Maintain Control - Poulan Pro PP4218AV Instruction Manual

Chain saw

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Instruction manual (60 pages)

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Instruction manual (21 pages)

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S Move at least 10 feet (3 meters) from fuel-

ing site before starting engine.

S Turn the engine off and let saw cool in a

non-combustible area, not on dry leaves,

straw, paper, etc. Slowly remove fuel cap

and refuel unit.

S Store the unit and fuel in an area where fuel

vapors cannot reach sparks or open

flames from water heaters, electric motors

or switches, furnaces, etc.

KICKBACK

WARNING:

can result in serious injury. 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 the saw chain in

the cut. Contacting a foreign object in the wood

can also result in loss of chain saw control.

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 light-

ning fast, reverse reaction which kicks the

guide bar up and back toward the operator.

Pinch-Kickback can occur when the 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 re-

versal 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.

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.

Avoid Pinch- Kickback:

S Be extremely aware of situations or ob-

structions that can cause material to pinch

the top of or otherwise stop the chain.

S Do not cut more than one log at a time.

S Do not twist the saw as the bar is with-

drawn from an undercut when bucking.

Avoid Pull- In:

S Always begin cutting with the engine at full

speed and the saw housing against wood.

S Use wedges made of plastic or wood.

Never use metal to hold the cut open.

Clear The

Working Area

Avoid kickback which

Kickback Path

Avoid Obstructions

REDUCE THE CHANCE OF

KICKBACK

S Recognize that kickback can happen.

With a basic understanding of kickback,

you can reduce the element of surprise

which contributes to accidents.

S Never let the moving chain contact any ob-

ject at the tip of the guide bar.

S Keep the working area free from obstruc-

tions such as other trees, branches, rocks,

fences, stumps, etc. Eliminate or avoid

any obstruction that your saw chain could

hit while you are cutting. When cutting a

branch, do not let the guide bar contact

branch or other objects around it.

S Keep your saw chain sharp and properly

tensioned. A loose or dull chain can in-

crease the chance of kickback occurring.

Follow manufacturer's chain sharpening

and maintenance instructions. Check ten-

sion at regular intervals with the engine

stopped, never with the engine running.

Make sure the bar nuts are securely tight-

ened after tensioning the chain.

S Begin and continue cutting at full speed. If

the chain is moving at a slower speed,

there is greater chance of kickback occur-

ring.

S Cut one log at a time.

S Use extreme caution when re-entering a

previous cut.

S Do not attempt cuts starting with the tip of

the bar (plunge cuts).

S Watch for shifting logs or other forces that

could close a cut and pinch or fall into chain.

S Use the Reduced- Kickback Guide Bar

and Low- Kickback Chain specified for

your saw.