SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Chain brake and front hand guard

Your chain saw is equipped with a chain brake that is designed to stop the chain immediately if you get a kickback. The chain brake reduces the risk of accidents, but only you can prevent them.

Take care when using your saw and make sure the kickback zone of the bar never touches any object.

The chain brake (A) can either be activated manually (by your left hand) or automatically by the inertia release mechanism (a pendulum that swings independently of the chain saw. On most of our models the front hand guard acts as a counterweight in case of kickback).

The brake is applied when the front hand guard (B) is pushed forwards.

This movement activates a spring-loaded mechanism that tightens the brake band (C) around the engine drive system (D) (clutch drum).

The front hand guard is not designed solely to activate the chain brake. Another important feature is that it reduces the risk of the chain hitting your left hand if you lose grip of the front handle.

The chain brake must be engaged when the chain saw is started.

You can also use the chain brake as a temporary brake when you change position or if you put the chain saw down for a short time! Apart from the fact that a chain saw with a chain brake greatly reduces the risk of accidents

due to kickback, you should also apply the chain brake manually if there is a risk of the chain accidentally hitting anyone or anything close by.

To release the chain brake pull the front hand guard backwards, towards the front handle.

Kickback can be very sudden and violent. Most kickbacks are minor and do not always activate the chain brake. If this happens you should hold the chain saw firmly and not let go.

The way the chain brake is activated, either manually or automatically by the inertia release mechanism, depends on the force of the kickback and the position of the chain saw in relation to the object that the kickback zone of the bar strikes.

If you get a violent kickback while the kickback zone of the bar is farthest away from you the chain brake will be activated by the movement of the counterweight (inertia activated) in the kickback direction.

If the kickback is less violent or the kickback zone of the bar is closer to you the chain brake will be activated manually by the movement of your left hand.

During felling your left hand grasps the front handle in such a way that it cannot activate the chain brake. In this position, i.e. when your left hand is in such a position that

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Husqvarna 346XP EPA II, 353 EPA I manual Chain brake and front hand guard