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Chain Saw Kickback Safety Devices
WARNING!
Kickback can
happen lightning-fast!
Chain Brake
Your chain saw is equipped with a chain
brake that is designed to stop the chain in
the event of a kickback. The chain brake
reduces the risk of acci-dents, but only
you can prevent them.
The chain brake can be activated manu-
■
ally by your left hand pushing against
the hand guard or automatically by the
inertia release mechanism, in the event
of kickback, stopping the saw chain.
Activating the chain brake tightens ■
a brake band around the chain drive
mechanism, stopping the chain rotation.
NOTE:
The function of the front hand guard is
to reduce the risk of the chain hitting
your left hand if you loose the grip of
the front handle.
Either of the following reactions could
cause you to lose control of your saw while
cutting, possibly resulting in serious injury!
Kickback can occur whenever the guide 1.
bar nose or tip contact an object while
the saw is running. Tip contact may
cause the guide bar to kick upward and
back toward the operator with a light-
ning-fast reaction!
Pinching the saw along the top of the 2.
guide bar may push the guide bar rap-
idly back toward the operator! Pinch-
ing can occur whenever wood closes in
around the moving chain!
Do not rely exclusively on the safety
devices incorporated with your saw. As a
chain saw user, observing the following
steps will also help you to avoid accident
or injury on the job:
Sudden surprise can contribute to
■
accidents! With a basic understanding
of kickback, you can reduce or elimi-
nate the element of surprise.
Clear obstructions from the work area ■
before cutting. Remove any log, branch,
or other obstruction that might contact
the guide bar tip during cutting opera-
tions.Grip the saw rmly with your right
hand on the rear handle and your left
hand on the front handle, thumbs and
ngers encircling the handles whenever
the saw is running. Don’t let go: A rm
grip will help you to reduce kickback
while maintaining control of the saw.
Accelerate the saw before the chain ■
contacts the work area, and always
maintain high engine speeds through-
out the cut.
Do not overreach or attempt to cut
■
above shoulder height.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions
■
for sharpening and maintenance of
the saw chain.
Use only the replacement bar and
■
chain combinations specied by the
manufacturer.
Never stand directly over the saw
■
while cutting!
Use low-kickback chain, chain brakes, ■
or special guide bars to reduce the risk
of kickback. Low kickback chain is chain
that has met the kickback performance
requirements of ANSI B175.1-2000
(American National Standard for Power
Tools-Gasoline Powered Chain Saws-
Safety Requirements) when tested
on the representative sample of chain
saws below 3.8 c.i.d. specied in ANSI
B175.1-2000.
Kickback Safety Precautions
WARNING!
Faulty cutting equipment
or the wrong combination of bar
and saw chain increases the risk
of kickback! Only use the bar and
chain combinations recommended
in the “Specications” section.
WARNING!
Brake engagement and
oper-ation depend upon proper
chain brake condition! See “Chain
Brake Testing” for procedures..
Cutting Equipment
Guide bar. ■ The smaller the guide
bar tip radius the lower the chance
of kickback.
Low kick chain.
■ Low kickback
chain is designed to reduce the
force of a kickback.
CHN-16