MS 720
English
8
The most common reactive forces are:
kickback, pushback and pull-in.
Dangers of kickback
Kickback occurs when the saw is
suddenly thrown up and back in an
uncontrolled arc towards the operator.
Kickback occurs if, for example,
– The saw chain in the area of the
upper quarter of the guide bar nose
unintentionally comes into contact
with wood or a solid object – e. g.,
unintentionally touches another limb
during limbing
– The saw chain at the nose of the
guide bar is briefly pinched in the cut
QuickStop chain brake:
This device reduces the risk of injury in
certain situations – it cannot prevent
kickback. If activated, the brake stops
the saw chain within a fraction of a
second –
refer to chapter "Chain brake" in this
Instruction Manual.
Reducing the risk of kickback
– Work cautiously and methodically
– Hold the chain saw firmly with both
hands and maintain a secure grip
– Always cut at full throttle
– Be aware of the location of the guide
bar nose
– Do not cut with the guide bar nose
– Be especially careful with small,
tough limbs, undergrowth and
offshoots – the saw chain may
become caught in them
– Never cut several limbs at once
– Do not lean too far forward
– Do not cut above shoulder height
– Use extreme caution when re-
entering a previous cut
– Do not attempt plunge cuts if you
are not experienced in this cutting
technique
– Be alert for shifting of the log or
other forces that may cause the cut
to close and pinch the chain
– Always cut with a correctly
sharpened, properly tensioned saw
chain – the depth gauge setting
must not be too large
– Use low-kickback saw chains as
well as narrow-radius guide bars
Pull-in (A)
When the chain on the bottom of the bar
– overbucking – is suddenly pinched,
caught or encounters a foreign object in
the wood, the chain saw may suddenly
Reactive Forces
Kickback can result in
fatal cuts.
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