4
chain is suddenly stopped. This sudden
stopping pulls the pruner forward and away
from the operator and could easily cause the
operator to lose control of the pruner.
REDUCE THE CHANCE OF
KICKBACK
S
Recognize that kickback can happen. With
a basic understanding of kickback, you can
reduce the element of surprise which
contributes to accidents.
S
Never let the moving chain contact any
object at the tip of the guide bar.
S
Keep
the
working
area
free
from
obstructions such as other trees, branches,
rocks, stumps, etc. Eliminate or avoid any
obstruction that your chain could hit while
you are cutting. When cutting a branch, do
not let the guide bar contact branch or other
objects around it.
S
Keep your chain sharp and properly
tensioned.
A loose or dull chain can
increase the chance of kickback occurring.
Follow manufacturer’s chain sharpening
and maintenance instructions.
Check
tension at regular intervals with the engine
stopped, never with the engine running.
Make sure the bar clamp nut is securely
tightened after tensioning the chain.
S
Begin and continue cutting at full speed. If
the chain is moving at a slower speed, there
is greater chance of kickback occurring.
S
Cut one branch at a time.
S
Use extreme caution when re-entering a
previous cut.
S
Do not attempt cuts starting with the tip of
the bar (plunge cuts).
S
Watch for shifting of wood or other forces that
could close a cut and pinch or fall into chain.
S
Use the Reduced--Kickback Guide Bar and
Low--Kickback Chain specified for your unit.
MAINTAIN CONTROL
S
Keep a good, firm grip on the pruner with
both hands when the engine is running and
don’t let go. A firm grip will help you reduce
kickback and maintain control. Keep the
fingers of your left hand encircling and your
left thumb under the assist handle. Keep
your right hand completely around the
throttle handle whether your are right
handed or left handed.
S
Stand with your weight evenly balanced on
both feet.
S
Stand slightly to the left side of the pruner to
keep your body from being in a direct line
with the cutting chain.
KICKBACK SAFETY FEATURES
The following features are included on your
pruner to help reduce the hazard of kickback;
however, such features will not totally elimi-
nate this danger. As a pruner user, do not rely
only on safety devices. You must follow all
safety precautions, instructions, and mainte-
nance in this manual to help avoid kickback
and other forces which can result in serious
injury.
S
Reduced--Kickback Guide Bar, designed
with a small radius tip which reduces the
size of the kickback danger zone on the bar
tip.
Small Radius Tip
Reduced Kickback Symmetrical Guide Bar
Symmetrical Guide Bar
Large Radius Tip
S
Low--Kickback Chain, designed with a
contoured depth gauge and guard link
which deflect kickback force and allow
wood to gradually ride into the cutter.
Low---Kickback
Chain
Not a Low---Kickback Chain
Can Obstruct Material
Contoured Depth Gauge
Elongated Guard Link
Deflects
kickback force
and allows wood
to gradually ride
into cutter
SAFETY NOTICE:
Exposure to vibrations
through prolonged use of gasoline powered
hand tools could cause blood vessel or nerve
damage in the fingers, hands, and joints of
people prone to circulation disorders or ab-
normal swellings.
Prolonged use in cold
weather has been linked to blood vessel dam-
age in otherwise healthy people. If symptoms
occur such as numbness, pain, loss of
strength, change in skin color or texture, or
loss of feeling in the fingers, hands, or joints,
discontinue the use of this tool and seek med-
ical attention. An anti--vibration system does
not guarantee the avoidance of these prob-
lems. Users who operate power tools on a
continual and regular basis must monitor
closely their physical condition and the condi-
tion of this tool.
