Safety Information; Guard Against Kickback; To Reduce The Chance Of Kickback; Maintain Control - Craftsman 358.356081 Operator's Manual

SPECIAL SAFETY SECTION
GUARD AGAINST KICKBACK
Kickback is a dangerous reaction that can lead to serious
personal injury. Do not rely only on the safety devices
provided with your saw. As a chain saw user, you must
take special safety precautions to help keep your cuffing
jobs free from accident or injury.
.
_\KICKBACK
WARNING
Kickback can occurwhen the moving chain contacts
an object at the upper portion of the tip of the guide bar
or when the wood closesin and pinches thesaw chain
in t hecut, Con tact at the upper portion of the tip of the
guide barcan cause the chain to dig into the object and
stop the chain for an instant. The result is a lightning
fast, reverse reaction which kicks the guide bar up and
back toward the operator. If the saw chain is pinched
along the top of the guide bar, the guide bar can be
driven rapidly back toward the operator. Either of
these reactions can cause loss of saw control which
can result in serious personal injury.
, // i: . OKBACK PAT.
Figure I
AVOID
OBSTRUCTIONS
CLEAR
WORKING AREA '_i_ ':
NEVER II
REVERSE II
HAND
li
POSITIONS
LEFT HAND/> T'
Figure 2
t
STAND
TO THE
LEFT OF
__ THE SAW
ELBOW
LOCKED
ON
UNDER SIDE
OF HANDLEBAR
REDUCETHECHANCEOF
KICKBACK
1. Recognize that kickback can happen. With a
basic understanding of kickback, you can reduce
the element of surprise which contributes to
accidents.
2. Never let the moving chain contact any object at the
tip of the guide bar. Figure 1.
3. Keep the working area free from obstructions
such as other trees, branches, recks, fences,
stumps, etc. Figure 2. Eliminate or avoid any
obstruction that your saw chain could hit while you
are cutting through a particular log or branch.
4. Keep your saw chain sharp and properly ten-
sioned. Followmanufacturer'schain sharpeningand
maintenance instructions.Check tension at regular
intervals withthe engine stopped,neverwiththe engine
running. Make sure the bar clamp nuts are securely
tightened after tensioning the chain. A loose or dull
chain can increase the chance of kickback to occur.
5. Begin and continue cutting at full throttle. If the
chain is moving at a slower speed, there is greater
chance for kickback to occur.
6. Cut one log at a time.
7. Use extreme caution when re-entering a previous
cut.
8. Do not attempt plunge cuts.
9. Watch for shifting logs or other forees that could
close a cut and pinch or fall into the chain.
10. Use the Reduced-Kickback Guide Bar and Low-
Kickback Chain specified for your saw.
MAINTAIN CONTROL
1. Keep a good firm grip on the saw with both hands
when the engine is running and don't let go.i
Figure 3. A firm grip can neutralize kickback and
help you maintain control of the saw. Keep the
fingers of your left hand encircling and your left
thumb under the front handlebar. Keep your right
hand completely around the rear handle whether
you are right handed Orleft handed. Keep your left
arm straight with the elbow locked.
2. Position your left hand on the front handlebar so it
is in a straight line with your right hand on the rear
handle when making bucking cuts. Figure3. Never
reverse right and lefthand positions.
3. Stand with your weight evenly balanced on
both feet.
4. Stand slightly to the left side of the saw, to keep
your body from being in a direct line with the
• cutting chain. Figure 3.
5. Do not overreach. You could be drawn or thrown
off balance and lose control of the saw.
6. Do not cut above shoulder height. It is difficult to
maintain control of the saw above shoulder height.
3