Poulan 530088788 User Manual

Page 3

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:

Kickback can 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

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 light-

ning 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 toward the operator. Either of these

reactions can cause loss of saw control

which can result in serious injury. Guard

against kickback

Rotational Kickback is the rapid upward

and backward motion of the chain saw that

can occur when the moving saw chain near

the upper portion of the tip of the guide bar

contacts an object such as a log or a branch.

Pinch-Kickback and Pull-In occur when

the chain is suddenly stopped by being

pinched, caught, or by contacting a foreign

object in the wood. 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. Pinch-Kickback drives the saw

straight back toward the operator. Pull-In

pulls the saw away from the operator. Either

reaction can result in loss of control and seri-

ous injury.

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 engine at full

speed and saw housing against wood.

Use wedges made of plastic or wood. Nev-

er use metal to hold the cut open.

Kickback Path

Avoid Obstructions

Clear The Working Area

REDUCE THE CHANCE OF

KICKBACK

Recognize that kickback can happen.

With a basic understanding of kickback,

you can reduce the element of surprise

which contributes to accidents.

Never let the moving chain contact any ob-

ject at the tip of the guide bar.

Keep the working area free from obstruc-

tions 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 particu-

lar log or branch.

Keep your saw chain sharp and properly

tensioned. A loose or dull chain can in-

crease the chance of kickback occurring.

Follow manufacturer ’s chain sharpening

and maintenance instructions. Check ten-

sion at regular intervals with the engine

stopped, never with engine running. Make

sure the bar clamp nuts are securely tight-

ened after tensioning the chain.

Begin and continue cutting at full speed. If

chain is moving at a slower speed, there is

greater chance of kickback occurring.

Cut one log at a time.

Use extreme caution when re-entering a

previous cut.

Do not attempt cuts starting with the tip of

the bar (plunge cuts).

Watch for shifting logs or other forces that

could close a cut and pinch or fall into chain.

Use Reduced-Kickback Guide Bar and Low-

Kickback Chain specified for your saw.

MAINTAIN CONTROL

Never reverse

hand positions

Stand to the left of

the saw