DeWalt DCPS620 Instruction Manual page 7

Guard Against Kickback

WARNING: 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 lightning fast 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 injury to user.

The following precautions should be followed to
minimize kickback:
• Grip pole saw firmly. Hold the saw firmly with both hands
when the unit is running. Use a firm grip with thumbs and
fingers encircling the saw handle and pole.
• Do not overreach.
• Keep proper footing and balance at all times.
• Don't let the nose of the guide bar contact a log, branch,
ground or other obstruction.
• Do not extend pole saw handle above shoulder height.
• Use devices such as reduced kickback chain, chain braking
system and special guide bars that reduce the risks associated
with kickback.
• Only use replacement bars and chains specified by the
manufacturer or the equivalent.
• Never let the moving chain contact any object at the tip of
the guide bar.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Cut one branch at a time.
• Use extreme caution when re-entering a previous cut.
Engage spiked bumpers into wood and allow chain to reach
full speed before proceeding with cut.
• Do not attempt plunge cuts or bore cuts.
• Watch for shifting branches 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
pole saw to help reduce the hazard of kickback; however such
features will not totally eliminate this dangerous reaction. As
a pole 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.
• Reduced 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
reduced-kickback chain is a chain which has met kickback
performance requirements of ANSI B175.1–2012 when tested
on the representative sample of chain saws.
Pole Saw Names and Terms
• Drive Sprocket or Sprocket - The toothed part that drives
the saw chain.
• Guide Bar - A solid railed structure that supports and
guides the saw chain.
• Guide Bar Scabbard - Enclosure fitted over guide bar to
prevent tooth contact when saw is not in use.
• Kickback - The backward or upward motion, or both of the
guide bar occurring when the saw chain near the nose of the
top area of the guide bar contacts any object such as a log
or branch, or when the wood closes in and pinches the saw
chain in the cut.
• Reduced Kickback Chain - A chain that complies with
the kickback performance requirements of ANSI B175.1–2012
when tested on a representative sample of chain saws.
• Reduced Kickback Guide Bar - A guide bar which has
been demonstrated to reduce kickback significantly.
• Replacement Saw Chain - A chain that complies with
kickback performance requirements of ANSI B175.1–2012
when tested with specific chain saws. It may not meet the
ANSI performance requirements when used with other saws.
• Saw Chain - A loop of chain having cutting teeth, that cut
the wood, and that is driven by the motor and is supported by
the guide bar.
• Spiked Bumper (Spike) - The pointed tooth or teeth for
use when pruning to pivot the saw and maintain position
while sawing.
• Switch - A device that when operated will complete or
interrupt an electrical power circuit to the motor of the
chain saw.
• Switch Lockout - A movable stop that prevents the
unintentional operation of the switch until manually actuated.
• Trimming (Pruning) - Process of cutting limbs from a tree.
• Undercut - An upward cut from underside of a log or limb.
This is done while in normal cutting position and cutting with
top of guide bar.
Storage
1 . Store indoors. The best storage place is one that is cool
and dry away from direct sunlight, excess heat or cold and out
of the reach of children.
2 . Always reduce the tension off the chain again after
finishing work. The chain contracts as it cools down. If
tension is not reduced, it can damage the saw.
The label on your tool may include the following symbols. The
symbols and their definitions are as follows:
V ......................... volts
Hz ....................... hertz
min ..................... minutes
or DC ...... direct current
...................... Class I Construction
(grounded)
.../min .............. per minute
BPM .................... beats per minute
IPM ..................... impacts per minute
RPM .................... revolutions per
minute
sfpm ................... surface feet per
minute
English
SPM .................... strokes per minute
A ......................... amperes
W ........................ watts
or AC ........... alternating current
or AC/DC .... alternating or
direct current
...................... Class II
Construction
(double insulated)
n o ....................... no load speed
n ......................... rated speed
...................... earthing terminal
..................... safety alert symbol
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