![background image](http://html1.mh-extra.com/html/ryobi/ry10518/ry10518_operators-manual_1504236019.webp)
Page 19 — English
Fig. 19
Fig. 20
PROPER CUTTING STANCE
See Figure 19.
WARNING:
Alway use the proper cutting stance described
in this section. Never kneel when using the
chain saw except when felling a tree as shown
in figure 24. Kneeling could result in loss of sta
-
bility and control of the saw resulting in serious
personal injury.
Balance your weight with both feet on solid
ground.
Keep left arm with elbow locked in a “straight
arm” position to withstand any kickback force.
Keep your body to the left of the chain line.
Keep your thumb on underside of handlebar.
WORK AREA PRECAUTIONS
See Figure 20.
Cut only wood or materials made from wood;
no sheet metal, no plastics, no masonry, no
non-wood building materials.
Never allow children to operate the saw. Allow
no person to use this chain saw who has
not read this operator’s manual or received
adequate instructions for the safe and proper
use of this chain saw.
Keep everyone – helpers, bystanders, children,
and animals, a
SAFE DISTANCE from the cut-
ting area. During felling operations, the safe
distance should be a least twice the height of the
largest trees in the felling area. During bucking
operations, keep a minimum distance of 15 feet
between workers.
Always cut with both feet on solid ground to
prevent being pulled off balance.
Do not cut above chest height as a saw held
higher is difficult to control against kickback
forces.
Do not fell trees near electrical wires or build-
ings. Leave this operation for professionals.
Cut only when visibility and light are adequate
for you to see clearly.
BASIC OPERATING/CUTTING
PROCEDURES
Practice cutting a few small logs using the following
technique to get the “feel” of using the saw before
you begin a major sawing operation.
Take the proper stance in front of the wood with
the saw idling.
Accelerate the engine to full throttle just before
entering the cut by squeezing the throttle trig-
ger.
Begin cutting with the saw against the log.
Keep the engine at full throttle the entire time
you are cutting.
Allow the chain to cut for you; exert only light
downward pressure. Forcing the cut could result
in damage to the bar, chain, or engine.
Release the throttle trigger as soon as the cut is
completed allowing the engine to idle. Running
STRAIGHT
ARM
CHAIN LINE
THUMB ON
UNDERSIDE OF
HANDLE BAR
OPERATION