Black & Decker KX1693-QS Instruction Manual page 4

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.
• Only use replacement bars and chains
specified by the manufacturer. Incorrect
replacement bars and chains may cause
chain breakage and/or kickback.
• 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.
(6.) Use devices such as low kickback
chain and reduced kickback guide bars that
reduce the risks associated with kickback.
(7.) Only use replacement bars and chains
specified by the manufacturer or the equivalent.
(8.) Never let the moving 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
tool unpllugged, never with the motor running.
(11.) Begin and continue cutting only with
the chain moving at full speed. If the 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.
• chain Brake, designed to immediately tun
the chain saw off if kickback is too great.
• 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 B175.1-1991.
• 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 cutting tool may
contact hidden wiring. Contact with a
"live" wire will make exposed metal parts
of the tool "live" and shock the operator.
• do not attempt operations beyond
your capacity or experience. Read
thoroughly and understand completely all
instructions in this manual.
• Before you start chain saw, make sure
saw chain is not contacting any object.
• do not operate a chain saw with one
hand! Serious injury to the operator,
helpers, or bystanders may result
from one handed operation. A chain saw
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