Poulan 1975 - Manual (Page 4)

• Pulí-ln can occur when the moving chain
contacts a foreign object in frie 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 controi of the saw.
Avoid Pinch-Kickback:
• Be extremely aware of situations or ob­
structions that can cause material to pinch
the top of or otherwise stop the chain.
• Do not out 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:
• 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 hoid the cut open.
V
1 T-
Kickback Path
о
у Avoid Obstructions
Q
'' 1
Ciear The Working Area
REDUCE THE CHANCE OF
KICKBACK
• Recognize that kickback can happen.
With a basic understanding of kickback,
you can reduce the eiement 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 othertrees, branches, rocks,
fences, stumps, etc. Eliminate or avoid
any obstruction that your saw chain could
hit while you are cutting. When cutting a
branch, do not let the guide bar contact
branch
Of
other objects around it.
• Keep your saw chain sharp and properly
tensioned. A ioose or duii 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 the engine running.
Make sure the chain brake nuts are se­
curely tightened after tensioning the chain.
• Begin and continue cutting at full speed. If
the chain is moving at a slower speed,
there is greater chance of kickback occur­
ring.
• 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 fail into
chain.
• Use the Reduced-Kickback Guide Bar
and Low-Kickback Chain specified for
your saw.
MAINTAIN CONTROL
Stand to the
left of the saw
Never reverse
hand positions
• Keep a good, firm grip on the saw with both
hands when fte engine is running and don't
let go. A firm grip wiS help you reduce kick­
back and maintain control of the saw. Keep
tie fingers of your left hand encircling and
your left thumb under the front handlebar.
Keep your right hand completely around the
rear handie whether your are right handed or
left handed. Keep your left arm straight with
the elbow iocked.
• Position your Sett hand on the front handle­
bar so it is in a straight line with your right
hand on the rear handie when making
bucking cuts. Never reverse right and left
hand positions for any type of cutting.
• Stand with your weight evenly balanced on
both feet.
• Stand slightly to the left side of the saw to
keep your body from being in a direct line
with the cutting chain.
• Do not overreach. You could be drawn or
thrown off balance and lose control of the
saw.
• Do not cut above shoulder height. It is diffi­
cult to maintain control of saw above
shoulder height.
KICKBACK SAFETY FEATURES
^WARNING: The following features
are included on your saw to help reduce the
hazard of kickback; however, such features
will not totally eliminate this danger. As a
chain saw user, do not rely only on safety de­
vices. You must follow ai! safety precau­
tions, instructions, and maintenance in this
manual to heip avoid kickback and other
forces which can result in serious injury.