5
S
Pinch-Kickback
can occur when the wood
closes in and pinches the moving chain in
the cut along the top of the guide bar and the
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 pruner to move in the opposite
direction of the chain rotation. The pruner is
driven straight back toward the operator.
S
Pull-In
can occur when the moving chain
contacts a foreign object in the wood in the cut
along the bottom of the guide bar and the
chain is suddenly stopped. This sudden stop-
ping pulls the pruner forward and away from
the operator and could easily cause the oper-
ator 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 con-
tributes to accidents.
S
Never let the moving chain contact any ob-
ject 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 ten-
sioned. 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, but never with the motor
running. Make sure the bar clamp nut is se-
curely 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.
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Use extreme caution when re-entering a
previous cut.
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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 unit 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 com-
pletely around the trigger 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
WARNING:
The following features
are included on your pruner to help reduce the
hazard of kickback; however, such features
will not totally eliminate this danger. As a
pruner user, do not rely only on safety de-
vices. You must follow all safety precautions,
instructions, and maintenance 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 con-
toured depth gauge and guard link which de-
flect kickback force and allow wood to gradu-
ally ride into the cutter. A low kickback chain
has met kickback performance requirements
when tested on the representative sample of
the chain saws specified in ANSI B175.1.
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
MAINTAIN YOUR UNIT IN GOOD
WORKING ORDER
S
Have all service performed by a qualified
service dealer with the exception of the
items listed in the maintenance section of
this manual.
S
Maintain unit according to recommended
procedures.
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Make certain the chain stops moving when
trigger switch is released.
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Never modify your unit in any way.
