Ryobi RY43161 Operation Manual - Page 3

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS cords immediately. Damaged cords increase the risk of electric shock.  Make sure your extension cord is in good condition. When using an extension cord, be sure to use one heavy enough to carry the current your product will draw. A wire gauge size (A.W.G.) of at least 14 is recommended for an extension cord 50 feet or less in length. If in doubt, use the next heavier gauge. The smaller the gauge number, the heavier the cord. An undersized cord will cause a drop in line voltage resulting in loss of power and overheating.  WARNING: Use outdoor extension cords marked SW-A, SOW-A, STW-A, STOW-A, SJW-A, SJTW-A, or SJTOW-A. These cords are rated for outdoor use and reduce the risk of electric shock.  Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection should be provided on the circuit(s) or outlet(s) to be used for the product. Receptacles are available having built-in GFCI protection and may be used for this measure of safety. SPECIFIC SAFETY RULES  Kickback is a dangerous reaction that can lead to serious injury. Kickback may occur when the moving chain contacts an object at the upper portion of the tip of the guide bar or when the wood closes in and pinches the 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 and stop 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 chain is pinched along the top of the guide bar, the guide bar can be driven rapidly back toward the operator, which can cause loss of control and may result in serious injury. Do not rely exclusively upon the safety devices built into the product. With a basic understanding of kickback, you can reduce or eliminate the element of surprise. Sudden surprise contributes to accidents.  Use pole saw for cutting wood only. Do not use for cutting non-wood items.  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 while you are operating the unit. Have a planned retreat path.  Do not grasp the exposed cutting blades or cutting edges when picking up or holding the product.  Cut only when visibility and light are adequate for you to see clearly.  To protect yourself from electrocution, do not operate within 50 feet of overhead electrical lines.  Before starting the motor, make sure the chain is not contacting any object.  To protect yourself from falling branches, do not stand directly under the branch or limb being cut. This unit should not be held at an angle over 60° from ground level.  Turn off the motor and make sure cutting attachment has stopped before setting unit down.  Follow the sharpening and maintenance instructions for the saw chain.  Use only the replacement guide bars and low kickback chains specified for the unit.  Do not operate the saw with one hand! Serious injury to the operator, helpers, bystanders, or any combination of these persons may results from one hand operation. This saw intended for two-handed use.  Use extreme caution when cutting small-sized brush and saplings because slender material may catch the saw chain and be whipped toward you or pull you off balance.  When cutting a limb that is under tension, be alert for spring back so that you will not be struck when the tension in the wood fibers is released.  To avoid accidental starting, never carry plugged in product with finger on switch. Be sure switch is off when plugging in. Page 3 - English