Warning – Poulan Pro PP4218AVHD User Manual

Page 3

Carefully plan your sawing operation in ad-

vance. Do not start cutting until you have a

clear work area, secure footing, and, if you

are felling trees, a planned retreat path.

OPERATE YOUR SAW SAFELY

Do not operate a chain saw with one hand.

Serious injury to the operator, helpers, by-

standers or any combination of these per-

sons may result from one-handed opera-

tion. A chain saw is intended for

two-handed use.

Operate the chain saw only in a well-venti-

lated outdoor area.

Do not operate saw from a ladder or in a

tree.

Make sure the chain will not make contact

with any object while starting the engine.

Never try to start the saw when the guide

bar is in a cut.

Do not put pressure on the saw at the end

of the cut. Applying pressure can cause

you to lose control when the cut is com-

pleted.

Stop the engine before setting the saw

down.

Do not operate a chain saw that is dam-

aged, improperly adjusted, or not com-

pletely and securely assembled. Always

replace bar, chain, hand guard, or chain

brake immediately if it becomes damaged,

broken or is otherwise removed.

With the engine stopped, hand carry the

chain saw with the muffler away from your

body, and the guide bar and chain to the

rear, preferably covered with a scabbard.

MAINTAIN YOUR SAW IN GOOD

WORKING ORDER

Have all chain saw service performed by a

qualified service dealer with the exception

of the items listed in the maintenance sec-

tion of this manual. For example, if improp-

er tools are used to remove or hold the fly-

wheel when servicing the clutch, structural

damage to the flywheel can occur and

cause the flywheel to burst.

Make certain the saw chain stops moving

when the throttle trigger is released. For

correction, refer to CARBURETOR AD-

JUSTMENT.

Never modify your saw in any way.

Keep the handles dry, clean, and free of oil

or fuel mixture.

Keep fuel and oil caps, screws, and fas-

teners securely tightened.

Use only Poulan PROR accessories and

replacement parts as recommended.

HANDLE FUEL WITH CAUTION

Do not smoke while handling fuel or while

operating the saw.

Eliminate all sources of sparks or flame in

the areas where fuel is mixed or poured.

There should be no smoking, open flames,

or work that could cause sparks. Allow en-

gine to cool before refueling.

Mix and pour fuel in an outdoor area on

bare ground; store fuel in a cool, dry, well

ventilated place; and use an approved,

marked container for all fuel purposes.

Wipe up all fuel spills before starting saw.

Move at least 10 feet (3 meters) from fuel-

ing site before starting engine.

Turn the engine off and let saw cool in a

non-combustible area, not on dry leaves,

straw, paper, etc. Slowly remove fuel cap

and refuel unit.

Store the unit and fuel in an area where fuel

vapors cannot reach sparks or open

flames from water heaters, electric motors

or switches, furnaces, etc.

KICKBACK

WARNING:

Avoid kickback which

can result in serious injury. Kickback is the

backward, upward or sudden forward motion

of the guide bar occurring when the saw

chain near the upper tip of the guide bar con-

tacts any object such as a log or branch, or

when the wood closes in and pinches the

saw chain in the cut. Contacting a foreign ob-

ject in the wood can also result in loss of

chain saw control.

Rotational Kickback can occur when the

moving chain contacts an object at the up-

per tip of the guide bar. This contact 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 to-

ward the operator.

Pinch-Kickback can occur when the the

wood closes in and pinches the moving

saw chain in the cut along the top of the

guide bar and the saw chain is suddenly

stopped. This sudden stopping of the

chain results in a reversal of the chain

force used to cut wood and causes the

saw to move in the opposite direction of the

chain rotation. The saw is driven straight

back toward the operator.

Pull-In can occur when the moving chain

contacts a foreign object in the wood in the

cut along the bottom of the guide bar and the

saw chain is suddenly stopped. This sudden

stopping pulls the saw forward and away

from the operator and could easily cause the

operator to lose control of the saw.

Avoid Pinch--Kickback:
S

Be extremely aware of situations or ob-

structions that can cause material to pinch

the top of or otherwise stop the chain.

Do not cut more than one log at a time.

Do not twist the saw as the bar is with-

drawn from an undercut when bucking.

Avoid Pull--In:
S

Always begin cutting with the engine at full

speed and the saw housing against wood.

Use wedges made of plastic or wood.

Never use metal to hold the cut open.

Kickback Path