Poulan 2002-06 Operate Your SAW Safely, Maintain Your SAW in Good Working Order, Kickback

SCarefully plan your sawing operation in ad- vance. Do not start cutting until you have a clear work area, secure footing, and, if you are felling trees, a planned retreat path.

OPERATE YOUR SAW SAFELY

SDo not operate a chain saw with one hand. Serious injury to the operator, helpers, by- standers or any combination of these per- sons may result from one-handed opera- tion. A chain saw is intended for two-handed use.

SOperate the chain saw only in a well-venti- lated outdoor area.

SDo not operate saw from a ladder or in a

tree.

SMake sure the chain will not make contact with any object while starting the engine.

Never try to start the saw when the guide bar is in a cut.

SDo not put pressure on the saw at the end of the cut. Applying pressure can cause

you to lose control when the cut is com- pleted.

S Stop the engine before setting the saw down.

SDo not operate a chain saw that is dam- aged, improperly adjusted, or not com- pletely and securely assembled. Always replace bar, chain, hand guard, or chain brake immediately if it becomes damaged,

broken or is otherwise removed.

S With the engine stopped, hand carry the chain saw with the muffler away from your body, and the guide bar and chain to the rear, preferably covered with a scabbard.

MAINTAIN YOUR SAW IN GOOD WORKING ORDER

SHave all chain saw service performed by a qualified service dealer with the exception of the items listed in the maintenance sec- tion of this manual. For example, if improp- er tools are used to remove or hold the fly- wheel when servicing the clutch, structural damage to the flywheel can occur and

cause the flywheel to burst.

SMake certain the saw chain stops moving when the throttle trigger is released. For correction, refer to CARBURETOR AD-

JUSTMENTS.

SNever modify your saw in any way.

SKeep the handles dry, clean, and free of oil or fuel mixture.

SKeep fuel and oil caps, screws, and fas-

teners securely tightened.

S Use only PoulanR accessories and re- placement parts as recommended.

HANDLE FUEL WITH CAUTION

SDo not smoke while handling fuel or while operating the saw.

SEliminate all sources of sparks or flame in the areas where fuel is mixed or poured. There should be no smoking, open flames,

or work that could cause sparks. Allow en- gine to cool before refueling.

S Mix and pour fuel in an outdoor area on bare ground; store fuel in a cool, dry, well ventilated place; and use an approved,

marked container for all fuel purposes. Wipe up all fuel spills before starting saw.

SMove at least 10 feet (3 meters) from fuel-

ing site 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

and refuel unit.

SStore the unit and fuel in an area where fuel vapors cannot reach sparks or open flames from water heaters, electric motors or switches, furnaces, etc.

KICKBACK

WARNING: Avoid kickback which can result in serious injury. Kickback is the backward, upward or sudden forward motion of the guide bar occurring when the saw chain near the upper tip of the guide bar con- tacts any object such as a log or branch, or when the wood closes in and pinches the saw chain in the cut. Contacting a foreign ob- ject in the wood can also result in loss of chain saw control.

SRotational Kickback can occur when the moving chain contacts 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-Kickbackcan 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 reversal of the chain force used to cut wood and causes the saw to move in the opposite direction of the chain rotation. The saw is driven straight back toward the operator.

SPull-Incan occur when the moving chain contacts a foreign object in the wood in the cut along the bottom of the guide bar and the saw chain is suddenly stopped. This sudden stopping pulls the saw forward and away from the operator and could easily cause the operator to lose control of the saw.

Avoid Pinch-Kickback:

S Be extremely aware of situations or ob- structions that can cause material to pinch the top of or otherwise stop the chain.

SDo not cut more than one log at a time.

S Do not twist the saw as the bar is with- drawn from an undercut when bucking.

Avoid Pull-In:

SAlways begin cutting with the engine at full speed and the saw housing against wood.

S Use wedges made of plastic or wood. Never use metal to hold the cut open.

Kickback Path

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