Poulan Pro PP3816AV - Manual (Page 11)

11
Braking function control
CAUTION: The chain brake must be
checked several times daily. The engine
must be running when performing this proce-
dure. This is the only instance when the saw
should be placed on the ground with the en-
gine running.
Place the saw on firm ground. Grip the rear
handle with your right hand and the front han-
dle with your left hand. Apply full throttle by
fully depressing the throttle trigger. Activate
the chain brake by turning your left wrist
against the hand guard without releasing
your grip around the front handle. The chain
should stop immediately.
Inertia activating function control
WARNING: When performing the
following procedure, the engine must be
turned off.
Grip the rear handle with your right hand and
the front handle with your left hand. Hold the
chain saw approximately 14″ (35 cm) above
a stump or other wooden surface. Release
your grip on the front handle and use the
weight of the saw to let the tip of the guide bar
fall forward and contact the stump. When the
tip of the bar hits the stump, the brake should
activate.
OPERATING TIPS
S Check chain tension before first use, after
1 minute of operation, and each time be-
fore you start the chain saw. See CHAIN
TENSION in the ASSEMBLY section.
S Cut wood only. Do not cut metal, plastics,
masonry, non-wood building materials, etc.
S Stop the saw if the chain strikes a foreign
object. Inspect the saw and repair or re-
place parts as necessary. If the chain
jumps off the guide bar, inspect the chain
for damaged drive links before reinstalling.
Burrs on drive links, which prevent them
from entering the groove of the guide bar,
can be removed with a flat file.
S Keep the chain out of dirt and sand. Even a
small amount of dirt will dull a chain, increase
the possibility of kickback, and require chain
sharpening or replacement.
S Practice cutting a few small logs using the
following techniques to get the “feel” of us-
ing your saw before you begin a major
sawing operation.
S
Squeeze the throttle trigger and allow the
engine to reach full speed before cutting.
S Begin cutting with the saw frame
against the log.
S Keep the engine at full speed the entire
time you are cutting.
S Allow the chain to cut for you. Exert only
light downward pressure. If you force
the cut, damage to the bar, chain, or en-
gine can result.
S Release the throttle trigger as soon as
the cut is completed, allowing the en-
gine to idle. If you run the saw at full
throttle without a cutting load, unneces-
sary wear can occur to the chain, bar,
and engine. It is recommended that
the engine not be operated for lon-
ger than 30 seconds at full throttle.
S To avoid losing control when cut is com-
plete, do not put pressure on saw at end
of cut.
S Stop the engine before setting the saw
down after cutting.
TREE FELLING TECHNIQUES
WARNING: Check for broken or
dead branches which can fall while cutting
causing serious injury. Do not cut near build-
ings or electrical wires if you do not know the
direction of tree fall, nor cut at night since you
will not be ale to see well, nor during bad
weather such as rain, snow, or strong winds,
etc. If the tree makes contact with any utility
line, the utility company should be notified
immediately.
S
Carefully plan your sawing operation in ad-
vance.
S Clear the work area. You need a clear area
all around the tree so you can have secure
footing.
S The chain saw operator should keep on
the uphill side of the terrain as the tree is
likely to roll or slide downhill after it is felled.
S Study the natural conditions that can cause
the tree to fall in a particular direction.
Natural conditions that can cause a tree to
fall in a particular direction include:
S
The wind direction and speed.
S The lean of the tree. The lean of a tree
might not be apparent due to uneven or
sloping terrain. Use a plumb or level to de-
termine the direction of tree lean.
S Weight and branches on one side.
S Surrounding trees and obstacles.
Look for decay and rot. If the trunk is rotted,
it can snap and fall toward the operator.
Check for broken or dead branches which
can fall on you while cutting.
Make sure there is enough room for the tree to
fall. Maintain a distance of 2-1/2 tree lengths
from the nearest person or other objects. En-
gine noise can drown out a warning call.
Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, nails, sta-
ples, and wire from the tree where cuts are to
be made.
Plan a clear retreat path to the rear and diag-
onal to the line of fall.
Direction of Fall
45_
Plan a clear retreat path
FELLING LARGE TREES
(6 inches (15 cm) in diameter or larger)
The notch method is used to fell large trees.
A notch is cut on the side of the tree in the de-
sired direction of fall. After a felling cut is
made on the opposite side of tree, the tree
will tend to fall into the notch.