Safety Manual

18
ENGLISH
KICKBACK/ OPTIONAL KICK GUARD
TM
chain, or stopping times may become inconsistent. Eventually, a major rebuild
or complete replacement of the chain brake may be required for the chain
brake to meet the ANSI B175.1 Standard.
The following may interfere with the chain brake’s ability to reduce the risk of
injury to the operator:
• Saw wrongly held too close to operator’s body (no fault of the brake).
Kickback may occur faster than a perfectly maintained brake can be
activated.
• The operator’s hand may not be in position to contact the hand guard. Brake
will not be tripped.
• In the case of certain kickbacks, such as in a low intensity kickback, the
inertia brake may not activate as intended because forces are below the
required activation level. Loss of control of the saw still may occur!
• Lack of proper maintenance increases the chain brake’s stopping time,
making it less effective.
• Dirt, grease, oil, pitch, etc. getting into the working parts of the mechanism
may increase the stopping time or render the chain brake inoperable.
• Improper assembly of the chain brake to the chain saw may render the
brake inoperable.
• Wear and fatigue of the activating brake band or spring, and/or wear of the
brake/clutch drum and pivot points may lengthen the brake’s stopping time
or render the chain brake inoperable.
Chain brakes are designed to retain stopping times as close as possible to
their original times, however periodic cleaning and or adjustment are required
for the brake to perform properly.
The brake linkage is in a compartment designed
to shield out sawdust and oil. The brake and
surrounding area will require regular and frequent
cleaning. There will be a time when adjustment
cannot compensate for wear. Your servicing dealer
will be able to tell you when parts replacement or a complete brake assembly
replacement is necessary. The Chain Brake is a device which cannot be
replaced on your saw by another brand chain brake.
LOW OR REDUCED-KICKBACK SAW CHAIN
Low-kickback saw chain meets the kickback
performance requirements of ANSI B175.1. Before
using “reduced kickback” chain, see your dealer
to determine if your chain saw can accommodate
“reduced-kickback” chain and still meet the
45-degree CKA requirement. Always use the proper
replacement chain recommended for your saw.
The low-kickback saw chain on your saw has depth gauges and guard links to
reduce kickback. Depth gauges control the depth of cut. The guard links help
to prevent the cutters from digging in too deeply at the bar nose. Low-kickback
chain tends to resist penetration of the bar tip, which is the cause of kickback;
however, the chain may “skate” along the surface of the wood. Skating the
nose bar into an obstruction could result in a kickback.
Reduced Kickback Chain
GUARD
LINKS