3
S
Carefully plan your sawing operation in ad-
vance. Do not start cutting until you have a
clear work area, secure footing, and, if you
are felling trees, a planned retreat path.
OPERATE YOUR SAW SAFELY
S
Do not operate a chain saw with one hand.
Serious injury to the operator, helpers, by-
standers or any combination of these per-
sons may result from one-handed opera-
tion.
A
chain
saw
is
intended for
two-handed use.
S
Operate the chain saw only in a well-venti-
lated outdoor area.
S
Do not operate saw from a ladder or in a
tree.
S
Make sure the chain will not make contact
with any object while starting the engine.
Never try to start the saw when the guide
bar is in a cut.
S
Do not put pressure on the saw at the end
of the cut. Applying pressure can cause
you to lose control when the cut is com-
pleted.
S
Stop the engine before setting the saw
down.
S
Do not operate a chain saw that is dam-
aged, improperly adjusted, or not com-
pletely and securely assembled. Always
replace bar, chain, hand guard, or chain
brake immediately if it becomes damaged,
broken or is otherwise removed.
S
With the engine stopped, hand carry the
chain saw with the muffler away from your
body, and the guide bar and chain to the
rear, preferably covered with a scabbard.
MAINTAIN YOUR SAW IN GOOD
WORKING ORDER
S
Have all chain saw service performed by a
qualified service dealer with the exception
of the items listed in the maintenance sec-
tion of this manual. For example, if improp-
er tools are used to remove or hold the fly-
wheel when servicing the clutch, structural
damage to the flywheel can occur and
cause the flywheel to burst.
S
Make certain the saw chain stops moving
when the throttle trigger is released. For
correction, refer to CARBURETOR AD-
JUSTMENTS.
S
Never modify your saw in any way.
S
Keep the handles dry, clean, and free of oil
or fuel mixture.
S
Keep fuel and oil caps, screws, and fas-
teners securely tightened.
S
Use only Snapper
t
/Poulan
!
accessories
and replacement parts as recommended.
HANDLE FUEL WITH CAUTION
S
Do not smoke while handling fuel or while
operating the saw.
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 en-
gine 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 saw.
S
Move at least 10 feet (3 meters) from fuel-
ing site before starting engine.
S
Turn the engine off and let saw 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 wherefuel
vapors cannot reach sparks or open
flames from water heaters, electric motors
or switches, furnaces, etc.
KICKBACK
WARNING:
Avoid kickback which
can result in serious injury. Kickback is the
backward, upward or sudden forwardmotion
of the guide bar occurring when the saw
chain near the upper tip of the guide bar con-
tacts any object such as a log or branch, or
when the wood closes in and pinches the
saw chain in the cut. Contacting a foreign ob-
ject in the wood can also result in loss of
chain saw control.
S
Rotational Kickback can occur when the
moving chain contacts an object at the up-
per 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 to-
ward the operator.
S
Pinch-Kickback can occur when the the
wood closes in and pinches the moving
saw chain in the cut along the top of the
guide bar and the saw 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
saw to move in the opposite direction of the
chain rotation. The saw 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
saw chain is suddenly stopped. This sudden
stopping pulls the saw forward and away
from the operator and could easily cause the
operator to lose control of the saw.
Avoid Pinch--Kickback:
S
Be extremely aware of situations or ob-
structions that can cause material to pinch
the top of or otherwise stop the chain.
S
Do not cut more than one log at a time.
S
Do not twist the saw as the bar is with-
drawn from an undercut when bucking.
Avoid Pull--In:
S
Always begin cutting with the engine at full
speed and the saw housing against wood.
S
Use wedges made of plastic or wood.
Never use metal to hold the cut open.
Kickback Path
