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Explains kickback phenomenon and provides preventative measures.
Lists precautions to minimize kickback risk during chainsaw operation.
Details proper grip, posture, and balance for safe chainsaw control.
Essential safety precautions for handling flammable fuel.
Specifies correct gasoline and oil ratios for engine lubrication.
Explains kickback phenomenon and provides preventative measures.
Lists precautions to minimize kickback risk during chainsaw operation.
Details proper grip, posture, and balance for safe chainsaw control.
Essential safety precautions for handling flammable fuel.
Specifies correct gasoline and oil ratios for engine lubrication.
This document is an operator's manual for a Sears/Craftsman Gasoline Chain Saw, specifically models 358.356281-2.8/18" and 358.356332.3.3/20". It provides comprehensive instructions for assembly, operation, maintenance, and repair, emphasizing safety throughout.
The Sears/Craftsman Gasoline Chain Saw is a high-speed wood-cutting tool designed for various tasks such as felling trees, bucking (cutting fallen trees into logs), debranching, and pruning. It is powered by a two-cycle engine that requires a specific gasoline/oil mixture. The saw utilizes a chain and guide bar system to perform cuts, with an automatic oiler system ensuring continuous lubrication of these components during operation. The design incorporates several safety features to reduce the risk of accidents, particularly kickback, which is a dangerous reaction where the guide bar can be driven rapidly back toward the operator.
The manual stresses the importance of understanding and following all safety rules and operating instructions before use. Users are advised to wear protective gear, including steel-toed safety footwear, snug-fitting clothing, heavy-duty non-slip gloves, eye protection, an approved safety hard hat, and hearing protection. The saw should only be operated in outdoor areas, away from children, bystanders, and pets (a minimum of 30 feet). Users must be in good physical and mental condition, avoiding operation when fatigued, ill, upset, or under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication. The saw should not be used during bad weather or at night.
Before starting, the saw requires proper assembly of the handguard, spur, guide bar, and chain. The handguard is a protective device to reduce the chance of the left hand contacting the chain. The spur assists cutting by digging into the wood, relieving contact pressure, and allowing easier pivoting into the cut. Correct chain tension is critical for safe and efficient operation, and instructions are provided for checking and adjusting it.
Fueling the engine requires caution: fuel should be mixed, poured, and stored in an outdoor, well-ventilated area, away from sparks or flames. The engine must be cool before refueling, and any spilled fuel should be wiped up. Starting the engine involves specific steps, including setting the start/stop switch, engaging the throttle lock-out and trigger, and adjusting the choke based on engine temperature (cold, warm, or refueled warm). The manual warns against bodily contact with the muffler during starting or use to avoid serious burns.
When cutting, users are instructed to accelerate the engine to full throttle before entering the cut and maintain full throttle throughout. Only light downward pressure should be applied, allowing the chain to do the work. The spur should be used against the log to begin cutting. The saw should only be used for cutting wood, not metal, plastics, masonry, or other non-wood materials. Users must be aware of reactive forces like pinch-kickback and pull-in, which occur when the chain is suddenly stopped. To mitigate these, users should avoid contact with the tip of the guide bar, keep the working area clear, maintain a sharp and properly tensioned chain, and cut only one log at a time. Specific techniques are provided for felling small and large trees, including the notch method, and for bucking logs with or without supports. Debranching and pruning instructions emphasize working slowly, maintaining a firm grip, and being cautious of springpoles and kickback. Pruning should be limited to limbs at or below shoulder height.
A regular maintenance program is essential for increasing the saw's service life and ensuring safety. All adjustments and repairs, except carburetor adjustments, should be performed with the spark plug wire disconnected and the engine cool. The guide bar and chain require continuous lubrication from the automatic oiler system, which should be kept filled with Sears Bar and Chain Lubricant or SAE 30W oil. The oiler's output can be adjusted based on the type of wood being cut.
Chain maintenance includes sharpening when wood chips are small and powdery, when the saw needs to be forced through the cut, or when it cuts to one side. Detailed instructions for sharpening cutters with a file holder, round file, and depth gauge tool are provided, emphasizing the correct angles and ensuring all cutters are the same length. The guide bar should be checked for wear and cleaned regularly, including oil holes and grooves, and reversed periodically. It should be replaced if worn, bent, or cracked.
The spark arrestor screen needs regular cleaning (every 25-30 hours of operation or as required) to prevent carbon build-up, which can cause fire hazards or engine damage. The spark plug should be replaced when necessary. Carburetor adjustments may be needed for various performance issues, such as the chain moving at idle speed, the engine stalling, loss of cutting power, or hesitation during acceleration. The manual provides detailed steps for adjusting the idle speed, low-speed mixture, and high-speed mixture screws, with warnings about potential engine damage from incorrect adjustments.
Clutch and drum/sprocket maintenance involves cleaning these components daily during heavy use and inspecting the sprocket for wear. The starter rope should be replaced if broken or badly worn, with a warning about the tensioned recoil spring. For storage longer than 30 days, the fuel tank, carburetor, and fuel lines should be run dry, or a fuel stabilizer can be added to prevent gum deposits and acid formation. The oil tank should be drained, and the bar and chain cleaned, dried, and coated with oil to prevent rust. The saw should be stored in a dry place, out of reach of children, and away from open flames. The cooling system, including cylinder cooling fins, should be cleaned after every other refueling when cutting fibrous materials.
General| Engine Type | 2-cycle |
|---|---|
| Engine Displacement | 33cc |
| Bar Length | 16 inches |
| Chain Pitch | 3/8 inch |
| Oil Capacity | 6.8 oz |
| Power Source | Gasoline |
| Type | Gas-powered |
| Chain Gauge | 0.050 inch |
