DeWalt DXGP210 Operator's Manual page 4

• If the unit strikes or becomes entangled with a foreign object,
stop the unit immediately. Check for damage. If damaged, do
not restart or operate the unit until it is repaired. Do not operate
the unit with loose or damaged parts.
• Turn the engine off and disconnect the spark plug for
maintenance or repair.
• Use only original equipment manufacturer (OEM) replacement
parts and accessories for this unit. These are available from your
authorized service dealer. Use of any other parts or accessories
could lead to serious injury to the user, or damage to the unit,
and void the warranty.
• Keep the unit clean. Carefully remove vegetation and other
debris that could block moving parts.
• To reduce fire hazard, replace a faulty muffler and spark arrestor.
Keep the engine and muffler free from grass, leaves, excessive
grease or carbon build up.
• If the unit starts to vibrate abnormally, stop the unit immediately.
Inspect the unit for the cause of the vibration. Vibration is
generally an indicator of trouble.
• Do not use the unit in the presence of flammable liquids or gases.
• Do not operate a unit that is damaged, improperly adjusted or
not completely and securely assembled. Make sure moving
parts stop when the unit is turned off. Do not use the unit if it
does not turn on and off properly. Have defective parts replaced
by an authorized service center.
POLE SAW SAFETY
WARNING:
electrical cables or power lines (Fig. A). This unit is not
designed to provide protection from electric shock if
contact is made with electric lines. Keep at least 50 feet
(15 m) away from all power lines. Refer to local regulations
for specific information about safe distances. Always make
sure the area is clear of electric lines and the operator is in
a safe position before operating the unit. Contact with, or
use near, power lines may cause serious injury or electric
shock resulting in death.
• Make sure the saw chain is not in contact with anything before
starting the unit.
• When carrying the unit, hold it away from the body, with the
guide bar positioned to the rear. Cover the guide bar and saw
chain with the scabbard when carrying the unit.
• Keep the work area clean. Cluttered areas invite injuries. Do not
start cutting until the work area is clear and free from
obstructions. Make sure there is secure footing and a planned
retreat path from falling trees or branches.
• Do not stand directly under limbs being trimmed (Fig. A). Always
take a position out of the path of falling debris.
• Do not use a pole saw to fell a tree. Use a standard chain saw
for this application.
• For safer, more effective performance, make sure the guide bar
and chain are properly cleaned, lubricated, tightened and
sharpened. Check the guide bar and chain at frequent intervals
for proper adjustment.
• When cutting a limb that is under tension, use extreme caution.
When the tension is released, the limb could spring back and
strike the operator, causing severe injury or death.
• Use extreme caution when cutting small-sized brush and
saplings, as slender material may catch the saw chain and be
whipped toward the operator or pull the operator off balance.
Do not operate the unit near
• This saw is intended for infrequent use. It is not intended for
prolonged use. If the intended use involves prolonged periods of
operation, this may cause circulatory problems in the user's
hands due to vibration. Take frequent breaks and adjust your
working position, as needed.
• Do not operate the unit in a tree or on a ladder unless
specifically trained to do so.
• Do not attempt operations beyond the operator's capacity or
experience.
• Always use the scabbard on the guide bar and saw chain during
transportation and storage.
• Do not remove cut material, or hold material to be cut, when the
unit is running. Always turn the unit off and wait for the saw chain
to come to a complete stop before clearing jammed material. A
moment of inattention can result in serious personal injury.
• Do not use the unit in bad weather conditions, especially when
there is a risk of lightning. This decreases the risk of being
struck by lightning.
KICKBACK SAFETY
WARNING:
nose or tip of the guide bar touches an object, or when the
wood closes in and pinches the saw chain in the cut. In
some cases, tip contact may cause a lightening-fast
reverse action, kicking the guide bar rapidly back to wards
the operator. Pinching the saw chain along the top of the
guide bar may push the guide bar rapidly back towards the
operator. Either of these reactions may cause a loss of
control over the saw, which could result in serious injury to
the user. Contact with foreign objects within the wood can
also induce a loss of chain saw control.
Understanding Kickback
A basic understanding of kickback can help reduce or eliminate the
element of surprise and the chance of kickback-related injury.
Sudden surprise contributes to accidents.
• Rotational Kickback can happen when the upper tip of the
guide bar contacts an object while the chain is moving (Fig. B).
This can cause the chain to dig into the object and momentarily
stop moving. The guide bar is then kicked up and back toward
the operator in a lightning-fast reverse reaction.
• Linear Kickback can happen when the wood on either side of a
cut closes in and pinches the moving saw chain along the top of
the guide bar (Fig. C). This can cause the chain to instantly stop.
The chain force is then reversed, causing the saw to move in the
opposite direction, sending the saw straight back toward the
operator.
• Pull-In can happen when the moving chain on the bottom of the
guide bar hits a foreign object inside the wood. This can cause
the chain to suddenly stop. The saw is then pulled forward and
away from the operator, which could potentially result in the loss
of control of the saw.
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Kickback may occur when the