Poulan PR5020 Owner Manual - Page 10

STOPPING Stop the engine by pushing the start/stop switch down. aa WARNING! To avoid involuntary start up, the spark plug cap must always be removed from the spark plug when the machine is unsupervised. CHAIN BRAKE aa WARNING: If the brake band is worn too thin it may break when the chain brake is triggered. With a broken brake band, the chain brake will not stop the chain. The chain brake should be replaced by an authorized service dealer if any part is worn to less than 0.5 mm (0.020 in) thick. Repairs on a chain brake should be made by an authorized service dealer. Take your unit to the place of purchase if purchased from a servicing dealer, or to the nearest authorized master service dealer. This saw is equipped with a chain brake. The brake is designed to stop the chain if kickback occurs. The inertia-activated chain brake is locked if the front hand guard is pushed forward, either manually (by hand) or automatically (by sudden movement). If the brake is already locked, it is unlocked by pulling the front handguard back toward the front handle as far as possible. When cutting with the saw, the chain brake must be unlocked. BRAKING FUNCTION CONTROL NOTE: The chain brake must be checked several times daily. The engine must be running when performing this procedure. This is the only instance when the saw should be placed on the ground with the engine running. Place the saw on firm ground. Grip the rear handle with your right hand and the front handle 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. WORKING TECHNIQUES Practice cutting a few small logs using the following techniques to get the "feel" of using your saw before you begin a major sawing operation. • Squeeze the throttle trigger and allow the engine to reach full speed before cutting. • Begin cutting with the saw frame against the log. • Keep the engine at full speed the entire time you are cutting. • Allow the chain to cut for you. Exert only light downward pressure. If you force the cut, damage to the guide bar, chain, or engine can result. • Release the throttle trigger as soon as the cut is completed, allowing the engine to idle. If you run the saw at full throttle without a cutting load, unnecessary wear can occur to the chain, guide bar, and engine. It is recommended that the engine not be operated for longer than 30 seconds at full throttle. • To avoid losing control when cut is complete, do not put pressure on saw at end of cut. • Stop the engine before setting the saw down after cutting. PRACTICING YOUR CUTS The chainsaw operator should keep on the uphill side of the terrain as the tree is likely to roll or slide downhill after it is felled. 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: • The wind direction and speed. • 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 determine the direction of tree lean. • Weight and branches on one side. • 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. Engine noise can drown out a warning call. FELLING A TREE PLANNING aa WARNING! Check for broken or dead branches which can fall while cutting causing serious injury. Do not cut near buildings or electrical wires if you do not know the direction of tree fall, nor cut at night since you will not be able 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. Carefully plan your sawing operation in advance. Clear the work area. You need a clear area all around the tree so you can have secure footing. Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, nails, staples, and wire from the tree where cuts are to be made. Plan a clear retreat path to the rear and diagonal to the line of fall. Note the danger zone (1), retreat path (2), and felling direction (3) in the following diagram. 10