en
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SAFETY RULES
• Do not twist the saw as the bar is withdrawn from an undercut
when bucking.
Avoid Pull-In:
• Always begin cutting with the engine at full speed and the saw
housing against wood.
• Use wedges made of plastic or wood. Never use metal to hold
the cut open.
Reduce the Risk of Kickback
Recognize that kickback can happen. With a basic
understanding of kickback, you can reduce the
element of surprise which contributes to accidents.
• Never let the moving chain contact any object at the tip of the
guide bar.
• Keep the working area free from obstructions such as other
trees, branches, rocks, fences, stumps, etc. Eliminate or avoid
any obstruction that your saw chain could hit while you are
cutting through a particular log or branch.
• Keep your saw 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 chain
brake nuts are securely tightened after tensioning the chain.
• Begin and continue cutting at full speed. If the chain is moving
at a slower speed, there is greater chance of kickback
occurring.
• Cut one log at a time.
• Use extreme caution when re-entering a previous cut.
• Do not attempt cuts starting with the tip of the bar (plunge
cuts).
• Watch for shifting logs or other forces that could close a cut
and pinch or fall into chain.
• Use the Reduced-Kickback Guide Bar and Low-Kickback
Chain specified for your saw.
Maintain Control (Fig.17-18)
• Keep a good, firm grip on the saw with both hands when the
engine is running and don’t let go. A firm grip will help you
reduce kickback and maintain control of the saw. Keep the
fingers of your left hand encircling and your left thumb under
the front handlebar. Keep your right hand completely around
the rear handle whether you are right handed or left handed.
Keep your left arm straight with the elbow locked.
• Position your left hand on the front handlebar so it is in a straight
line with your right hand on the rear handle when making
bucking cuts. Never reverse right and left hand positions for
any type of cutting.
• Stand with your weight evenly balanced on both feet.
• Stand slightly to the left side of the saw to keep your body
from being in a direct line with the cutting chain.
• Do not overreach. You could be drawn or thrown off balance
and lose control of the saw.
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