14
SExtendyour left arm and hold assist handle
with your left hand.
SHold throttle grip with your right hand with
finger on throttle trigger.
SKeep engineend below w aist level.
SKeep shoulder strap pad centered on your
left shoulder and danger sign centered on
your back.
SMaintain full weight of tool on your left
shoulder.
Always release the throttle trigger and allow the
engineto r eturn to idle speed when not pruning.
Tostop engine:
SRelease the throttle trigger.
SPush and release the engine ON/STOP
switch.

PRUNING

WARNING: Be alert for and guard
against kickback. Do not allow the moving
chain to contact any other branches or ob-
jects at the nose of the guide bar when prun-
ing. Allow ing such contact can res ult in seri-
ous injury.

IMPORTANTPOINTS

SWork slowly, keeping both hands firmly
gripped on the pruner. Maintain secure
footing and balance.
SPlan cut carefully. Check direction branc h
will fall.
SWatch out for springpoles. Springpoles are
small size limbs which can catch the chain
and whip toward you or pull you off balance.
Use extreme caution when cutting small size
limbs or slender material.
SWatch out for branches immediately behind
thebranc h being pruned. Ifthe chain hit s the
rear branch, damage to the unit may occur.
SBe alert for springback. Watch out for
branches that are bent or under pressure.
Avoid being struck by the branch or the
prunerw hen the tension in the wood fibers
is released.
SKeep a clear work area. Frequently clear
branches out of the way to avoid tripping
over them.
SLong branches should be removed in
several pieces.

PRUNING TECHNIQUE

When ready to cut, accelerate to full thrott le
and apply a light cutting pressure. DO NOT
use back and forth sawing action.
Pruningtechnique
Second cut
Thirdcut
Collar
Firstcut
1. Makethe first cut 6 inches (15 cm) from
the tree trunk on the bottom of the limb.
Usetop of guide bar to mak e this cut. Cut
1/3t hrough the diameter of the limb.
NOTE: When making the second and third
cuts, rest the foot of the pruner against the
treelimb that is being cut to prevent whipping
of the branch.
Foot
2. Next,move 2 --4 inc hes (5 --10 cm) far-
ther out on the limb and make a second
cutall the w ay through the limb.
3. Then,makea final cut leaving a 1 --2 inch
(2.5 --5 cm) collar from the trunk of the
tree to avoid damage to the tree.