Causes And Operator Prevention Of Kickback; Kickback Safety Features - Craftsman CMCCS660 Instruction Manual

English
wood building materials. Use of the chain saw for
operations different than intended could result in a
hazardous situation.
Causes and Operator Prevention
of Kickback
Kickback may occur when the nose or tip of the guide bar
touches an object, or when the wood closes in and pinches
the saw chain in the cut.
Tip contact in some cases may cause a sudden reverse
reaction, kicking the guide bar up and back towards
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 you to lose control of
the saw which could result in serious personal injury. Do not
rely exclusively upon the safety devices built into your saw.
As a chain saw user, you should take several steps to keep
your cutting jobs free from accident or injury.
Kickback is the result of tool misuse and/or incorrect
operating procedures or conditions and can be avoided by
taking proper precautions as given below:
a ) Maintain a firm grip, with thumbs and fingers
encircling the chain saw handles, with both
hands on the saw and position your body and
arm to allow you to resist kickback forces.
Kickback forces can be controlled by the
operator, if proper precautions are taken. Do not
let go of the chain saw.
b ) Do not overreach and do not cut above shoulder
height. This helps prevent unintended tip contact
and enables better control of the chain saw in
unexpected situations.
c ) Only use replacement bars and chains specified
by the manufacturer. Incorrect replacement
bars and chains may cause chain breakage and/
or kickback.
d ) Follow the manufacturer's sharpening and
maintenance instructions for the saw chain.
Decreasing the depth gauge height can lead to
increased kickback.
The Following Precautions Should Be
Followed to Minimize Kickback:
1 . Grip Saw Firmly. Hold the chain saw firmly with both
hands when the motor is running. Use a firm grip with
thumbs and fingers encircling the chain saw handles.
Chain saw will pull forward when cutting on the bottom
edge of the bar, and push backward when cutting along
the top edge of the bar.
2 . Do not over reach.
3 . Keep proper footing and balance at all times.
4 . Don't let the nose of the guide bar contact a log, branch,
ground or other obstruction.
5 . Don't cut above shoulder height.
4
6 . Use devices such as low kickback saw chain and reduced
kickback guide bars that reduce the risks associated
with kickback.
7 . Only use replacement bars and saw chains specified by
the manufacturer or the equivalent.
8 . Never let the moving saw chain contact any object at the
tip of the guide bar.
9 . 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 through a particular log or branch.
10 . Keep your saw chain sharp and properly tensioned. A
loose or dull chain can increase the chance of kickback.
Check tension at regular intervals with the motor stopped
and battery removed, never with the motor running.
11 . Begin and continue cutting only with the saw chain
moving at full speed. If the saw chain is moving at a
slower speed, there is a greater chance for kickback
to occur.
12 . Cut one log at a time.
13 . Use extreme caution when re-entering a previous cut.
Engage ribbed bumpers into wood and allow chain to
reach full speed before proceeding with cut.
14 . Do not attempt plunge cuts or bore cuts.
15 . Watch for shifting logs or other forces that could close a
cut and pinch or fall into chain.

Kickback Safety Features


WARNING: The following features are included
on your saw to help reduce the hazard of kickback;
however such features will not totally eliminate this
dangerous reaction. As a chain saw user do not rely
only on safety devices. You must follow all safety
precautions, instructions, and maintenance in this
manual to help avoid kickback and other forces which
can result in serious injury.
Reduced-Kickback Guide Bar, designed with a small
•
radius tip which reduces the size of the kickback
danger zone on bar tip. A reduced - kickback guide
bar is one which has been demonstrated to significantly
reduce the number and seriousness of kickbacks when
tested in accordance with safety requirements for electric
chain saws.
• Low-Kickback Chain, designed with a contoured
depth gauge and guard link which deflect kickback
force and allow wood to gradually ride into the
cutter. A low-kickback chain is a chain which has met
kickback performance requirements of ANSI B175.1–2012.
Do not operate chain saw while in a tree, on a
•
ladder, on a scaffold, or from any unstable surface.
• Hold tool by insulated gripping surfaces when
performing an operation where the chain saw may
contact hidden wiring. Contact with a "live" wire will
make exposed metal parts of the tool "live" and shock
the operator.