DeWalt DCMPS520 - Causes and Operator Prevention of Kickback; Kickback Safety Features

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ENGLISH
q ) This pruner is not intended for tree felling. Use of the
pruner for operations different than intended could result
in serious injury to the operator or bystander.
r ) Follow all instructions when clearing jammed
material, storing or servicing the pruner saw. Make
sure the switch is off and the battery pack is removed.
Causes and Operator Prevention ofKickback:
Kickback may occur when the nose or tip of the guide bar
touches an object, or when the wood closes in and pinches the
saw chain in thecut.
Tip contact in some cases may cause a sudden reverse reaction,
kicking the guide bar up and back towards theoperator.
Pinching the saw chain along the top of the guide bar may push
the guide bar rapidly back towards theoperator.
Either of these reactions may cause you to lose control of the
saw which could result in serious personal injury. Do not rely
exclusively upon the safety devices built into your saw. As a
pruner user, you should take several steps to keep your cutting
jobs free from accident orinjury.
Kickback is the result of tool misuse and/or incorrect operating
procedures or conditions and can be avoided by taking proper
precautions as given below:
a ) Maintain a firm grip, with thumbs and fingers
encircling the pruner handles, with both hands on
the saw and position your body and arm to allow
you to resist kickback forces. Kickback forces can be
controlled by the operator, if proper precautions are
taken. Do not let go of the pruner.
b ) Do not overreach and do not cut above
shoulder height. This helps prevent unintended tip
contact and enables better control of the pruner in
unexpectedsituations.
c ) Only use replacement bars and chains specified
by the manufacturer. Incorrect replacement bars and
chains may cause chain breakage and/orkickback.
d ) Follow the manufacturer’s sharpening and
maintenance instructions for the saw chain.
Decreasing the depth gauge height can lead to
increasedkickback.
The Following Precautions Should Be
Followed to Minimize Kickback:
1 . Grip saw firmly. Hold the pruner firmly with both hands
when the motor is running. Use a firm grip with thumbs
and fingers encircling the pruner handles. Pruner will pull
forward when cutting on the bottom edge of the bar, and
push backward when cutting along the top edge of thebar.
2 . Do not overreach.
3 . Keep proper footing and balance at alltimes.
4 . Don’t let the nose of the guide bar contact a log, branch,
ground or otherobstruction.
5 . Don’t cut above shoulderheight.
6 . Use devices such as low kickback chain and reduced
kickback guide bars that reduce the risks associated
withkickback.
7 . Only use replacement bars and saw chains specified by
the manufacturer or theequivalent.
8 . Never let the moving saw chain contact any object at the
tip of the guidebar.
9 . 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.
10 . Keep your saw chain sharp and properly tensioned. A
loose or dull chain can increase the chance of kickback.
Check tension at regular intervals with the motor stopped and
tool unplugged, never with the motorrunning.
11 . Begin and continue cutting only with the chain moving
at full speed. If the chain is moving at a slower speed, there is
a greater chance for kickback tooccur.
12 . Cut one log at atime.
13 . Use extreme caution when re‑entering a previous cut.
Engage the ribbed bumpers
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onto the wood and allow the
chain to reach full speed before proceeding witha cut.
14 . Do not attempt plunge cuts or borecuts.
15 . Watch for shifting logs or other forces that could close a
cut and pinch or fall intochain.
Kickback Safety Features

WARNING: The following features are included on your
saw to help reduce the hazard of kickback; however such
features will not totally eliminate this dangerous reaction.
As a pruner user do not rely only on safety devices. You
must follow all safety precautions, instructions, and
maintenance in this manual to help avoid kickback and
other forces which can result in seriousinjury.
• Reduced‑Kickback Guide Bar, designed with a small radius
tip which reduces the size of the kickback danger zone on
bar tip. A reduced‑kickback guide bar is one which has
been demonstrated to significantly reduce the number and
seriousness of kickbacks when tested in accordance with safety
requirements for electric pruners.
• Low‑Kickback Chain, designed with a contoured depth gauge
and guard link which deflects kickback force and allows wood
to gradually ride into the cutter. A low‑kickback chain is a chain
which has met kickback performance requirements of ANSI
B175.1–2012.
• Do not operate pruner while in a tree, on a ladder, on a scaffold,
or from any unstablesurface.
• Hold tool by insulated gripping surfaces when performing an
operation where the cutting tool may contact hidden wiring.
Contact with a “live” wire will make exposed metal parts of the
tool “live” and shock theoperator.
• Do not attempt operations beyond your capacity or experience.
Read thoroughly and understand completely all instructions in
thismanual.
• Before you start pruner, make sure saw chain is not contacting
anyobject.
• Do not operate a pruner with one hand! Serious injury to the
operator, helpers, or bystanders may result from one‑handed
operation. A pruner is intended for two‑handed useonly.
• Keep the handles dry, clean, and free of oil orgrease.
• Do not allow dirt, debris, or sawdust to build up on the motor or
outside airvents.
• Stop the pruner before setting itdown.