Craftsman 358.35181 manual Reduce the Chance Kickback, Avoid Pinch-Kickback, Avoid Putl-ln

_ILWARNING: Avoid kickback

which can resuIt in serious injury. Kickback is the backward, upward or sudden forward motion of the guide bar occurring when the saw chain near the upper tip of the guide bar contacts any object such as a log or branch, or when the wood closes in and pinches the saw chain in the cut. Contacting a foreign object in the wood can also re- suit in loss of chain saw control

•Rotational Kickback can occur

when the moving chain contacts an

object at the upper tip of the guide bar. This contact can cause the

chain to dig into the object, which stops the chain for an instant. The result is a lightning fast, reverse reaction which kicks the guide bar up and back toward the operator.

•Pinch-Kickbackcan occur when the the wood ctoses in and pinches the moving saw chain in the cut along the top of the guide bar and the saw chain is suddenly stopped. This sud-

den stopping of the chain results in a reversal of the chain force used to

cut wood and causes the saw to

move in the opposite direction of the chain rotation. The saw is driven

straight back toward the operator.

•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 saw chain is suddenly stopped. This sudden stop- ping puils the saw forward and away from the operator and could easily

cause the operator to lose control of the saw,

REDUCE THE CHANCE OF

KICKBACK

•Recognize that kickback can hap- pen. With a basic understanding of kickback, you can reduce the ele- ment of surprise which contributes to accidents.

•Never tet the moving chain contact any object at the tip of the guide bar.

•Keep the working area free from ob- structions such as other trees,

branches, rocks, fences, stumps, etc. Eliminate or avoid any obstruction that your saw chain couId hit white you are cutting.

•When cutting a branch, do not let the guide bar contact branch or other ob- jects around it.

•Keep saw chain sharp and properly tensioned, A loose or dull chain can increase the chance of kickback, Fol-

low manufacturer's chain sharpening and maintenance instructions. Check

tension at regular intervals, but never with the engine running. Make sure the bar nuts are securely tightened.

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

•Use extreme caution when re-enter- ing a previous cut,

•Do not attempt cuts starting with the tip of the bar (plunge cuts),

•Watch for shifting logs or other forces

that could close a cut and pinch or fail into chain,

•Use the Reduced-Kickback Guide Bar and Low-Kickback Chain speci-

fied for your saw,

Avoid Pinch-Kickback:

•Be extremely aware of situations or obstructions that can cause material

to pinch the top of or otherwise stop the chain.

•Do not cut more than one log at a time.

•Do not twist the saw as the bar is withdrawn from an undercut when

bucking.

Avoid Putl-ln:

•Always begin cutting with the engine at full speed and the saw housing against wood.

•Use wedges made of ptastic or wood.

Never use metal to ho_d the cut open.

MAINTAIN CONTROL Stand to the left of the saw

Thumb on

h O,s,de",{

Never reverse hand positions

•A good, firm grip on the saw with both hands will heIp you maintain control. Don'tlet go. Grip the rear handle with your right hand whether you are right or left handed. Wrap the fingers of your left hand over and around the front handlebar, and your teft thumb under the front handlebar. Keep your ieff arm straight with the elbow locked,