Poulan Pro PP258TPC - Manual (Page 5)

5
MAINTAIN YOUR PRUNER IN GOOD
WORKING ORDER
S Have all service performed by a qualified
service dealer with the exception of the
items listed in the maintenance section of
this manual.
S Make certain the chain stops moving when
the throttle trigger is released. For correction,
refer to IDLE SPEED ADJUSTMENT.
S Never modify your unit in any way.
S Keep the handles dry, clean, and free of oil
or fuel mixture.
S Keep fuel and oil caps, screws, and
fasteners securely tightened.
S Make idle speed adjustments with lower
end supported to prevent chain from
contacting any object.
S Keep others away when making idle speed
adjustments.
S Use only Poulan PRO accessories and
replacement parts as recommended.
HANDLE FUEL WITH CAUTION
S Do not smoke while handling fuel or while
operating the pruner.
S Eliminate all sources of sparks or flame in
the areas where fuel is mixed or poured.
There should be no smoking, open flames,
or work that could cause sparks. Allow
engine to cool before refueling.
S Mix and pour fuel in an outdoor area on bare
ground; store fuel in a cool, dry, well
ventilated place; and use an approved,
marked container for all fuel purposes.
Wipe up all fuel spills before starting engine.
S Move at least 10 feet (3 meters) from fueling
site before starting engine.
S Turn the engine off and let unit 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:
Avoid kickback which
can result in serious injury. Kickback is the
backward, upward or sudden forward motion
of the guide bar occurring when the 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 chain in
the cut. Contacting a foreign object in the
wood can also result in loss of control.
S
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
lightning fast, reverse reaction which kicks the
guide bar up and back toward the operator.
S Pinch-Kickback can occur when the wood
closes in and pinches the moving chain in
the cut along the top of the guide bar and the
chain is suddenly stopped. This sudden
stopping of the chain results in a reversal of
the chain force used to cut wood and
causes the pruner to move in the opposite
direction of the chain rotation. The pruner is
driven straight back toward the operator.
S 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
chain is suddenly stopped. This sudden
stopping pulls the pruner forward and away
from the operator and could easily cause the
operator to lose control of the pruner.
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
object at the tip of the guide bar.
S Keep the working area free from
obstructions such as other trees, branches,
rocks, stumps, etc. Eliminate or avoid any
obstruction that your 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 chain sharp and properly
tensioned. A loose or dull chain can
increase the chance of kickback occurring.
Follow manufacturer’s chain sharpening
and maintenance instructions. Check
tension at regular intervals with the engine
stopped, never with the engine running.
Make sure the bar clamp nut is securely
tightened 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 occurring.
S Cut one branch 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 of wood 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 unit.
MAINTAIN CONTROL
S Keep a good, firm grip on the pruner with
both hands when the engine is running and
don’t let go. A firm grip will help you reduce
kickback and maintain control. Keep the
fingers of your left hand encircling and your