Craftsman 358.351191 Operator's Manual page 14

OPERATION
GENERAL OPERATION TIPS
. Cut wood only, Do not cut metal; plastics; masonry; non-
wood building materials; etc.
• Stop the saw ff the chain strikes a foreignobject, Inspect
the saw and repair or replace parts as necessary
. Keep the chain out of dirt and sand Even a small amount
of dirt will quickly dull a chain and thus increase the pos-
sibility of kickback.
To get the "feet" of using your saw before you begin a major
sawing operation, practice cutting a few small logs using the
following technique:
o Accelerate engine to full throttleby squeezing the throttle
trigger before entering cut.
o Never cut with engine at partial speeds.
• Begin cutting with the saw chassis against the log,,
• Keep engine at full throWeduring cutting procedure,
- Allow the chain to cut for you; exert only light downward
pressure,tf you force the cut, damage to the bar, chain, or
engine can result.
• Release the throttle triggeras soon as the cut is complet-
ed, allowing the engine to idle If you run the unit at full
throttle without cutting, unnecessary wear can occur to
the chain, bar, and engine
• To avoid losingcontrol when completing the cut, do not
put pressure on the saw during the end of Ihe cut.
. Stop engine before setting unit down after operation,
O PERATION SAFETY
WARNING
tF SAW BECOMES PINCHED OR HUNG
tN A LOG, DO NOT TRY TO FORCE IT
OUT, YOU CAN LOSE CONTROL OFTHE
SAW RESULTING IN INJURY AND/OR
DAMAGE TO THE SAW° STOP THE SAW,
DRIVE A WEDGE OF PLASTIC OR
WOOD INTO THE CUT UNTIL THE SAW
CAN BE REMOVED EASILY. RESTART
THE SAW AND CAREFULLY REENTER
THE CUT. '1"O AVOID KICKBACK AND
CHAIN DAMAGE, DO NOT USE A METAL.
WEDGE, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO
RESTART YOUR SAW WHEN IT IS
PINCHED OR HUNG IN A LOG.
KICKBACK CAN OCCUR WHEN THE
MOVING CHAIN CONTACTS AN OBJECT
ATTHE UPPER PORTION OFTHETIP 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 AND STOP THE
CHAIN FOR AN INSTANT° THE RESULT
IS A LIGHTNING FAST, REVERSE REAC-
TION 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 REACTIONS CAN
CAUSE LOSS OF SAW CONTROL
WHICH CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS
INJURY,
AVOID REACTIVE PINCH FORCES
Pinch-Kickback and Pull-in occur when the chain is sudden-
ly stopped by being pinched, caught, or by contacting a for-
eign object in the wood 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. Pinch-Kickback drives the saw straight back
toward the operator,PuIl-ln pulls the saw away from the
operator Either reaction can result in loss of control and
possiblyserious injury
TO AVOID PINCH-KICKBACK:
° Be extremely aware of situations or obstructions that can
cause material to pinch the top of or otherwise stop the
chain
• Do not cut more than one log at a time
° Do not twist the saw as the bar is withdrawn from an
under-cut when bucking
TO AVOID PULL-IN
• Always begin cutting withthe engine at full throttleand the
saw housing against wood,
• Use wedges made of plastic or wood, (never of metal) to
hold the cut open_
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