Sears 358.356090-3.7/20" - Manual (Page 11)

CONTROLLING KICKBACK ..............
Kickback is a dangerous reaction that can cause
serious personal infury. Carefully study this man*
ual before you make the first cut with your new
saw.
You must understand what causes kickback,
how you can reduce the chance of kickback, and how
you can remain in the best control of the saw if
kickback does occur.
1. WHAT CAUSES KICKBACK
Kickback can occur when the moving chain
contacts an object at the tip or nose of the
guide bar.
This contact causes the chain to dig
Into the object and stops the chain for an instant.
The result is a lightning fast, reverse reaction
which kicks the saw tip up and back toward the
operator. The operator can lose control of the saw
and the cutting chain can cause serious personal
injury if it contacts any part of the body.
THUMB ON
UNDERSIDE
OF HANDLE
BAR
ARM
STRAIGHT
NEVER
REVERSE
HAND
POSITIONS
Figure 17
2. REDUCETHECHANCEOF
KICKBACK
a. Recognize that kickback can happen. By
understanding and knowing about kickback,
you are better equipped to deal with an occur­
rence.
b. Never let the moving chain contact any ob­
ject at the tip of the guide bar. Figure 15.
c. Keep the working area free from obstruc­
tions such as other trees, branches, rocks,
fences, stumps, etc.
Figure 16. Eliminate or
avoid any obstruction that your saw chain
could hit while you are cutting through a par­
ticular log or branch.
d. Keep your saw chain sharp and properly
tensioned. A loose or dull chain can increase
the chance of kickback.
e. Begin and continue cutting at full throttle.
........... If the chain is movingat a slower speedrthere.
is greater chance for kickback to occur.
f. Cut one log at a time.
g. Use extreme caution when re-entering a
previous cut.
h. Do not attempt plunge cuts.
i. Watch for shifting logs or other forces that
could close a cut and pinch or fall into the
chain.
j. Use the Lo-Kick-Guide Bar and Guard Link
Chain specified for your particular saw.
These devices have been .designed to reduce
the hazard of kickback:'
k. Use extra caution if your saw is equipped
with the Power Sharps System. The Power
Sharp'' saw is equipped with a Lo-Kick ' Guide
Bar and a Guard Link Chain. However, due to
the chain requirements of the buiit-in sharpen­
ing mechanism, the kickback force from the
Power Sharp'" chain may be greater than that
from other Guard Link chains.
3. MAINTAINTHE BEST CONTROL
a. Keep a good firm grip on the saw with both
hands. Figure 17. A firm grip can neutralize
kickback and help you maintain control of the
saw. Keep the fingers of your left hand encirc­
ling and your left thumb under the front han­
dlebar. Keep your right hand completely
around the rear handle
whether you are right
handed or left handed.
Keep your left arm
straight with the elbow locked.
b. Position your left hand on the front han-
diebar so it is in a straight line with your
right hand on the rear handle. Figure 17.
Never reverse right and left hand position.
c. Stand with your weight evenly balanced on
both feet.
d. Stand slightly to the left side of the saw, to
keep your body from being in a direct line
with the cutting chain. Figure 17.
e. Do not overreach. You could be drawn or
thrown off balance and lose control of the saw,
f. Do not cut above shoulder height. It is diffi­
cult to maintain control of the saw above
shoulder height.
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