Poulan SM446E Reduce the Chance Kickback, Maintain Control, Kickback Safety Features, Tip

S Pull-Incan occur when the moving chain contacts a foreign object in the wood in the cut along the bottom of the guide bar and the chain is suddenly stopped. This sudden stopping pulls the pruner forward and away from the operator and could easily cause the operator to lose control of the pruner.

REDUCE THE CHANCE OF

KICKBACK

SRecognize that kickback can happen. With

a basic understanding of kickback, you can reduce the element of surprise which contributes to accidents.

S Never let the moving chain contact any object at the tip of the guide bar.

S Keep the working area free from obstructions such as other trees, branches, rocks, stumps, etc. Eliminate or avoid any obstruction that your chain could hit while you are cutting. When cutting a branch, do not let the guide bar contact branch or other objects around it.

S Keep your chain sharp and properly tensioned. A loose or dull chain can increase the chance of kickback occurring. Follow manufacturer’s chain sharpening and maintenance instructions. Check tension at regular intervals with the engine stopped, never with the engine running. Make sure the bar clamp nut is securely tightened after tensioning 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 branch 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 of wood 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 unit.

MAINTAIN CONTROL

SKeep a good, firm grip on the pruner with both hands when the engine is running and don’t let go. A firm grip will help you reduce kickback and maintain control. Keep the fingers of your left hand encircling and your left thumb under the assist handle. Keep your right hand completely around the

throttle handle whether your are right handed or left handed.

SStand with your weight evenly balanced on both feet.

SStand slightly to the left side of the pruner to keep your body from being in a direct line with the cutting chain.

KICKBACK SAFETY FEATURES

The following features are included on your pruner to help reduce the hazard of kickback; however, such features will not totally elimi- nate this danger. As a pruner user, do not rely only on safety devices. You must follow all safety precautions, instructions, and mainte- nance 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.

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.

Contoured Depth Gauge

	Elongated Guard Link
	Deflects
Low--- Kickback	kickback force
	and allows wood
Chain	to gradually ride
	into cutter
	Can Obstruct Material

Not a Low--- Kickback Chain

SAFETY NOTICE: Exposure to vibrations through prolonged use of gasoline powered hand tools could cause blood vessel or nerve damage in the fingers, hands, and joints of people prone to circulation disorders or ab- normal swellings. Prolonged use in cold weather has been linked to blood vessel dam- age in otherwise healthy people. If symptoms occur such as numbness, pain, loss of strength, change in skin color or texture, or loss of feeling in the fingers, hands, or joints, discontinue the use of this tool and seek med- ical attention. An anti--vibration system does not guarantee the avoidance of these prob- lems. Users who operate power tools on a continual and regular basis must monitor closely their physical condition and the condi- tion of this tool.

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