Causes and Operator Prevention
of Kickback:
Kickback may occur when the nose or tip of the guide bar
touches an object, or when the wood closes in and pinches
the saw chain in the cut.
Tip contact in some cases may cause a sudden reverse
reaction, kicking the guide bar up and back towards
the operator.
Pinching the saw chain along the top of the guide bar may
push the guide bar rapidly back towards the operator.
Either of these reactions may cause you to lose control of the
saw which could result in serious personal injury. Do not rely
exclusively upon the safety devices built into your saw. As a
chain saw user, you should take several steps to keep your
cutting jobs free from accident or injury.
Kickback is the result of tool misuse and/or incorrect
operating procedures or conditions and can be avoided by
taking proper precautions as given below:
a ) Maintain a firm grip, with thumbs and fingers
encircling the chain saw handles, with both hands
on the saw and position your body and arm to
allow you to resist kickback forces. Kickback
forces can be controlled by the operator, if
proper precautions are taken. Do not let go of the
chain saw.
b ) Do not overreach and do not cut above shoulder
height. This helps prevent unintended tip contact
and enables better control of the chain saw in
unexpected situations.
c ) Only use replacement bars and chains specified
by the manufacturer. Incorrect replacement bars and
chains may cause chain breakage and/or kickback.
d ) Follow the manufacturer's sharpening and
maintenance instructions for the saw chain.
Decreasing the depth gauge height can lead to
increased kickback.
The Following Precautions Should Be
Followed to Minimize Kickback:
1 . Grip saw firmly. Hold the chain saw firmly with both
hands when the motor is running. Use a firm grip
with thumbs and fingers encircling the chain saw
handles. Chain saw will pull forward when cutting on the
bottom edge of the bar, and push backward when cutting
along the top edge of the bar.
2 . Do not over reach.
3 . Keep proper footing and balance at all times.
4 . Don't let the nose of the guide bar contact a log,
branch, ground or other obstruction.
5 . Don't cut above shoulder height.
6 . Use devices such as low kickback chain and reduced
kickback guide bars that reduce the risks associated
with kickback.
7 . Only use replacement bars and chains specified by
the manufacturer or the equivalent.
8 . Never let the moving chain contact any object at the
tip of the guide bar.
9 . Keep the working area free from obstructions such
as other trees, branches, rocks, fences, stumps, etc.
Eliminate or avoid any obstruction that your saw chain
could hit while you are cutting through a particular log
or branch.
10 . Keep your saw chain sharp and properly tensioned.
A loose or dull chain can increase the chance of
kickback. Check tension at regular intervals with the
motor stopped and tool unplugged, never with the
motor running.
11 . Begin and continue cutting only with the chain
moving at full speed. If the chain is moving at a slower
speed, there is a greater chance for kickback to occur.
12 . Cut one log at a time.
13 . Use extreme caution when re‑entering a previous
cut. Engage ribbed bumpers into wood and allow chain to
reach full speed before proceeding with cut.
14 . Do not attempt plunge cuts or bore cuts.
15 . Watch for shifting logs or other forces that could
close a cut and pinch or fall into chain.
Kickback Safety Features
WARNING: The following features are included
on your saw to help reduce the hazard of kickback;
however such features will not totally eliminate this
dangerous reaction. As a chain saw user do not rely
only on safety devices. You must follow all safety
precautions, instructions, and maintenance in this
manual to help avoid kickback and other forces which
can result in serious injury.
•
Reduced‑Kickback Guide Bar, designed with a small radius
tip which reduces the size of the kickback danger zone on
bar tip. A reduced ‑ kickback guide bar is one which has
been demonstrated to significantly reduce the number and
seriousness of kickbacks when tested in accordance with
safety requirements for electric chain saws.
•
Low‑Kickback Chain, designed with a contoured depth
gauge and guard link which deflect kickback force and
allow wood to gradually ride into the cutter. A low‑kickback
chain is a chain which has met kickback performance
requirements of ANSI B175.1–2012.
•
Do not operate chain saw while in a tree, on a ladder, on a
scaffold, or from any unstable surface.
•
Hold tool by insulated gripping surfaces when performing
an operation where the cutting tool may contact hidden
wiring. Contact with a "live" wire will make exposed metal
parts of the tool "live" and shock the operator.
•
Do not attempt operations beyond your capacity or
experience. Read thoroughly and understand completely all
instructions in this manual.
•
Before you start chain saw, make sure saw chain is not
contacting any object.
•
Do not operate a chain saw with one hand! Serious injury
to the operator, helpers, or bystanders may result from one
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