Poulan Pro 1950 Operator's Manual page 3

open f lames, orwork t hat c ould c ause
sparks, Allow engine tocool before re-
fueling.
Mix and pour fuel inanoutdoor areaon
bare ground; store f uel i nacool, d ry,
well v entilated place; and useanap-
proved, marked container forallfuel
purposes. Wipe u pall f uel spills b efore
starting saw.
Move a tleast 1 0feet ( 3meters f rom
fueling site before starting engine.
Turn t he engine off a nd let s aw cool ina
non-combustible area, n ot on dry
leaves, straw, paper, etc. Slowly r e-
move f uel c ap and refuel unit.
Store t he unit a nd fuel i nanarea w here
fuelvapors c annot reach sparks or
open flames from water heaters,
elec-
tric motors or switches, furnaces, etc.
KICKBACK
WARNING:
Kickback can occur when
the moving chain contacts 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 result is a light-
ning 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 reactions can cause loss of saw con-
trol which can result in serious injury. Guard
against kickback
Rotational Kickback is the rapid upward
and backward motion of the chain saw that
can occur when the moving saw chain near
the upper portion of the tip of the guide bar
contacts an object such as a log or a
branch.
Pinch-Kickback and Pull-In occur when the
chain is suddenly stopped by being
pinched, caught, or by contacting a foreign
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. Pull-
In pulls the saw away from the operator. Ei-
ther reaction can result in loss of control and
serious injury.
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 cut 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 hold the cut open.
Kickback Path
Clear The Working Area
REDUCE THE CHANCE OF
KICKBACK
Recognize that kickback can happen.
With a basic understanding of kick-
back, you can reduce the element of
surprise which contributes to acci-
dents.
Never let the moving chain contact any
ob eat at the tip of the guide bar.
Keep the work ng area free from ob-
structions such as other trees,
branches, rocks, fences, stumps, etc.
Eliminate or avoid any obstruction that
your saw chain could hit while you are
cutting through a particular log or
branch.
Keep your saw chain sharp and proper-
ly tensioned. A loose or dull chain can
increase the chance of kickback occur-
ring. Follow manufacturer's chain
sharpening and maintenance instruc-
tions. Check tension at regular intervals
with the engine stopped, never with the
engine running. Make sure the bar
clamp nuts are securely tightened after
tensioning the chain.
Begin and continue cutting at full
speed. Ifthe chain is moving at a slower
speed, there is greater chance of kick-
back occurring.
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 fall
into chain,
Use the Reduced-Kickback Guide Bar
and Low-Kickback Chain specified for
your saw,