Homelite HOMCS10VNM User Manual - Page 10

PRUNING SAW SAFETY WARNINGS The following precautions should be followed to minimize kickback: • Always grip the saw firmly with both hands. Hold the saw firmly with both hands when the unit is running. Place your right hand on the rear handle and your left hand on the front handle with your thumbs and fingers encircling the pruning saw handles. A firm grip together with a stiff left arm will help you maintain control of the saw if kickback occurs. • Make sure that the area in which you are cutting is free from obstructions. Do not let the nose of the guide bar contact a log, branch, fence, or any other obstruction that could be hit while you are operating the saw. • Always cut with the unit running at full speed. Fully squeeze the throttle trigger and maintain a steady cutting speed. • Use replacement parts such as low kickback chain and special guide bars that reduce the risks associated with rotational kickback. Use only the replacement guide bars and low kickback chains specified by the manufacturer for the saw.  With a basic understanding of kickback, you can reduce or eliminate the element of surprise. Sudden surprise contributes to accidents.  Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance at all times.  Do not cut above chest height or overreach when cutting. Do not let the nose of the guide bar contact a log, branch, ground, or any other obstruction while you are operating the unit.  Follow the sharpening and maintenance instructions for the saw chain.  Push and Pull - This reaction force is always opposite to the direction the chain is moving where wood contact is made. Thus, the operator must be ready to control the PULL when cutting on the bottom edge of the bar, and PUSH when cutting along the top edge. See Figure 4. UNDERSTANDING YOUR PRUNING SAW SAFETY DEVICES LOW KICKBACK SAW CHAIN The rakers (depth gauges) ahead of each cutter can minimize the force of a kickback reaction by preventing the cutters from digging in too deeply at the kickback zone. Only use replacement chain that is equivalent to original chain or has been certified as low kickback chain per ANSI B175.1. Low kickback saw chain is chain that has met the kickback performance requirements of ANSI B175.1 (American National Standard for Power Tools - Gasoline-Powered ChainsawsSafety Requirements) when tested on the representative sample of chainsaws below 3.8 c.i.d. specified in ANSI B175.1. As saw chains are sharpened during their useful life, they lose some of the low kickback qualities and extra caution should be used. GUIDE BARS Generally, guide bars with small radius tips have somewhat lower kickback potentials. When making a replacement, be sure to order one of the bars listed for the saw in this operator's manual.  Save these instructions. Refer to them frequently and use them to instruct others who may use this product. If you loan someone this product, loan them these instructions also. SYMBOLS The following signal words and meanings are intended to explain the levels of risk associated with this product. SYMBOL SIGNAL MEANING DANGER: Indicates a hazardous situation, which, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury. WARNING: Indicates a hazardous situation, which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury. CAUTION: Indicates a hazardous situation, that, if not avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury. NOTICE: (Without Safety Alert Symbol) Indicates information considered important, but not related to a potential injury (e.g. messages relating to property damage). Page 6 - English