4
A
void Obstructions
Clear The Working Area
REDUCE THE CHANCE OF
KICKBACK
S Recognize that kickback can happen.
With a basic understanding of kickback,
you can reduce the element of surprise
which contributes to accidents.
S Neverletthemovingchaincontactanyob-
ject a t the tip of t he guide bar.
S Keep the working area free f rom 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 ba r contact
branch or other objects around it.
S 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
andmaintenanceinstructions. Checkten-
sion at regular intervals with the engine
stopped, never with the engine running.
Make sure the chain brake nuts are se-
curelytightenedaftertensioningthechain.
S Beginand continuecuttingat fullspeed. If
the chain is moving at a slower speed,
thereis greater chanceofkickback occur-
ring.
S Cut one log at a time.
S Use extreme caution when re-entering a
previous cut.
S Do not attempt cuts starting withthe tip of
the bar (plunge cuts).
S Watch for shifting logs or other forces that
could close a cut and pinch or fall into
chain.
S 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
Thumb on underside of
handlebar
Elbow locked
S Keepagood,firmgriponthesawwithboth
hands when the engine is running and
don’tletgo. Afirmgripwillhelpyoureduce
kickback and m aintain control of the saw .
Keep the f ingers of your left h and encir-
cling and your left thumb under the front
handlebar. Keep your right hand com-
pletely around the rear handle whether
yourarerighthandedorlefthanded. Keep
your left arm straight with the elbow
locked.
S Positionyourlefthand onthefronthandle-
bar so it is in a straight line with your right
hand on the rear handle when making
bucking cuts. Never reverse rightand left
hand positions for any type of cutting.
S Standwithyourweightevenlybalancedon
both feet.
S Stand slightly tothe leftside of the saw to
keep your body from being in a direct line
with the cutting chain.
S Donot overreach. You could be drawn or
thrown off balance and lose control o f the
saw.
S Donotcutaboveshoulderheight. Itisdiffi-
cult to maintain control of saw above
shoulder height.
KICKBACK SAFETY F EATURES
WARNING: 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
chainsawuser,donotrelyonlyonsafetyde-
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 .
S 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 beendemonstrated tosignificantly re-
duce thenumberand seriousness of kick-
backs when tested in accordance with
safety requirements for gasoline powered
chain saws as set by ANSI B175.1.
SmallRadiusTip
ReducedKickbackSymmetrical GuideBar