Guide Bars; Your Chain Saw - Craftsman 138.98946 Operator's Manual

[] Push and Pull - This reaction force is always
opposite to the direction the chain is mov-
ing where wood contact is made. Thus, the
operator must be ready to control the PULL
when cutting on the bottom edge of the bar,
and PUSH when cutting along the top edge.
See Figure 3.
IN THE CUTTING/WORK AREA
[] Do not operate a chain saw in a tree, on a
ladder, rooftop or scaffold; this is extremely
dangerous.
[] Keep ALL children, bystanders, visitors, and
animals out of the work area while starting or
cutting with the chain saw.
NOTE: The size of the work area depends on
the job being performed as well as the size
tree or work piece involved. For example,
felling a tree requires a larger work area than
making bucking cuts.
[] Never start cutting until you have a clear work
area, secure footing, and a planned retreat
path from the falling tree. Cluttered area invite
injuries.
[] Do not expose the chain saw to rain.
[] Do not use the chain saw in damp or wet
locations.
[] Do not use the chain saw near flammable liq-
uids, gases, or in any type of explosive atmo-
sphere.
[] Use extreme caution when cutting small size
brush and saplings, because slender mate-
rial may catch the saw chain and be whipped
toward you or pull you off balance.
[] When cutting a limb that is under tension, be
alert for spring back so that you will not be
struck when the tension in the wood fibers is
released.
[] Do not force the chain saw. The job can be
performed better and safer at the rate for
which it was intended.
[] Always use the right product for your applica-
tion. The chain saw should be used for cutting
wood only. Never use the chain saw to cut
plastic, masonry or non=wood building mate-
rials.
[] Do not use the chain
saw for purposes not
intended.
[] Store idle chain saw when not in use. Chain
saw should be stored in a dry and high or
locked area out of the reach of children.
When storing chain saw, remove battery and
place the chain cover on the bar and chain.
[] Remove the battery pack from the chain saw
before cleaning, servicing, storing, transport-
ing, removing material from the unit, chang-
ing accessories such as the bar and chain, or
when not in use.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHAIN SAW
SAFETY DEVICES
LOW KICKBACK SAW CHAIN
The rakers (depth gauges) ahead of each cutter
can minimize the force of a kickback reaction by
preventing the cutters from digging in too deeply
at the kickback zone. Only use replacement
chain that is equivalent to original chain or has
been certified as low kickback chain per ANSI
B175.1.
Low kickback saw chain is chain that has met
the kickback performance requirements of ANSI
B175.1 - 1991 (American National Standard for
Power Tools - Gasoline-Powered Chain Saws-
Safety Requirements) when tested on the repre-
sentative sample of chain saws below 3.8 c.i.d.
specified in ANSI B175.1 - 1991.
As saw chains are sharpened during their useful
life, they lose some of the low kickback qualities
and extra caution should be used.
GUIDE BARS
Generally, guide bars with small radius tips have
somewhat lower kickback potentials.
When making a replacement, be sure to order
one of the Craftsman bars listed for the saw in
this operator's manual.
5 - English