Poulan 1980-06 User Manual - Page 3

SPECIAL

SAFETY

SECTION

GUARD

AGAINST

KICKBACK

Kickback

is

a

dangerous

reaction

that

can

lead

to

serious

personal

injury.

Do

not

rely

only

on

the

safety

devices

provided

with

your

saw.

Ma

chain

saw

user,

you

must

take

special

safety

precautions

to

help

keep

yourcutting

jobs

free

from

accident

or

injury.

I

KICKBACK

WARNING

Kickback

can

occurwhen

the

moving

chain

contacts

an

object

atthe

upper

portion

of

thetip

of

the

guide

bar

orwhen

the

wood

closes

in

and

pinchesthe

saw

chain

in

the

cut.

Contact

atthe

upperpottion

of

the

tipof

the

guide

barcan

causethechainto

dig

into

the

object

and

stop

the

chain

for

an

instant.

The

result

is

a

lightning

fast,

reverse

reaction

which

kicks

the

guide

barupand

back

toward

the

operator.

If

the

saw

chain

is

pinched

along

the

top

of

the

guide

bar,

the

guide

bar

can

be

driven

rapidly

back

toward

the

operator.

Either

of

these

reactions

can

cause

loss

of

saw

control

which

can

►esult

in

serious

personal

injury.

KICKBACK

PATH

4'

y

Figure

1

AVOID

OBSTRUCTIONS

CLEAR

WORKING

AREA

Figure

2

NEVER

REVERSE

HAND

POSITIONS

LEFT

HAND

ti

RIGHT

'-

HAND

Figure

3

•

I

LOCKED

STAND

TOTHE-

LEFT

OF

THE

SAW

ELBOW

THUMB

ON

UNDER

SIDE

OF

HANDLEBAR

REDUCE

THE

CHANCE

OF

KICKBACK

1.

Recognize

that,

kickbaek_can

happen.

With

a

basic

understanding

of

kickback,

you

can

reduce

the

element

of

surprise

which

contributes

to

accidents.

2.

Never

letthe

moving

chain

contact

any

object

atthe

tip

of

the

guide

bar.

Figure

1.

3.

Keep

the

working

area

free

from

obstructions

such

as

other

trees,

branches,

rocks,

fences,

-

stumps,

etc.

Figure

2.

Eliminate

or

avoid

any

obstruction

that

your

saw

chain

could

hit

while

you

are

cutting

through

a

particular

log

or

branch.

4.

Keep

your

saw

chain

sharp

and

properly

ten-

sioned.

Follow

manufacturer's

chain

sharpening

and

maintenance

instructions.

Check

tension

at

regular

intervals

with

the

engine

stopped,

never

with

the

engine

running.

Make

sure

the

bar

clamp

nuts

are

securely

tightened

after

tensioning

the

chain.

A

loose

or

dull

chain

can

increase

the chance

of

kickback

to

occur.

5.

Begin

and

continue

culling

at

full

throttle.

If

the

chain

is

moving

at

a

slower

speed,

there

is

greater

chance

for

kickback

to

occur.

6.

Cut

one

log

at

a

time.

7.

Use

extreme

caution

when

re-entering

a

previous

cut.

8.

Do

not

attempt

plunge,

cuts.

9.

Watch

for

shifting

logs

or

other

forces

that

could

close

a

cut

and

pinch

or

fall

into

the

chain.

10.

Use

the

Reduced

-Kickback

Guide

Bar

and

Low

-

Kickback

Chain

specified

for

your

saw.

MAINTAIN

CONTROL

1.

Keep

a

good

firm

grip

on

the

saw

with

both

hands

when

the

engine

is

running

and

don't

let

go.

Figure

3.

A

firm

grip

can

neutralize

kickback

and

help

you

maintain

control

of

the

saw.

Keep

the

fingers

of

your

left

hand

encircling

and

your

left

thumb

under

the

front

handlebar.

Keep

your

right

hand

completely

around

the

rear

handle

whether

you

are

right

handed

or

left

handed.

Keep

your

left

arm

straight

with

the

elbow

locked.

2

-

Position

your

left

hand

on

the

front

handlebar

so

it

is

in

a

straight

line

with

your

right

hand

on

the

rear

handlewhenmaking

bucking

cuts.

Figure3.

Never

reverse

right

and

left

hand

positions

for

any

type

of

cutting.

3.

Stand

with

your

weight

evenly

balanced

on

both

feet.

4.

Stand

slightly

to

the

left

side

of

the

saw,

to keep

your

body

from

being

in

a

direct

line

with

the

cutting

chain.

Figure

3.

5.

Do

not

overreach.

You

could

be

drawn

or

thrown

off

balance

and

lose

control

of

the

saw.

6.

Do

not

cut

above

shoulder

height.

It

is

difficult

to

maintain

control

of

the

saw

above

shoulder

height.

Poulan 1980-06 User Manual - Page 3

Special, Safety,

Page 3 highlights