5
KEY CHAIN SAW TERMS – See Glossary at back for additional terms.
KICK GUARD® DEVICE - The ECHO brand name for its
anti-kickback bar tip guard.
PINCH - Specifically the closing-in of the wood which
pinches and stops the chain along the top rails of the guide bar
during a cut. This can result in the chain saw being propelled
straight back toward the operator (called a Linear Kickback).
Pinch can also occur on the lower rails of the bar, resulting in
the chain saw being pulled away from the operator.
PUSH AND PULL - When cutting is done along the bottom rails
of the guide bar, the reaction on the saw is to pull away from the
operator. When the top of the guide bar is used, the reaction
pushes the saw towards the operator. Both are normal reactions
which must be controlled by the operator.
REDUCED-KICKBACK GUIDE BAR - Guide bars which are
recognized by the ANSI Standard B175.1 as having as small or
reduced radius nose to reduce the potential kickback area.
LOW, or REDUCED-KICKBACK SAW CHAIN - Saw chain
which has been demonstrated to reduce kickback on a selected
group of chain saw models during ANSI testing. Before using
“reduced kickback” chain, ask your ECHO dealer to determine
if your chain saw can accommodate “reduced-kickback” chain
and still meet the 45-degree CKA requirement explained on page
13.
SKATING - When the chain saw fails to dig in during a cut, the
guide bar can begin hopping or dangerously skidding along the
surface of the log or branch, possibly resulting in the loss of
control of the chain saw. To prevent or reduce skating, hold the
chain saw with two hands and make sure the saw chain
establishes a groove for cutting.
THROTTLE TRIGGER - Located in the rear handle, it is used
to control the speed of the engine.
THROTTLE TRIGGER LATCH BUTTON - The control used on
some chain saws to set the throttle for a fast idle speed, which
may be required to start a cold engine. The throttle can be
unlatched by squeezing and releasing the throttle trigger.
THROTTLE TRIGGER LOCKOUT LEVER - A safety lever on
the top of the top/rear handle which must be depressed before
the throttle trigger can be activated. When the operator lets go
of the top/rear handle, the throttle will be locked in idle position.
BALLISTIC - A special material used in protection devices
designed to reduce the risk of penetration from chain contact.
BINDING - Closing of the cut or shifting of the wood, possibly
trapping the saw blade in the cut. Binding includes pinching.
(Also, see PINCH.)
CHAIN CATCHER - A projection designed to reduce the risk of
the operator’s right hand from being hit by a chain, which has
broken or derailed from the guide bar during cutting.
CHAIN TENSIONER - The device which permits precise
adjustment of the chain tension.
CHAPS - Specially designed leg protection, which can reduce
the risk of injury due to contact with a moving saw chain.
FOLLOW THROUGH - After the chain saw completes a cut and
is no longer supported by the wood, an uncontrolled chain saw
can continue on its path and strike the legs, feet or body of the
operator.
FRONT HAND GUARD - This required device is intended
to reduce the operator’s risk of injury from projecting
branches and saw-chain contact with the left hand in the
event the operator loses his grip from the upper part of the
handle.
GUIDE BAR - The grooved bar that supports and guides the
saw chain.
KERF - The grooved cut produced by the saw chain cutters.
KICKBACK - The general term describing rotational and linear
kickback, two highly dangerous reactions which can occur when
operating a chain saw. When used alone in this manual, the
term “kickback” refers to rotational kickback. To prevent
kickback, keep the bar nose properly covered with the Kick
Guard® device. If the Kick Guard® device is absent, kickback
can occur if the unshielded bar nose touches an object or the
ground.
ROTATIONAL KICKBACK - The violent reaction which can
occur when the chain at the upper section of the nose is suddenly
stopped or impeded, thereby dangerously driving the bar nose
in an upward arc toward the operator.
LINEAR KICKBACK - A push reaction, which can
occur under certain conditions with the guide bar buried in the
cut when the cut closes, pinching the chain along the top rails
of the guide bar and propelling the chain saw straight back
toward the operator.