Ryobi RCS36HP, Original Instructions Manual

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■ Cut wood only. Do not use chainsaw for purposes
not intended. For example: do not use chainsaw
for cutting metal, plastic, masonry or non-wood
building materials. Use of the chainsaw for operations
different than intended could result in a hazardous
situation.
■ Do not attempt to fell a tree until you have an
understanding of the risks and how to avoid them.
Serious injury could occur to the operator or bystanders
while felling a tree.
■ This chainsaw is not intended for tree felling. Use of
the chainsaw for operations different that intended could
result in serious injury to the operator or bystanders.
■ Follow all instructions when clearing jammed
material, storing or servicing the chainsaw. Make
sure the switch is off and the battery pack is removed.
Unexpected actuation of the chainsaw while clearing
jammed material or servicing may result in serious
personal injury.
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 tool 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 motor, apply the chain
brake, 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: