10
duced--kickback guide bars and low--kick-
back saw chains reduce the chance and
magnitude of kickback and are rec om-
mended. Your saw has a low kic kback chain
and bar as original equipment. If the brake
band is worn too thin it may break when the
chain brake is triggered. With a broken brake
band, the chain brake will not stop the chain.
The chain brake should be replaced by an
authorized service dealer if anypart is worn
to less than 1/32” thick. Repairs on a chain
brake should be made by an authorized ser-
vicedealer. Take your unit to the plac e of pur-
chase if purchased from a servicing dealer,
or to the nearest authorized masterserv ice
dealer.
SThis saw is equipped with a chain brake.
The brake is designed to stop the chain if
kickback occurs.
SThe inertia--activated chain brake is
activated if the front handguard is pushed
forward, either manually (by hand) or
automatically (by sudden movement).
SIf the brake is already activated, it is
disengaged by pulling the f ront hand guard
back toward the front handle as far as
possible.
SWhenc utting with the saw, the chain brake
must be disengaged.

Disengaged

Engaged

Braking function control

CAUTION: The chain brake must be
checked several times daily. The engine
mustbe running whenperforming this proce-
dure. This is the only ins tance when the saw
should be placed on theground wit h theen-
gine running.
Place the saw on firm ground. Hold the han-
dles with both hands and apply full throttle.
Activate the chain brake by turning your left
wrist against the handguard without releas -
ing your grip around the front handle. The
chain should stop immediately.

Inertia activating function control

WARNING: When performing the
following procedure, the engine must be
turned off.
Hold the chain saw approximately 14” (35
cm)above a stump or other wooden surface.
Release your grip on the front handle and
use the weight of the saw to let the top of the
guide bar fall forward and contact t he stump.
When the tip of the bar hits the stump, the
brake should activate.
CUTTING METHODS
IMPORTANTPOINTS
SCheck chain tension before first use and
after 1 minute of operation. See CHAIN
TENSION in the ASSEMBLY section.
SCut wood only. Do not cut metal, plasti cs,
masonry, non-wood building materials,
etc.
SStop the saw if the chain strikes a foreign
object. Inspect the saw and repair or re-
place parts as necessary.
SKeepthe chain out of dirt and sand. Evena
small amount of dirt will quickly dull a chain
and thus increase the possibility of kick-
back.
SPractice cutting a f ew small logs using t he
following techniques toget the “feel” of us-
ing your saw before you begin a major
sawing operation.
SSqueeze the throttle trigger and al-
low the engine to reach full speed
before cutting.
SBegin cutting with the saw frame
against the log.
SKeep the engine at full speed the en-
tire time you are cutting.
SAllow the chain to cut for you. Exert
only light downward pressure. If you
force the cut, damage to the bar,
chain, or engine can result.
SRelease the throttle trigger assoon
as the cut is completed, allowing the
engine to idle. If you run the saw at
full throttle without acutting load, un-
necessary wear can occur to the
chain, bar, and engine.
SToavoid l osing control when cut is
complete, do not put pressure on
saw at end of cut.
SStop the engine before setting the saw
down after cutting.

TREE FELLING TECHNIQUES

WARNING: Check for broken or
dead branches which can fall while cutting
causing serious injury. Donot cut near build-
ingsor electric al wires if you do not knowthe
direction of tree fall, nor cut at night since you
will not be ale to see well, nor during bad
weather such as rain, snow, or strong winds,
etc.
SCarefully plan your sawing operation in ad-
vance.
SClearthe work area. Youneeda c lear area
allaround the t ree so you can have secure
footing.
SStudy the natural conditions that can cause
the tree to fall in a particular direction.
Natural conditions that can cause a tree to
fall in a particular direction include:
SThe wind direction and speed.
SThe lean of the tree. The lean of a tree
might not be apparent due to uneven or
sloping terrain. Usea plumb or level to de-
termine the direction of tree lean.
SWeight and branches on one side.
SSurrounding trees and obstacles.