4
SMixand p our fuel in an outdoor area on bare
ground; store fuel in a cool, dry, well venti-
lated place; and use an approved, marked
container for all fuel purposes. Wipe up all
fuel spills before starting saw.
SMoveat least 10 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 cap
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 k ickback which
canr esult in serious injury. Kickback is the
backward,upward or sudden forward motion
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 the cut. Contac ting 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 of the
chain rotation. The saw is driven straight
back toward the operator.
SPull-In can occur when the moving chain
contacts a foreign object in the woodin the
cutalong the bot tom of the guide bar and the
sawc hainis s uddenly stopped. This sudden
stopping pulls the saw forward and away
fromthe operator and could e asily cause the
operator to lose control of the saw.
Avoid Pinch--Kickback:
SBeex tremely aware of situations or obstruc -
tionsthat c an cause material to pinch 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 housing against w ood.
SUse wedges made of plastic or wood.
Never use metal to hold the cut open.
Kickback Path
Avoid obstructions
Clear the working area
REDUCETHECHANCEOF
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-
tions such as other trees, b ranches, rocks,
fences, stumps, etc. Eliminate or avoid any
obstruction that your saw chain c ould hit
whiley ou are cutting through a particular log
or branch.
SKeep your saw chain sharp and properly
tensioned. A loose or dull c hain can increase
the chance of kickback occ urring. Follow
manufacturer’s chain sharpening and main-
tenanceins tructions. Check tension at regu-
lar intervals with the engine stopped, never
with the engine running. Make sure the bar
clamp nuts are securely tightened after ten-
sioning the chain.
SBeginand continue cutting 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 c uts starting with the tip of
the bar (plunge cuts).
SWatch for shifting 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.
MAINTAIN CONTROL
Never reverse
hand positions
Stand to the left of
the saw