4
MAINTAIN YOUR UNIT IN GOOD
WORKING ORDER
S
Disconnect
the
spark
plug
before
performing maintenance except carburetor
adjustments.
S
Look for and replace damaged or loose
parts before each use. Look for and repair
fuel leaks before use. Keep in good working
condition.
S
Make certain the chain stops moving when
the throttle trigger is released.
For
correction,
refer
to
CARBURETOR
ADJUSTMENTS.
S
Replace trimmer head parts that are
chipped, cracked, broken, or damaged in
any other way before using the unit.
S
Never modify your unit in any way.
S
Keep the handles dry, clean, and free of oil
or fuel mixture.
S
Keep fuel and oil caps, screws, and
fasteners securely tightened.
S
Maintain unit according to recommended
procedures. Keep cutting line at proper
length.
S
Use only 0.080
″
(2 mm) diameter Poulan
PRO
®
brand line. Never use wire, rope,
string, etc.
S
Install required shield properly before using
the unit. Use only specified trimmer head;
make sure it is properly installed and
securely fastened.
S
Make sure unit is assembled correctly as
shown in this manual.
S
Make carburetor adjustments with lower
end supported to prevent line from
contacting any object.
S
Keep others away when making carburetor
adjustments.
S
Use only recommended Poulan PRO
®
accessories and replacement parts.
S
Have all service performed by a qualified
service dealer with the exception of the
items listed in the maintenance section of
this manual.
HANDLE FUEL WITH CAUTION
S
Do not smoke while handling fuel or while
operating the unit.
S
Eliminate all sources of sparks or flame in
the areas where fuel is mixed or poured.
There should be no smoking, open flames,
or work that could cause sparks. Allow
engine to cool before refueling.
S
Mix and pour fuel in an outdoor area on bare
ground; store fuel in a cool, dry, well
ventilated place; and use an approved,
marked container for all fuel purposes.
Wipe up all fuel spills before starting engine.
S
Move at least 10 feet (3 meters) from fueling
site before starting engine.
S
Turn the engine off and let unit cool in a
non-combustible area, not on dry leaves,
straw, paper, etc. Slowly remove fuel cap
and refuel unit.
S
Store the unit and fuel in an area where fuel
vapors cannot reach sparks or open flames
from water heaters, electric motors or
switches, furnaces, etc.
S
Stop engine and allow to cool before
removing fuel cap.
S
Always store gasoline in a container
approved for flammable liquids.
KICKBACK
WARNING:
Avoid kickback which
can result in serious injury.
Kickback
is the
backward, upward or sudden forward motion
of the guide bar occurring when the chain
near the upper tip of the guide bar contacts
any object such as a log or branch, or when
the wood closes in and pinches the chain in
the cut. Contacting a foreign object in the
wood can also result in loss of control.
S
Rotational Kickback
can occur when the
moving chain contacts an object at the upper
tip of the guide bar. This contact can cause
the chain to dig into the object, which stops
the chain for an instant. The result is a
lightning fast, reverse reaction which kicks the
guide bar up and back toward the operator.
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
stopping pulls the pruner forward and away
from the operator and could easily cause the
operator 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
contributes to accidents.
S
Never let the moving chain contact any
object 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
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 bar clamp nut is securely
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.
S
Use extreme caution when re-entering a
previous cut.
S
Do not attempt cuts starting with the tip of
the bar (plunge cuts).
