Handling Fuel; Understanding Kickback - Poulan Pro PR3816 Instruction Manual

• With the engine stopped,
hand-carry the chainsaw with
the muffler away from your
body, and the guide bar and
chain to the rear, preferably
covered with a scabbard.
MAINTAINING YOUR SAW
• Have all chainsaw service
performed by a qualified
service dealer with the
exception of the items listed
in the maintenance section of this manual. For
example, if improper tools are used to remove or
hold the flywheel when servicing the clutch,
structural damage to the flywheel can occur and
cause the flywheel to burst.
• Make certain the saw chain stops moving when
the throttle trigger is released. For correction,
refer to Carburetor Adjustment.
• Never modify your saw in any way.
• Keep the handles dry, clean, and free of oil or
fuel mixture.
• Keep fuel and oil caps, screws, and fasteners
securely tightened.
• Use only genuine accessories and replacement
parts as recommended.
• Your saw is equipped with a temperature limiting
muffler and spark arresting screen which meets
the requirements of California Codes 4442 and
4443. All U.S. forest land and the states of
California, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, New
Jersey, Oregon, and Washington require by law
that many internal combustion engines to be
equipped with a spark arresting screen. If you
operate a chainsaw in a state or locale where
such regulations exist, you are legally
responsible for maintaining the operating
condition of these parts. Failure to do so is a
violation of the law. Refer to the SERVICE
section for maintenance of the spark arresting
screen.

HANDLING FUEL

• Do not smoke while handling fuel or while
operating the saw.
• Eliminate all sources of sparks or flame in the
areas where fuel is mixed or poured. There
should be no smoking, open flames, or work that
could cause sparks. Allow engine to cool before
refueling.
• Always have fire extinguishing tools available if
you should need them.
• Mix and pour fuel in an outdoor area on bare
ground; store fuel in a cool, dry, well ventilated
place; and use an approved, marked container
for all fuel purposes. Wipe up all fuel spills
before starting saw.
• Move at least 10 feet (3 meters) from fueling site
before starting engine.
• Turn the engine off and let saw cool in a non‐
combustible area, not on dry leaves, straw,
paper, etc. Slowly remove fuel cap and refuel
unit.
• Store the unit and fuel in an area where fuel
vapors cannot reach sparks or open flames from
water heaters, electric motors or switches,
furnaces, etc.

UNDERSTANDING KICKBACK

WARNING! Avoid kickback which can result
in serious injury. Kickback is the backward,
upward or sudden forward motion of the
guide bar occurring when the saw chain
near the upper tip of the guide bar contacts
any object such as a log or branch, or when
the wood closes in and pinches the saw
chain in the cut. Contacting a foreign object
in the wood can also result in loss of
chainsaw control.
ROTATIONAL KICKBACK
Rotational kickback can
occur when the moving
chain contacts an object at
the upper tip of the guide
bar. This contact can
cause the chain to dig into
the object, which stops the
chain for an instant. The result is a lightning fast,
reverse reaction which kicks the guide bar up and
back toward the operator.
PINCH KICKBACK
Pinch kickback can occur when the wood closes in
and pinches the moving saw chain in the cut along
the top of the guide bar and the saw chain is
suddenly stopped. 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. The saw is
driven straight back toward the operator.
PULL-IN
Pull‐in can occur when the moving chain contacts
a foreign object in the 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 control of the
saw.
REDUCING THE CHANCE OF KICKBACK
• Recognize that kickback can happen. With a
basic understanding of kickback, you can reduce
the element of surprise which contributes to
accidents.
• Never let the moving chain contact any object at
the tip of the guide bar.
• Keep the working area free from obstructions
such as other trees, 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 or other objects around
it.
• Keep your saw chain sharp and properly
tensioned. A loose or dull chain can increase the
chance of kickback occurring. 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 nuts
are securely 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 occurring.
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