Ryobi R18CHS20, Manual

Page: 4 / 20

4
Original Instructions
CAUSES AND OPERATOR PREVENTION OF KICKBACK:
Kickback may occur when the nose or tip of the guide bar
touches an object, or when the wood closes in and pinches
the saw chain in the cut.
Tip contact in some cases may cause a sudden reverse
reaction, kicking the guide bar up and back towards the
operator.
Pinching the saw chain along the top of the guide bar may
push the guide bar rapidly back towards the operator.
Either of these reactions may cause you to lose control of
the saw which could result in serious personal injury. Do not
rely exclusively upon the safety devices built into your saw.
As a chainsaw user, you should take several steps to keep
your cutting jobs free from accident or injury.
Kickback is the result of chainsaw misuse and/or incorrect
operating procedures or conditions and can be avoided by
taking proper precautions as given below:
■ Maintain a firm grip, with thumbs and fingers
encircling the chainsaw handles, with both hands
on the saw and position your body and arm to allow
you to resist kickback forces. Kickback forces can
be controlled by the operator, if proper precautions are
taken. Do not let go of the chainsaw.
■ Do not overreach and do not cut above shoulder
height. This helps prevent unintended tip contact and
enables better control of the chainsaw in unexpected
situations.
■ Only use replacement guide bars and saw chains
specified by the manufacturer. Incorrect replacement
guide bars and saw chains may cause chain breakage
and/or kickback.
■ Follow the manufacturer’s sharpening and
maintenance instructions for the saw chain.
Decreasing the depth gauge height can lead to
increased kickback.
ADDITIONAL SAFETY WARNINGS
■ Attend a professionally organised course on the use and
maintenance of chainsaws, preventative actions, and
first aid. Keep these instructions safe for later use.
■ Chainsaws are potentially dangerous tools. Accidents
involving the use of chainsaws often result in loss of limbs
or death. Falling branches, toppling trees, rolling logs
can all kill. Diseased or rotting timber poses additional
hazards. Assess your capability of completing the task
safely. If there is any doubt, leave it to a professional
tree surgeon.
■ Do not cut vines or small undergrowth (less than 75 mm
in diameter).
■ It is recommended to practise cutting logs on a saw-
horse or cradle when operating the product for the first
time.
■ The size of the work area depends on the job being
performed and the size of the tree or workpiece involved.
For example, felling a tree requires a larger work area
than making other cuts, such as bucking cuts. The
operator needs to be aware and in control of everything
happening in the work area.
■ Do not cut with your body in line with the guide bar and
chain. If you experience kickback, this position helps
prevent the chain from coming into contact with your
head or body.
■ Do not use a back-and-forward sawing motion. Let the
chain do the work. Keep the chain sharp, and do not try
to push the chain through the cut.
■ Do not put pressure on the saw at the end of the cut.
Be ready to take on the weight of the saw as it cuts free
from the wood. Failure to do so could result in possible
serious personal injury.
■ Do not stop the saw in the middle of a cutting operation.
Keep the saw running until it is already removed from
the cut.
■ To reduce the risk of injury associated with contacting
moving parts, always turn off the product, remove the
battery pack, and make sure that all moving parts have
come to a complete stop:
● before cleaning or clearing a blockage
● before leaving the product unattended
● before installing or removing attachments
● before checking, conducting maintenance, or
working on the product
■ Injuries may be caused, or aggravated, by prolonged use
of the product. When using the product for prolonged
periods, ensure to take regular breaks.
■ If the product is dropped, suffers heavy impact, or begins
to vibrate abnormally, immediately stop the product and
inspect for damage or identify the cause of the vibration.
Any damage should be properly repaired or replaced by
an authorised service centre.
■ Operate the product only in temperatures between 0°C
and 40°C.
■ Store the product in a location where the ambient
temperature is between -10°C and 50°C.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Good quality personal protective equipment, as used by
professionals, helps reduce the risk of injury to the operator.
The following items should be used when operating the
product:
■ Safety helmet
■ Hearing protection
■ Eye and face protection
■ Gloves
■ Leg protection (chaps)
■ Chainsaw safety boots
■ Chainsaw jackets for upper body protection
ADDITIONAL BATTERY SAFETY WARNINGS
■ To reduce the risk of fire, personal injury, and product
damage due to short circuit, never immerse the tool,
battery pack, or charger in fluid or allow fluid to flow
inside them. Corrosive or conductive fluids, such as
seawater, certain industrial chemicals, and bleach or
bleach-containing products, etc., can cause a short
circuit.
■ Charge the battery pack in a location where the ambient
temperature is between 10°C and 38°C.
■ Store the battery pack in a location where the ambient
temperature is between 0°C and 20°C.