Care And Maintenance - Craftsman 151.74326 Operator's Manual

Starting the pole saw:
■ Make sure chain tension is at desired
setting. Refer to SAW CHAIN TENSIONING
in the CARE AND MAINTENANCE section of
this manual.
■ Ensure the saw chain and guide bar do
not come into contact with anything before
starting the product.
■ Press and hold the safety switch. This
makes the power switch operational.
■ Press and hold the power switch, release
the safety switch, and continue to squeeze
the power switch for continued operation.
Stopping the pole saw:
NOTE: It is normal for the chain to coast to a
stop once the power switch is released.
WARNING! NEVER touch the chain
while it is moving. Even a slowly moving
chain can cause serious personal injury if
touched.
■ Release the power switch to stop the pole
saw.
■ Upon release of the power switch, the
safety switch will be automatically reset to the
lock position.
GENERAL OPERATION
■ Check the product, its battery pack and
charger as well as accessories for damage
before each use. Do not use the product if it
is damaged or shows wear.
■ Double check that accessories and the
guide bar/saw chain are properly fixed.
■ Check the chain oil level and refill if
necessary.
■ Always hold the product firmly by its
handles. Keep the handles dry and clean to
ensure safe support.
■ Ensure that the air vents are always
unobstructed and clear. Clean them if
necessary with a soft brush. Blocked air
vents may lead to overheating and damage
the product.
OPERATION
■ Switch the product off immediately if you
are disturbed while working by other people
entering the working area. Always let the
product come to complete stop before putting
it down.
■ Do not overwork yourself. Take regular
breaks to ensure you can concentrate on the
work and have full control over the product.
PRUNING
See Figures 19-26, page v-vi
The pole saw is designed for pruning. Pruning
is the action of sawing limbs from standing
trees.
Kickback:
WARNING!
Kickback can lead to dangerous loss of
control of the product and result in serious or
fatal injury to the operator or anyone standing
close by! Always be alert because rotational
kickback and pinch kickback are major
product operational dangers and the leading
cause of most accidents!
■ Kickback is the sudden backward/upward
motion of the product, occurring when the
chain (at the tip of the chain bar) comes in
contact with a log or wood, or when the chain
becomes jammed.
■ When kickback occurs the product reacts
unpredictably and can cause severe injuries
to the operator or bystanders.
■ With a basic understanding of 'kickback',
the element of surprise can be reduced or
eliminated. Sudden surprise contributes to
the majority of accidents.
■ Read all the safety warnings and user
instructions carefully before attempting to
operate this product.
To avoid kickback:
■ Always hold the product firmly with both
hands.
■ Follow the chain sharpening and
maintenance instructions in the CARE AND
MAINTENANCE section of this manual.
17 ― English
Beware of kickback!