Maintain Control, Kickback Safety Features

lar intervals with the engine stopped, never with the engine running. Make sure the bar clamp nuts are securely tightened after ten- sioning the chain.

SBegin and continue cutting at full speed. If the chain is moving at a slower speed, there is greater chance of kickback occurring.

SCut one log at a time.

SUse extreme caution when re-entering a previous cut.

SDo not attempt cuts starting with the tip of the bar (plunge cuts).

SWatch for shifting logs or other forces that

could close a cut and pinch or fall into chain.

SUse the Reduced--Kickback Guide Bar and Low--Kickback Chain specified for your saw.

MAINTAIN CONTROL

Stand to the left of the saw

Never reverse hand positions

Elbow locked

Thumb on underside of handlebar

SKeep a good, firm grip on the saw with both hands when the engine is running and don’t let go. A firm grip will help you reduce kickback and maintain control of the saw. Keep the fingers of your left hand encir- cling and your left thumb under the front handlebar. Keep your right hand complete- ly around the rear handle whether your are right handed or left handed. Keep your left

arm straight with the elbow locked.

SPosition your left hand on the front handle- bar so it is in a straight line with your right hand on the rear handle when making bucking cuts. Never reverse right and left

hand positions for any type of cutting.

SStand with your weight evenly balanced on

both feet.

SStand slightly to the left side of the saw to keep your body from being in a direct line

with the cutting chain.

SDo not overreach. You could be drawn or thrown off balance and lose control of the saw.

SDo not cut above shoulder height. It is diffi- cult to maintain control of saw above shoulder height.

KICKBACK SAFETY FEATURES

WARNING: The following features are included on your saw to help reduce the hazard of kickback; however, such features will not to- tally eliminate this dangerous reaction. As a chain saw user, do not rely only on safety de- vices. You must follow all safety precautions, instructions, and maintenance in this manual to help avoid kickback and other forces which can result in serious injury.

SReduced--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 been demonstrated to significantly reduce the number and seriousness of kickbacks.

Reduced Kickback Symmetrical Guide Bar

Small Radius Tip

Symmetrical Guide Bar

Large Radius Tip

S Low--Kickback Chain, designed with a contoured depth gauge and guard link which deflect kickback force and allow wood to gradually ride into the cutter.

Low-Kickback Chain

Contoured Depth Gauge Elongated Guard Link

Deflects Kickback Force And Allows Wood To Gradually Ride Into Cutter

S Handguard, designed to reduce the chance of your left hand contacting the chain if your hand slips off the front handle- bar.

SPosition of front and rear handlebars, de- signed with distance between handles and “in-line” with each other. The spread and “in-line” position of the hands provided by this design work together to give balance and resistance in controlling the pivot of the saw back toward the operator if kick- back occurs.

WARNING: DO NOT RELY UPON ANY OF THE 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 bar as original equipment. Repairs on a chain brake should be made by an authorized servicing dealer. Take your unit to the place of purchase if purchased from a servicing dealer, or to the nearest au- thorized master service dealer.