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Craftsman 172.43983 Operator's Manual page 6

Adjustable pole saw/chain saw
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ADDITIONAL RULES
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS cont.
FOR SAFE OPERATION cont.
4. Wear safety glasses and hearing protection. Further protective equipment for head,
hands, legs and feet is recommended. Adequate protective clothing will reduce personal
injury by flying debris or accidental contact with the saw chain.
5. ALL VISITORS AND BYSTANDERS MUST wear the same safety equipment that the
operator of the tool wears.
6. ALWAYS check the tool for damaged parts. Check for misalignment or binding of moving
parts, breakage of parts, and any other condition that may affect the tool's operation. Before
further use of the tool, a guard or other part that is damaged should be carefully checked to
determine if it will operate properly and perform its intended function. A guard or other part
that is damaged should be properly repaired or replaced at a qualified service dealer or
repair center service dealer.
7. Always keep proper footing and operate the chain saw only when standing on fixed,
secure and level surface. Slippery or unstable surfaces such as ladders may cause a loss
of balance or control of the chain saw.
8. Use extreme caution when cutting brush and saplings. The slender material may catch
the saw chain and be whipped toward you or pull you off balance.
9. Follow instructions for lubricating, chain tensioning and changing accessories.
Improperly tensioned or lubricated chain may either break or increase the chance for kickback.
10. Only use replacement bars and chains specified by the manufacturer.
Incorrect replacement bars and chains may cause chain breakage and/or kickback.
11. Follow the manufacturer's sharpening and maintenance instructions for the saw chain.
Decreasing the depth gauge height can lead to increased kickback.
WARNING:
!
Follow all safety rules to help prevent Kickback which can
cause serious personal injury.
AVOID KICKBACK AND PULL-IN (Using Chain Saw with or without Pole)
KICKBACK
Clear The
Work Area
Kickback Path
1. 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 chain in the cut. Contacting a foreign object
in the wood can also result in loss of chain saw control.
2. 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.
3. 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.
10
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS cont.
AVOID KICKBACK AND PULL-IN cont.
4. 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.
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:
- 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.
- 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.
AVOID PINCH-KICKBACK
Avoid
Obstructions
1. Be extremely aware of situations or obstructions that can cause
material to pinch the top of or otherwise stop the chain.
2. Do not cut more than one log at a time.
3. Do not twist the saw as the bar is withdrawn from an undercut when bucking.
AVOID PULL-IN
1. Always begin cutting with the saw at full speed and the saw housing against wood.
2. Use wedges made of plastic or wood. Never use metal to hold the cut open.
WARNING:
!
Follow all safety rules to help prevent Kickback
which can cause serious personal injury.
ADDITIONAL RULES
FOR SAFE OPERATION cont.
11

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