Chain Brake And Front Hand Guard - Husqvarna 418 EL Operator's Manual

carried out professionally. If you need further information
please contact your nearest service workshop.
WARNING! Never use a machine with
!
defective safety components. Safety
equipment must be inspected and
maintained. See instructions under the
heading Checking, maintaining and
servicing chain saw safety equipment. If
your machine does not pass all the
checks, take the saw to a servicing
dealer for repair.

Chain brake and front hand guard

Your chain saw is equipped with a chain brake that is
designed to stop the chain if you get a kickback. The chain
brake reduces the risk of accidents, but only you can
prevent them. (3)
Take care when using your saw and make sure the
kickback zone of the bar never touches any object. (4)
• The chain brake can be activated manually (by your
left hand).
• The brake is applied when the front hand guard is
pushed forward.
• This movement activates a spring-loaded mechanism
that stops the drive sprocket.
• The front hand guard is not designed solely to activate
the chain brake. Another important feature is that it
reduces the risk of your left hand hitting the chain if
you lose grip of the front handle.
• To release the chain brake pull the front hand guard
backwards, towards the front handle.
• The chain brake must be engaged when the chain
saw is started.
• Use the chain brake as a "parking brake" when
starting and when moving over short distances, to
reduce the risk of moving chain accidentally hitting
your leg or anyone or anything close by. (5)
• Kickback can be very sudden and violent. Most
kickbacks are minor and do not always activate the
chain brake. If this happens you should hold the chain
saw firmly and not let go.
• The way the chain brake is activated manually
depends on the force of the kickback and the position
of the chain saw in relation to the object that the
kickback zone of the bar strikes.
• If the kickback is less violent or the kickback zone of
the bar is closer to you the chain brake will be
activated manually by the movement of your left hand.
(6)
• In the felling position the left hand is in a position that
makes manual activation of the chain brake
impossible. With this type of grip, that is when the left
hand is placed so that it cannot affect the movement
of the front hand guard, the chain brake can only be
activated by the inertia action. (7)
GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Will my hand always activate the chain
brake during a kickback?
No. It takes a certain force to move the hand guard
forward. If your hand only lightly touches the front guard
or slips over it, the force may not be enough to trigger the
chain brake. You should also maintain a firm grip of the
chain saw handles while working. If you do and
experience a kickback, your hand may never leave the
front handle and will not activate the chain brake, or the
chain brake will only activate after the saw has swung
around a considerable distance. In such instances, the
chain brake might not have enough time to stop the saw
chain before it touches you.
There are also certain positions in which your hand
cannot reach the front hand guard to activate the chain
brake; for example, when the saw chain is held in felling
position.
Will my inertia activated chain brake
always activate during kickback in the
event of a kickback?
No. First your brake must be in working order. Second the
kickback must be strong enough to activate the chain
brake. If the chain brake is too sensitive it would activate
all the time which would be a nuisance.
Will my chain brake always protect me
from injury in the event of a kickback?
No. First, the chain brake must be in working order to
provide the intended protection. Second, it must be
activated during the kickback as described above to stop
the saw chain. Third, the chain brake may be activated but
if the bar is too close to you the brake might not have
enough time to slow down and stop the chain before the
chain saw hits you.
Only you and proper working technique can eliminate
kickback and its danger.
Power trigger lockout
The power trigger lockout is designed to prevent
accidental operation of the power trigger. When you press
the power trigger lockout (A) (i.e when you grasp the
handle) it releases the power trigger (B). When you
release the handle the power trigger and the power trigger
lockout both move back to their original positions. (8)
Chain catcher
The chain catcher is designed to catch the chain if it
snaps or jumps off. This should not happen if the chain is
properly tensioned (see instructions under the heading
Assembly) and if the bar and chain are properly serviced
and maintained (see instructions under the heading
General working instructions). (9)
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English 107