Poulan 425 - Manual (Page 3)

WARNINGS AND SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
(See Additional Safety Instructions throughout this Manual)
GUARD AGAINST KICKBACK
Kickback is a dangerous reaction that can lead to serious
injury.
Do not rely only on the safety devices provided with
your saw. As a chain saw user, you must take special safety
precautions to help keep your cutting jobs free from acci-
dent or injury.______ ________ ____________ _______
A KICKBACK WARNING
Kickback can occur when the moving chain con­
tacts 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 re^t is a
lightning 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 reac­
tions can cause loss of saw control which can re-
sult in serious injury. ___
Figure 1
Never Reverse
Hand Positions
Stand To
The Left
Of The Saw
Elbow
Locked
Thumb On
Under Side
Of Handlebar
Figure 3
REDUCE THE CHANCE OF KICKBACK
1. Recognize that kickback can happen, ^th a
basic understanding of kickback, you can reduce
the element of surprise which contributes to acci­
dents.
2. Never let the moving chain contact any ob­
ject at the tip of the guide bar. Figure 1,
3. Keep the working area free from obstruc­
tions such as other trees, branches, rocks, fences,
stumps, etc. Figure 2 . Eliminate or avoid any ob­
struction that your saw chain could hit while you
are cutting through a particular log or branch.
4. Keep your saw Chain sharp and properly ten­
sioned. A loose or dull chain can increase the
chance of kickback to occur. Follow manufacturer’s
chain sharpening and maintenance instructions.
Check tension at regular intervals with the engine
stopped, never with the engine running. Make sure
the bar damp nuts are securely tightened after ten­
sioning the chain.
5. Begin and continue cutting at full throttle. If
the chain is moving at a slower speed, there is great­
er chance for kickback to occur.
6. Cut one log at a time.
7. Use extreme caution when re-entering a
previous cut.
8. Do not attempt plunge or bore cuts.
9. Watch for shifting logs
or other forces that could
close a cut and pinch or faU into cheun.
10. A reduced kickback guide bar and low kick-
back chain are available for your saw and are
strongly recommended to further reduce the hazard
of kickback.
MAINTAIN CONTROL
1. Keep a good, Brm grip on the saw with both
hands when the engine is running and don't
let go.
Figure 3 . A ftrm grip can neutralize kick-
backandhelpyou maintain control offhe saw. Keep
the fingers of your left hand encircling and jrou left
thumb under the front handlebar. Ke^your ri^t
hand completely around the rear
handle whether
your are right handed or left handed. Keep your left
arm straight with the elbow locked.
2. Position your left hand on the &ont ЬапШе-
bar so it is in a straight line with your right
hand on the rear handle when making buck­
ing cuts.
Figure 3 . Never reverse right and left
hand positions for any type of cutting,
3. Stand with your weight evenly bidanced on
both feet.
4. Stand slightly to the left side of the saw to
keep your body from being in a direct line
with the cutting chain.
Figure 3 .
5. Do not overreach. You could be drawn or thrown
off balance and lose control of the saw.
6. Do not cut above shoulder height. It is difficult
to maintain control of saw above shoulder height.