causethechaintodigintotheobject,
whichstopsthechah_foraninstant.The
resultisalightningfasLreversereaction
whichkickstheguidebarupandbackto-
wardtheoperator.
• Pinch-Kickbackcanoccurwhenthethe
woodclosesinandpinchesthemoving
sawchaininthecutalongthetopofthe
guidebarandthesawchainissuddenly
stopped.Thissuddenstoppingofthe
chainresultsinareversalofthechain
forceusedtocutwoodandcausesthe
sawtomoveintheoppositedirectionofthe
chainrotation,Thesawisdrivenstraight
backtowardtheoperator.
• Pull4ncanoccurwhenthemovingchain
contactsaforeignobjectinthewoodinthe
cutalongthebottomoftheguidebarandthe
sawchainissuddenlystopped,Thissudden
stoppingpullsthesawforwardandaway
fromtheoperatorandcouldeasilycausethe
operatortolosecontrolofthesaw.
AvoidPinch-Kickback:
• Beextremelyawareofsituationsorob-
structionsthatcancausematerialtopinch
thetopoforotherwisestopthechain,
• Donotcutmorethanonelogatatime,
• Donottwistthesawasthebariswith-
drawnfromanundercutwhenbucking,
AvoidPull-In:
• Alwaysbegincuttingwiththeengh_eatfull
speedandthesawhousingagainstwood.
• Usewedgesmadeofplasticorwood.
Neverusemetaltoholdthecutopen.
'X_ KickbackPath
REDUCE THE CHANCE 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 ob-
ject at the tip of the guide bar,
• Keep the working area free from obstruc-
tions such as other trees, branches, rocks,
fences, stumps, etc. Eliminate or avoid
any obstruction that your saw chain could
hit while you are cutting, When cutting a
branch, do not let the guide bar contact
branch or other objects around it,
• Keep your saw chain sharp and properly
tensioned. A loose or dull chain can in-
crease the chance of kickback occurring,
Follow manufacturer's chain sharpening
and maintenance instructions. Check ten-
sion at regular intervals with the engine
stopped, never with the engine running.
Make sure the chain brake nuts are se-
curely 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 fail into chain.
• Use the Reduced-Kickback Guide Bar
and Low-Kickback Chain specified for
your saw,
MAINTAIN CONTROL
Stand to the
left of the,
Never reverse" |_"
hand positions
Thumb on
underside of
handlebar
X
Elbow locked
Thumb on underside of
handlebar
• Keep a good, firm grip on the saw with both
hands when the engine is running and
don't let go, A firm grip wili help you reduce
kickback and maintain control of the saw.
Keep the fingers of your left hand encir-
cling and your left thumb under the front
handlebar. Keep your right hand complete-
ly around the rear handle whether your are
right handed or left handed. Keep your left
arm straight with the elbow locked.
• Position your left hand on the front handle-
bar 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.
• Do not cut above shoulder height. It is diffi-
cult to maintain control of saw above
shoulder height.
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