Craftsman 358.351080 - Manual (Page 12)

OPERATION
GENERAL OPERATION TIPS
• Cut wood only. Do not cut metal; plastics; masonry; non­
wood building materials; etc.
• Stop trie saw if the chain strikes a foreign object. Inspect
the saw and repair or replace parts as necessary.
• Keep the chain out of dirt and sand. Even a small amount
of dirt will quickly dull a chain and thus increase the pos­
sibility of kickback.
To get the “feel” of using your saw before you begin a major
sawing operation, practice cutting a few small logs using
the following technique:
• Accelerate engine to full throttle by squeezing the throttle
trigger before entering cut.
• Never cut with engine at partial speeds.
' Begin cutting with the saw chassis against the log.
> Keep engine at full throttle during cutting procedure.
• Allow the chain to cut for you; exert only light downwrard
pressure. If you force the cut, damage to №e bar, chain,
or engine can result.
Release the throttle trigger as soon as the cut is com­
pleted, allowing the engine to idle. If you run the unit at
full throttle without cutting, unnecessary wear can occur
to the chain, bar, and engine.
To avoid losing control when completing the cut, do not
put pressure on the saw during the end of the cut.
Stop engine before setting unit down after operation.
OPERATION SAFETY
WARNING:
IF SAW BECOMES PINCHED OR HUNG IN A
LOG, DO NOT TRY TO FORCE IT OUT, YOU
CAN LOSE CONTROL OF THE SAW
RESULTING IN INJURY AND/OR DAMAGE
TO THE SAW. STOP THE SAW, DRIVE A
WEDGE OF PLASTIC OR WOOD INTO THE
CUT UNTIL THE SAW CAN BE REMOVED
EASILY. RESTARTTHE SAW AND CAREFUL-
yr REENTER THE CUT. TO AVOID KICK-
DAMAGE, DO NOT USE A
METAL WEDGE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO
RESTART YOUR SAW WHEN IT IS PINCHED
OR HUNG IN A LOG.
KICKBACK CAN OCCUR WHEN THE MOV­
ING CHAIN CONTACTS AN OBJECT AT THE
UPPER PORTION OFTHETIP OF THE GUIDE
BAR OR WHEN THE WOOD CLOSES IN AND
PINCHES THE SAW CHAIN IN THE CUT.
CONTACT ATTHE UPPER PORTION OFTHE
TIP OF THE GUIDE BAR CAN CAUSE THE
CHAINTO DIG INTOTHE OBJECT AND STOP
THE CHAIN FOR AN INSTANT. TOE RESULT
IS A LIGHTNING FAST, REVERSE RÉACTION
WHICH KICKS TOE GUIDE BAR UP AND
BACK TOWARD THÉ 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 OFTHESE REACTIONS
CAN CAUSE LOSS OF SAW CONTROL
WHICH CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY.
AVOID REACTIVE PINCH FORCES
Pinch-Kickback and Pufl-ln occur when the chain is sud­
denly 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 pulfs the saw
away from the operator. Either reaction can result in loss of
control and possibly serious injury.
TO AVOID PfNCH-KICKBACK:
• Be extremely aware of situations or obstructions that can
cause materia! 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 withdrawn from an
under-cut when bucking.
TO AVOID PULL-IN:
• Always begin cutting with the engine at full throttle and
the saw housing against wood.
• Use wedgesjpadejof plastic or wood, (never of metal) to
hold the cut open.
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