Homelite UT10552 - Manual (Page 3)

Page 
WARNING:
Read and understand all instructions. Failure to follow
all instructions listed below, may result in electric shock,
fire and/or serious personal injury.
REAd ALL INSTRUCTIONS
 Know your tool. Read the operator’s manual carefully.
Learn the saw’s applications and limitations as well as
the specific potential hazards related to this tool.
 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 toward the operator. Pinching
the saw chain along the top of the guide bar may push
the guide bar rapidly back toward the operator. Either of
these reactions may cause you to lose control of the saw,
which could result in serious personal injury. Do not rely
exclusively upon the safety devices built into the saw. As
a chain saw user, you should take several steps to keep
your cutting jobs free from accident or injury.
• With a basic understanding of kickback, you can
reduce or eliminate the element of surprise. Sudden
surprise contributes to accidents.
• Keep a good firm grip on the saw with both hands when
the engine is running. Place your right hand on the rear
handle and your left hand on the front handle with your
thumbs and fingers encircling the chain saw handles.
A firm grip together with a stiff left arm will help you
maintain control of the saw if kickback occurs.
• Make sure that the area in which you are cutting is
free from obstructions. DO NOT let the nose of the
guide bar contact a log, branch, fence, or any other
obstruction that could be hit while you are operating
the saw.
• Cut at high engine speeds. Always cut with the engine
running at full speed. Fully squeeze the throttle trigger
and maintain a steady cutting speed.
• Do not overreach or cut above chest height.
• Follow the manufacturer’s sharpening and mainte-
nance instructions for the saw chain.
• Only use replacement bars and chains specified by
the manufacturer or the equivalent.
 do not operate a chain saw with one hand. Serious
injury to the operator, helpers, bystanders, or any com-
bination of these persons may result from one-handed
operation. A chain saw is intended for two-handed use.
 do not operate a chain saw when you are fatigued.
Fatigue causes carelessness. Be more cautious before
rest periods and towards the end of your shift. Never
operate a chain saw when you are tired or under the
influence of medication, drugs, or alcohol.
 Use safety footwear. Wear snug-fitting clothing,
protective gloves, and eye, hearing, and head protection
devices.
 do not stand on any unstable surface while using the
chain saw, that includes ladders, scaffolds, trees, etc.
 Use caution when handling fuel. Move the chain saw
at least 30 feet from the fueling point before starting the
engine.
 do not allow other persons to be near the chain saw
when starting or cutting with the chain saw. Keep
bystanders and animals out of the work area.
 do not start cutting until you have a clear work area,
secure footing, and a planned retreat path from the falling
tree.
 Keep all parts of your body away from the saw chain
when the engine is running.
 Always carry the chain saw with the engine stopped
and the brake engaged, the guide bar and saw chain
to the rear, and the muffler away from your body. When
transporting the chain saw, use the appropriate guide bar
scabbard.
 do not operate a chain saw that is damaged, improp-
erly adjusted, or not completely and securely assembled.
Be sure that the saw chain stops moving when the throttle
control trigger is released.
 Shut off the engine before setting the chain saw
down. Do not leave the engine running unattended. As
an additional safety precaution, apply the chain brake
prior to setting down the saw.
 Use extreme caution when cutting small-size brush
and saplings because slender material 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
springback so that you will not be struck when the tension
in the wood fibers is released.
 Keep the handles dry, clean, and free of oil or fuel
mixture.
 beware of carbon monoxide poisoning. Operate the
chain saw only in well-ventilated areas.
 do not operate a chain saw in a tree unless you have
been specifically trained to do so.
 do not cut from a ladder; this is extremely dangerous.
 All chain saw service, other than the items listed in
the instruction manual and all maintenance, should be
performed by competent chain saw service personnel.
(For example, if improper tools are used to remove the
flywheel or if an improper tool is used to hold the flywheel
in order to remove the clutch, structural damage to the
flywheel could occur and subsequently could cause the
flywheel to burst.)
 Always have a fire extinguisher available when using
chain saw.
 Use only the replacement guide bars and low kickback
chains specified for the saw.
GENERAL SAFETy RULES