McCulloch MAC 838 instruction manual Kickback Safety Features

Elbow locked

Thumb on underside of handlebar

SKeep a good, firm grip on the saw with both hands when the engine is running and don’t let go. A firm grip will help you reduce kick- back and maintain control of the saw. Keep the fingers of your left hand encircling and your left thumb under the front handlebar. Keep your right hand completely around the rear handle whether your are right handed or left handed. Keep your left arm straight with

the elbow locked.

SPosition your left hand on the front handle- bar so it is in a straight line with your right hand on the rear handle when making bucking cuts. Never reverse right and left

hand positions for any type of cutting.

SStand with your weight evenly balanced on both feet.

SStand slightly to the left side of the saw to

keep your body from being in a direct line with the cutting chain.

SDo not overreach. You could be drawn or thrown off balance and lose control of the

saw.

SDo not cut above shoulder height. It is diffi- cult to maintain control of saw above shoulder height.I

KICKBACK SAFETY FEATURES

WARNING: The following features are included on your saw to help reduce the hazard of kickback; however, such features will not to- tally eliminate this dangerous reaction. As a chain saw user, do not rely only on safety de- vices. You must follow all safety precautions, instructions, and maintenance in this manual to help avoid kickback and other forces which can result in serious injury.

SReduced--Kickback Guide Bar, designed with a small radius tip which reduces the size of the kickback danger zone on the bar tip. A Reduced--Kickback Guide Bar has been demonstrated to significantly reduce the number and seriousness of kickbacks.

Reduced Kickback

Symmetrical

Guide Bar

Small Radius Tip

Symmetrical Guide Bar

Large Radius Tip

S Low--Kickback Chain, designed with a contoured depth gauge and guard link which deflect kickback force and allow wood to gradually ride into the cutter.

Low-Kickback Chain

Contoured Depth Gauge

Elongated Guard Link

Deflects Kickback

Force And Allows

Wood To Gradually

Ride Into Cutter

SHandguard, designed to reduce the chance

of your left hand contacting the chain if your hand slips off the front handlebar.

SPosition of front and rear handlebars, de- signed with distance between handles and “in-line” with each other. The spread and “in-line” position of the hands provided by this design work together to give balance and resistance in controlling the pivot of the saw back toward the operator if kick- back occurs.

WARNING: DO NOT RELY UPON ANY OF THE DEVICES BUILT INTO YOUR SAW. YOU SHOULD USE THE SAW PROPERLY AND CAREFULLY TO AVOID KICKBACK. Reduced--kickback guide bars and low--kickback saw chains reduce the chance and magnitude of kickback and are recommended. Your saw has a low kickback chain and bar as original equipment. Repairs on a chain brake should be made by an au- thorized servicing dealer. Take your unit to the place of purchase if purchased from a servicing dealer, or to the nearest authorized master service dealer.

STip contact in some cases may cause a light- ning fast reverse REACTION, kicking the

guide bar up and back toward the operator.

SPinching the saw chain along the top of the guide bar may push the guide bar rapidly

back toward the operator.

SEither of these reactions may cause you to lose control of the saw which could result in serious injury. Do not rely exclusively upon the safety devices built into your saw.

6