OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

•Avoid kickback. Kickback can result in severe injury or death.

•Do not operate the pole saw while in a tree, on a ladder or any other unstable work surface, or in any awkward position. You may lose control of the pole saw causing severe injury.

•Do not extend your arms above shoulders when using the pole saw.

•Seek professional help if you are facing conditions beyond your ability.

•Trimming a tree is the process of cutting limbs from a living tree. Make sure your footing is firm. Keep your feet apart. Divide your weight evenly on both feet.

•Before starting unit, always check the chain lubrication and oil tank level.

NOTE: The chain must be continously coated with oil to function properly. Make sure that the oil adjustment screw is set appropriately.

To trim a limb (pruning):

WARNING: If the oil tank runs out, the oil ajustment screw hole becomes clogged, or the chain fails to get proper lubrication in any fashion, the chain will overheat and cause irreversible damage to the unit and may result in severe injury. Excessive heat from friction can lead the chain to catastrophically fail and come off the bar while operating.

MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS

WARNING: If the oil tank runs out, the oil ajustment screw hole becomes clogged, or the chain fails to get proper lubrication in any fashion, the chain will overheat and cause irreversible damage to the unit and may result in severe injury. Excessive heat from friction can lead the chain to catastrophically fail and come off the bar while operating.

GUIDE BAR MAINTENANCE

WARNING: Ensure that the unit is off and the spark plug is disconnected (gas powerheads) before performing any maintenance on your saw.

NOTE: Proper maintenance of the guide bar is essential to the performance of your pole saw.

Proper guide bar maintenance will keep your saw in good working order.

Most guide bar problems can be prevented merely by keeping the chain saw well maintained. Incorrect filing and non-uniform cutter and depth gauge settings cause most guide bar problems, primarily resulting in uneven bar wear. As the bar wears unevenly, the rails widen, which may cause chain clatter and difficulty in making straight cuts. Insufficient guide bar lubrication and operating the saw with a chain that is too tight will contribute to rapid bar wear. Refer to Saw Chain Tension Adjustment and Oiling the

1.Make the first cut six inches from tree trunk on the underside of the limb. Use the top of the guide bar to make this cut. Cut a third of the way through the diameter of the limb (Fig. 7).

2.Move two to four inches farther out on the limb. Make the second cut from above the limb. Continue the cut until you cut the limb off.

3.Make the third cut as close to the tree trunk as possible on underside of limb stub. Use the top of the guide bar to make this cut. Cut a third through the diameter of stub.

4.Make the fourth cut directly above the third cut. Cut down to meet the third cut. This will remove the limb stub.

Cut 4

Cut 2

6in (15.2cm)

2-4in (5.1-10.2 cm)

Cut 1

Cut 3

Fig. 7

Chain. To help minimize bar wear, the following guide bar maintenance is recommended:

Bar Wear

Turn guide bar frequently at regular intervals (for example, after 5 hours of use), to ensure even wear on top and bottom of bar.

Bar Grooves

Bar grooves (or rails which support and carry the chain) should be cleaned if the saw has been heavily used or if the saw chain appears dirty. Rails should always be cleaned every time the saw chain is removed.

To clean guide bar rails:

1.Remove chain guard, bar, and chain. Refer to Saw Chain Replacement / Installation.

2.Using a screwdriver, putty knife, wire brush or other similar

MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS

SAW CHAIN REPLACEMENT/INSTALLATION

WARNING: Whenever handling the saw chain, always wear work gloves for protection against sharp cutting edges.

1.

Remove the bar retaining nuts and screw. Then take off

A

B

Chain

 

the chain guard (Fig. 8, B).

Guard

 

 

 

2.

Using a flat-head screwdriver turn tension adjustment

 

 

 

 

screw counterclockwise (Fig. 8, A) 4 turns.

 

 

 

3.

Take off the chain and bar.

 

 

 

4.

Prepare new chain and/or bar, and fit the chain into the

 

 

 

 

groove in the bar.

Tension

Screw

5.

Loop the saw chain over the drive sprocket with the

Adjustment

 

Bar Retaining

 

cutting edges of the chain pointing in the direction of

 

 

Screw

 

Nuts

rotation (Fig. 9).

Fig. 8

6.Adjust the tension adjustment screw (Fig. 8, A) to allow insertion of the bar (Fig. 10). Make sure the chain follows the slot in the guide bar and adjust the tension adjustment

screw to make the chain fit snugly on the underside of the bar.

7. Install the chain guard and tighten bar retaining nuts and screw (Fig. 8, B).

SAW CHAIN TENSION ADJUSTMENT

Proper tension of the saw chain is extremely important and must be checked before starting, as well as during, any cutting operation. Taking the time to make needed adjustments to the

instrument, clear residue from the rails on the guide bar

 

Fig. 13

 

(Fig. 13).

 

 

This will keep the oil passages open to provide proper lubrication to the bar and chain.

3.Ensure the sprocket in the bar turns freely during cleaning.

4.Reinstall the bar, chain, chainguard, screw, and bar retaining nuts. Refer to Saw Chain Replacement / Installation.

Oil Passages

Oil passages at the bar pad should be cleaned to ensure proper lubrication of the bar and chain during operation. This can be done using a soft wire small enough to insert into the oil discharge hole.

CHAIN MAINTENANCE

WARNING: Unless you have experience and specialized training for dealing with kickback (see Important Safety Instructions), always use a low-kickback saw chain, which significantly reduces the danger of kickback. Low-kickback saw chain does not completely eliminate kickback. A low- kickback or “safety chain,” should never be regarded as total protection against injury.

Always use a replacement saw chain designed as “low-kickback” or a saw chain which meets the low- kickback performance. A standard saw chain (a chain which does not have the kickback reducing guard links) should only be used by an experienced professional chain saw operator.

Low-Kickback Saw Chain

A low-kickback saw chain is a chain which has met the kickback performance requirements of ANSI B175.1. Do not use other replacement chain unless it has met these requirements for your specific model. By keeping the saw chain in good working condition and correctly serviced as recommended in this manual, you will be able to maintain the safety system of your polesaw over the life of the product.

Chain Tension

WARNING: Never remove, modify or make inoperative any safety device furnished with your unit. The low-kickback saw chain is a major safety feature provided for your protection.

saw chain will result in improved cutting performance and prolonged chain life.

Fig. 9

WARNING: Ensure that the unit is off and the spark plug is disconnected (for gas powerheads) when working on the saw chain. Wear heavy duty gloves too.

NOTE: A new chain and bar will need readjustment after as few as 5 cuts. This is normal during the break-in period, and the interval between future adjustments will lengthen quickly (Fig. 11).

CAUTION: If a chain is too loose or too tight, the

 

bar chain and saw bearings will wear more rapidly.

 

Refer to Figure 11 for information concerning correct

Slot

cold tension (A), correct warm tension (B), and a chain

 

in need of adjustment (C).

Fig. 10

 

To adjust the saw chain tension:

1. Loosen the bar retaining nuts so they are hand tight (Fig. 8, B).

2.Holding the nose of the bar up, use the screwdriver to turn the guide bar adjustment screw clockwise to tighten the chain (Fig. 8, A). Turning the screw counterclockwise

loosens the chain on the guide bar.

3.

While wearing heavy duty work gloves (after you’ve made

A

B

C

 

the adjustment), move the saw chain back and forth on the

 

 

 

 

 

guide bar to be sure the chain moves freely and is in

 

 

 

 

proper mesh with the sprocket. Never move the chain with

 

Fig. 11

 

 

your bare hands.

 

 

NOTE: If the chain is difficult to rotate or if it binds on the guide bar, there is too much tension applied and it must be adjusted. To decrease tension, turn the adjustment screw counterclockwise, slowly. Move the chain back and forth until it moves freely.

4.Holding the nose in upper position, securely tighten the bar retaining nuts.

CHAIN LUBRICATION

The pole saw chain is self-lubricating. Oil is dispersed onto the chain as the unit is used. Keep an adequate amount of oil in the oil tank. Use the bar-chain oil provided in the hardware pack. Always use bar-chain and sprocket oil or similar chain saw oil.

Setting the Oil Adjustment Screw

Oil

Adjustment

The Oil Adjustment Screw is located on top of the gearbox

Screw

 

assembly (Fig. 12).

 

1. Insert a 3/32-inch Allen wrench into the oil adjustment screw. AssemblyGearbox

2. Turn the screw counterclockwise to increase oil flow to the chain.

3. Turn the screw clockwise to restrict the oil flow to the chain.

Fig. 12

Check the chain tension frequently and adjust as often as necessary to keep the chain snug on the bar, but loose enough to be pulled around by hand. Refer to Saw Chain Tension Adjustment.

Breaking in a New Saw Chain

A new chain and bar will need readjustment after as few as 5 cuts. This is normal during the break-in period, and the interval between future adjustments will begin to lengthen quickly. Over a period of time, however, the moving parts of the saw chain will become worn, resulting in what is called chain stretch. This is normal. When it is no longer possible to obtain correct chain tension adjustment, a link will have to be removed to shorten the chain. See your MTD Authorized Service Center to have this repair performed.

WARNING: Never use a loop of chain that has more than 3 links removed from it. This could damage the sprocket.

CLEANING AND STORAGE

•Slacken the chain if you have retensioned it at operating temperature during cutting work.

•The chain contracts as it cools down. If it is not slackened, it may damage the gearbox and bearings.

Storing the Machine for a Short Period

Wait for the engine to cool down. Drain the fuel tank and store the machine in a dry place well away from sources of ignition until you need it again.

•Attach the transport guard to the bar/chain before storing the unit.

•Store the unit in a dry, high and/or locked location, out of the reach of children and other unauthorized persons.

Long-Term Storage

•Remove the saw chain and guide bar, clean them, and spray them with corrosion inhibiting oil.

•Attach the transport guard to the bar/chain before storing.

SPECIFICATIONS

POLE SAW ADD-ON

Approximate Operating Weight of Attachment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.3 lbs. (1.5 kg) Drive Shaft Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 inches (66 cm) Cutting Width . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 inches (20.3 cm)

5