9
GENERAL SAfETy RULES
LOW-KICKBACK SAW CHAIN
The rakers (depth gauges) ahead of each cutter can minimize the force of a kickback reaction
by preventing the cutters from digging in too deeply at the kickback zone. Only use replacement
chain that is equivalent to original chain or has been certified as low kickback chain per ANSI
B175.1. Low-kickback/skip tooth saw chain is a chain that has met the kickback performance
requirements of ANSI B175.1 - 1991. When tested on the representative sample of chainsaws
below 3.8 c.i.d. specified in ANSI B175.1 - 1991. As saw chains are sharpened during their
useful life, they lose some of the low-kickback qualities and extra caution should be used.
Push and pull - This reaction force is always opposite to the direction the chain is moving where
wood contact is made. Thus, the operator must be ready to control the PULL when cutting on the
bottom edge of the bar, and PUSH when cutting along the top edge. (See figure 3)
Fig. 3
PULL
PUSH
UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHAINSAW SAFETY DEVICES
Fig. 4
