WORKING TECHNIQUES
General rules
1If you understand what kickback is and how it happens then you can reduce or eliminate the element of surprise. By being prepared you reduce the risk. Kickback is usually quite mild, but it can sometimes be very sudden and violent.
2Always hold the chain saw firmly with your right hand on the rear handle and your left hand on the front handle. Wrap your fingers and thumbs around the handles. You should use this grip whether you are
3Most kickback accidents happen during limbing. Make sure you are standing firmly and that there is nothing in the way that might make you trip or lose your balance.
Lack of concentration can lead to kickback if the kickback zone of the bar accidentally touches a branch, nearby tree or some other object.
Have control over the workpiece. If the pieces you intend to cut are small and light, they can jam in the saw chain and be thrown towards you. Even if this does not need to be a danger, you may be surprised and lose control of the saw. Never saw stacked logs or branches without first separating them. Only saw one log or one piece at a time. Remove the cut pieces to keep your working area safe.
4Never use the chain saw above shoulder height and avoid cutting with the tip of the bar. Never use the chain saw
5In order to keep control of your saw, always maintain a firm foothold. Never work on a ladder, in a tree or on any other insecure support.
6Always use a fast cutting speed, i.e. full throttle.
7Take great care when you cut with the top edge of the bar, i.e. when cutting from the underside of the object. This is known as cutting with a pushing chain. The chain tries to push the chain saw back towards the user. If the saw chain is jamming, the saw may be pushed back at you.
8Unless the user resists this pushing force there is a risk that the chain saw will move so far backwards that only the kickback zone of the bar is in contact with the tree, which can lead to a kickback.
Cutting with the bottom edge of the bar, i.e. from the top of the object downwards, is known as cutting with a pulling chain. In this case the chain saw pulls itself towards the tree and the front edge of the chain saw body rests naturally on the trunk when cutting. Cutting with a pulling chain gives the operator better control over the chain saw and the position of the kickback zone.
9Follow the instructions on sharpening and maintaining your bar and chain. When you replace the bar and chain use only combinations that are recommended by us. See instructions under the headings Cutting equipment and Technical data.
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