Poulan 1990-10 User Manual - Page 3

WARNINGS

AND

SAFETY

INSTRUCTIONS

(See

Additional

Safety

Instructions

throughout

this

Manual)

GUARD

AGAINST

KICKBACK

Kickback

is

a

dangerous

reaction

that

can

lead

to

serious

in-

jury.

Do

not

rely

only

on

the

safety

devices

provided

with

your

saw.

As

a

chain

saw

user,

you

must

take

special

safety

precautions

to

help

keep

your

cutting

jobs

free

from

acci-

dent

or

injury.

A

KICKBACK

WARNING

Kickback

can

occur

when

the

moving

chain

con-

tacts

an

object

at

the

upper

portion

of

the

tip

of

the

guide

bar

or

when

the

wood

closes

in

and

pinches

the

saw

chain

in

the

cut.

Contact

at

the

upper

portion

of

the

tip

of

the

guide

bar

can

cause

the

chain

to

dig

into

the

object,

which

stops

the

chain

for

an

instant.

The

result

is

a

lightning

fast,

reverse

reaction

which

kicks

the

guide

bar

up

and

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

to-

ward

the

operator.

Either

of

these

reactions

can

causeloss

of

saw

control

which

can

result

in

seri-

ous injury.

Kickback

Path

Figure

1

Clear

The

Working

Area

ti

t

Avoid

Obstructions

Figure

2

Never

Reverse

Hand

Positions

I

I

Stand

To

The

Left

Of

The

Saw

Elbow

Locked

Thumb

On

...

Under

Side

Of

Handlebar

Figure

3

REDUCE

THE

CHANCE

OF

KICKBACK

1.

Recognize

that

kickback

can

happen.

With

a

basic

understanding

of

kickback,

you

can

reduce

the

element

of

surprise

which

contributes

to

accidents.

2.

Never

let

the

moving

chain

contact

any

object

at

the

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.

A

loose

or

dull

chain

can

increase

the

chance

of

kickback

to

occur

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.

5.

Begin

and

continue

cutting

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

pre-

vious

cut.

8.

Do

not

attempt

plunge

or

bore

cuts.

9.

Watch

for

shifting

logs

or

other

forces

that

could

close

a

cut

and

pinch

or

fall

into

chain.

10.A

reduced

kickback

guide

bar

and

low

kick-

back

chain

are

available

for

your

saw

and

are

strongly

recommended

to

further

reduce

the

hazard

of

kickback.

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

kick-

back

and

help

you

maintain

control

of

the

saw.

Keep

the

liners

of

your

left

hand

encircling

and

you

left

thumb

under

the

front

handlebar.

Keep

your

ri

t

hand

completely

around

the

rear

handle

whether

your

are

ri

ght

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

rearhandle

when

makirtg

bucking

cuts.

Figure

3.

Never

reverse

right

and

left

hand

posi-

tions

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

saw

above

shoulder

height.

Poulan 1990-10 User Manual - Page 3

Warnings, Safety, Instructions

Page 3 highlights