
which could result in serious injury or even
death. DO NOTRELY UPON ANY OFTHE
SAFETY DEVICES BUILT INTO YOUR
SAW. YOU SHOULD USE THE SAW
PROPERLY AND CAREFULLY TO AVOID
KICKBACK. Reduced--kickback guide bars
and low--kickback saw chains reduce the
chance and magnitude of kickback and are
recommended. Your saw has a low kick-
back chain and baras original equipment. If
the brake band is worn too t hin it may break
when the chain brake is triggered. With a
broken brake band, the chain brake will not
stop thechain. The chain brakeshould bere-
placed by anauthorized service dealer if any
part is worn to less than 1/32” thick. Repairs
on a chain brake should be made by an au-
thorized service dealer. Take your unit to the
place of purchase if purchased from a ser-
vicing dealer, or to the nearest authorized
master service dealer.
S
This saw is equipped with a chain brake.
The brake is designed to stop the chain if
kickback occurs.
S
The inertia--activated chain brake is
activated if the front hand guard is pushed
forward, either manually (by hand) or
automatically (by sudden movement).
S
If the brake is al ready activated, it i s
disengaged bypulling thefront handguard
back toward the front handle as far as
possible.
S
When cutting with the saw,the chain brake
must be disengaged.
Disengaged
Engaged
Braking function control
CAUTION:
The chain brake must be
checked several times daily. The engine
must berunning when performing thisproce-
dure. This is the only instance when the saw
should be placed on the ground with the en-
gine running.
Place the saw on firm ground. Hold t he han-
dles with both hands and apply full throttle.
Activate the chain brake by turning your left
wrist against the hand guard without releas-
ing your grip around the front handle. The
chain should stop immediately.
Inertia activating function control
WARNING:
When performing the
following procedure, the engine must be
turned off.
Hold the chain saw approximately 14” (35
cm)above a stump orother wooden surface.
Release your grip on the front handle and
use the weight of the saw to let the top of the
guide barfall forward and contact the stump.
When the tip of the bar hits the stump, the
brake should activate.
CUTTING METHODS
IMPORTANT POINTS
S
Check chain tension before first use and
after 1 minute of operation. S ee CHAIN
TENSION in the ASSEMBLY s ection.
S
Cut wood only. Do not cut metal, plastics,
masonry, non-wood building materials,
etc.
S
Stop the saw if the c hain strikes a foreign
object. Inspect the saw and repair or r e-
place parts as necessary.
S
Keep thechain outofdirt andsand. Evena
small amount ofdirt will quickly dull achain
and thus increase the possibility of kick-
back.
S
Practice cutting afew small logs using the
following techniques to get the “feel” of us-
ing your saw before you begin a major
sawing operation.
S
Squeeze the throttle trigger and allow
the engine to reach full speed before
cutting.
S
Begin cutting with the saw frame
against the log.
S
Keep the engine at full speed the en-
tire time you are cutting.
S
Allow the chain to cut for you. Exert
only light downward pressure. If you
force the cut, damage to the bar,
chain, or engine can result.
S
Release the throttle trigger as soon as
the cut is completed, allowing the en-
gine to idle. If you run the s aw at full
throttle without a cutting load, unnec-
essary wear can occur to the chain,
bar, and engine.
S
To avoid losing control when cut is
complete, do not put pressure onsaw
at end of cut.
S
Stop the engine before setting the saw
down after cutting.
TREE FELLING TECHNIQUES
WARNING:
Check for broken or
dead branches which can fall while cutting
causing serious injury. Donot cutnear build-
ings or electrical wires ifyou donot knowthe
direction of tree fall, norcutat night since you
will not be ale to see well, nor during bad
weather suchas rain, snow ,or strong winds,
etc.