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Move at least 10 feet (3meters) f rom fuel-
ing site before starting engine.
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Turn the engine off and let saw cool in a
non-combustible area, not on dry leaves,
straw, paper, etc. Slowly remove fuel cap
and refuel unit.
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Store theunit andfuel inan areawhere fuel
vapors cannot reach sparks or open
flames from water heaters, electric motors
or switches, furnaces, etc.
KICKBACK
WARNING:
Avoid kickback which
can result in serious injury. Kickback is the
backward, upward orsudden forward motion
of the guide bar occurring when the saw
chain near the upper tip oftheguide barcon-
tacts any object such as a log or branch, or
when the wood closes in and pinches the
sawchain in thecut. Contacting a foreign ob-
ject in the wood can also result in l oss of
chain saw control.
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Rotational Kickback can occurwhen the
moving chain contacts anobject at the up-
per 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 to-
ward the operator.
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Pinch-Kickback can occur when the the
wood closes 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 sudden stopping of the
chain results in a reversal of the chain
force used to cut wood and causes the
sawtomove inthe opposite direction of the
chain rotation. The saw is driven straight
back toward the operator.
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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 stopping pulls thesawforward and
away from the operator and could easily
cause the operator to lose control of the
saw.
A v oid Pinch--Kickback:
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Be extremely aware of situations or ob-
structions that can cause material topinch
the top of or otherwise stop the chain.
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Do not cut more than one l og at a time.
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Do not twist the saw as the bar is with-
drawn from an undercut when bucking.
Avoid Pull--In:
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Always begin cutting with the engine atfull
speed andthe saw housing against wood.
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Use wedges made of plastic or wood.
Never use metal to hold the c ut open.
Kickback Path
Avoid Obstructions
Clear The Working Area
REDUCE THE CHANCE OF
KICKBACK
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Recognize that kickback can happen.
With a basic understanding of kickback,
you can reduce the element of surprise
which contributes to accidents.
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Never let themoving chain contact anyob-
ject at the t ip of the guide bar.
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Keep the working area free from obstruc-
tionssuchas othertrees, 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.
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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 thechain.
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Begin and continue cutting at full speed. If
the chain is moving at a slower speed,
there is greater chance of kickback occur-
ring.
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Cut one log at a time.
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Use extreme caution when re-entering a
previous cut.
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Do not attempt cuts starting with the t ip of
the bar (plunge cuts).
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Watch for shifting logs or other f orces that
could close a cut and pinch or fall into
chain.
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Use the Reduced--Kickback Guide Bar
and Low--Kickback Chain specified for
your saw.
MAINTAIN CONTROL
Never reverse
hand positions
Stand to the
left of the saw
Thumb on
underside of
handlebar