SAFETY RULES
Never Reverse
Hand Positi_
/4
Thumb On
Under Si
Of Handlebar
| Elbow \
11 Stand To
The Left
Of The Saw
Figure4
REDUCETHE CHANCE OF KICKBACK
° Recognize that kickback can happen. With abasic
understandingof kickback, you can reduce the element of
surprise which contributes to accidents,,
•Never letthe moving chain contact anyobject at thetip
of the guide bar. Figure2.
.Keep the working area free from obstructions such as
othertrees,branches, rocks, fences,stumps,etc.Figure3.
Eliminateoravoid any obstruction thatyourchaincouldhit
whileyouare cuttingthrougha particularlog or branch_
-Keep yourchain sharp and properly tensioned. A loose
or'dutlchaincan increasethe chance ofkickback to occur.
Followmanufacturer's chainsharpeningand maintenance
instructionsCheck tension at regular intervalswith the
enginestopped, never withthe enginerunning_Makesure
the bar clampnutsare securely tightenedaftertensioning
the chain_
•Begin andcontinue cutting at full throttle. Ifthe chainis
moving ata slower speed,there isgreaterchance forkick-
back to occur,
•Cut one log at a time.
•Use extremecaution when re-entering a previous cut,
=Do not attempt plunge cuts.
•Watch for shifting logs orother forcesthatcouldclosea
cutand pinchor fat!intochain,.
-Use the Reduced-Kickback Guide Bar and Low-
KickbackChain specifiedfor your saw.
KICKBACK SAFETY FEATURES
l_ WARNING:
THE FOLLOWING FEATURES ARE INCLUD-
ED ON YOUR SAW TO HELP REDUCE THE
HAZARD OF KICKBACK; HOWEVER, SUCH
FEATURES WILL NOT TOTALLY ELIMINATE
THIS DANGEROUS REACTION. AS A CHAIN
SAW USER, DO NOT RELY ONLYON SAFETY
DEVICES.YOU MUST FOLLOW ALL SAFETY
PRECAUTIONS, INSTRUCTIONS, AND MAIN-
TENANCE IN THIS MANUALTO HELP AVOID
KICKBACK AND OTHER FORCES WHICH
CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY.
Reduced-Kickback Guide Bar, designed with a small
radiustip which reduces the size of the kickback danger
zone on the guide bar tip. Figure 5. A Reduced-Kickback
Guide Bar is one which has been demonstrated to signif-
icantly reduce the number and seriousness of kickbacks
when tested in accordance with ANSI BI75,1-199l.
•Low-Kickback Chain, designed with a contoured depth
gauge and guard link which deflect kickback force and
allow woodto gradually rideintothe cutter:Figure5. Low-
KickbackChain is chain which has met kickback perfor-
mance requirements of ANSI B175,,1-1991 when tested
on a representativesample ofchainsaws below3.8 cubic
inchdisplacement specified in ANSI B175_1-1991.
MAINTAIN CONTROL
.Keep a good, firm grip on the saw with both hands
when the engine is running and don't let go. Figure4.
A firm gdp can neutralizekickback and help you maintain
control ofthe saw. Keepthe fingers of your left hand encir-
cling and your left thumb under the front handlebar:Keep
your right hand completely around the rear handle whether
you are right handed or left handed_Keep your left arm
straight with the elbow locked.
°Position your left hand on the front handlebar so it is
in a straight line with your right hand on the rear han-
dle when making bucking cuts, Figure4. Never'reverse
right and left hand positions forany typeof cutting.
oStand with your weight evenly balanced on bothfeet.
, Stand slightly to the left side of the saw to keep your
body from being in a direct line with the cutting chain.
Figure 4.
•Do not overreach. Youcould be drawn or thrown off bal-
ance and losecontrol of the saw.
o Do not cut above shoulder height. It isdifficult to main-
talncontrolofsaw above shoulder height.
UNDERSTANDING REACTIVE FORCES
Pinch-Kickback and PulHn occur when the chain issud-
denly stopped by being pinched, caught, or by contact-
ing a foreign object in the wood_Thisstoppingofthechain
results inareversalof the chainforce usedto cut woodand
causes the saw to move in the opposite direction ofthe chain
rotation,.Either reaction can result in loss of control and pos-
sible serious injury.
•Pinch-Kickback
-occurs when chain on top of guide bar is suddenly
stopped.
-rapidly drives saw straight back toward operator.
•Puff-In
- occurs when the chain on the bottom of the guide bar is
suddenly stopped,.
-pulls the saw rapidly forward
• Handguard, designed to reduce the chance ofyour left
hand contactingthe chainif your hand slips offthe front
handlebar_
•Position of front and rear handlebars, designed with
distance between handlesand "in-line" with each other:
The spread and "imline" positionof thehands providedby
thisdesign work togetherto give balance and resistance
in controllingthe pivotof the saw back towardthe opera-
tot if kickbackoccurs
•ANSI B175 1-199! _ Safety requirements for gasotine powered chain
saws as set by the American National Standards Insl_tute, Inc,
Standard B175.1-1991.
Reduc_ Kickba_k R_dius T_p
Symt_elt_c_ Guido B_r
G_t_e Bat Radiu_ "_p
'_ Can C_struct
ChtJ_ With High
K_k_ck ForintS!
Figure 5
_4_