4
ventilated place; and use an approved,
marked container for all fuel purposes.
Wipeup allf uel spills before starting saw.
SMoveat least10 feet ( 3 meters) from fuel-
ings ite before starting engine.
STurn the engine off and let saw cool in a
non-combustible area, not on dry leaves,
straw,paper, etc. Slowly remove fuel c ap
andr efuel unit.
SStorethe unit and fuel in an area where fuel
vapors cannot reach sparks or open
flamesfrom water heaters , electric motors
or switches, furnaces, etc.
KICKBACK
WARNING: Avoid kic kback which
canr esult in serious injury. Kickback is the
backward,upward or suddenforwardmotion
of the guide bar occurring when the s aw
chainnear the upper tip ofthe guide bar con-
tacts any object such as a log or branch, or
when the wood closes in and pinches the
sawchain in thecut. Contacting a foreign ob-
ject in the wood can also result in loss of
chain saw control.
SRotationalK ickback canoccur when the
movingchain c ontacts an object at the up-
per 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 to-
ward the operator.
SPinch-Kickback can occur when the the
wood closes 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 sudden stopping of the
chain results in a revers al of the chain
force used to cut wood and causes the
sawto move in the opposite direction ofthe
chain rotation. The saw is driven straight
back toward the operator.
SPull-In can occur when the moving chain
contactsa for eign object in the wood in the
cut along the bottom of the guide bar and
the saw chain is suddenly stopped. This
suddenstopping pulls the s aw forward and
away from the operator and could easily
cause the operator to lose control of the
saw.
Avoid Pinch--Kickback:
SBe extremely aware of situations or ob-
structions that can cause material topinch
the top of or otherwise stop the chain.
SDo not cut more than one log at a time.
SDo not twist the saw as the bar is with-
drawn from an undercut when bucking.
AvoidPu ll--In:
SAlways begin cutting with the engine at full
speedand the saw housingagainst wood.
SUse wedges made of plastic or wood.
Never use metal to hold the cut open.
Kickback Path
A
void Obstructions
ClearThe Working Area
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.
SNeverlet t he moving chain contac t any ob-
ject at the tip of the guide bar.
SKeep the working area free from obstruc-
tionssuch as othertrees, branches, rocks ,
fences, stumps, etc. Eliminate or avoid
anyobs truction that your saw chain could
hitwhile y ou are cutting through apar ticu-
lar log or branch.
SKeep your saw chain sharp and pr operly
tensioned. A loose or dull chain can in-
crease the chance of kickback occurring.
Follow manufacturer’s chain sharpening
andmaintenance instruc tions. Checkten-
sion at regular intervals with the engine
stopped, never with the engine running.
Make sure the chain brake nuts are se-
curelytightened after tensioningthec hain.
SBeginand continue cut ting at full speed. If
the chain is moving at a slower speed,
thereis greater c hance of kickback occur -
ring.
SCut one log at a time.
SUse extreme caution when re-entering a
previous cut.
SDo notattempt cuts starting with the tip of
the bar (plunge cuts).
SWatchfor s hifting 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.
MAINTAINCONTROL
Never reverse
hand positions
Stand to the left of
thesaw