Makita DCS431 Owner's And Safety Manual

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Makita DCS431 Owner's And Safety Manual Manual pdf 5 page image

5Safety precautions for chain saw operatorsWhile operating the chain saw please observe thefollowing rules:a) Contact of the guide bar nose with any objectshould be avoided.b) Tip contact may cause the guide bar to movesuddenly upward and backward, which maycause serious or fatal injury.c) Always operate the chain saw with both hands.WARNING!Read and follow all safety precautions in the owner’smanual. Failure to follow instructions could resultin serious injury. It is recommended to lend thechain saw only to people who are experienced inworking with chain saws. Always hand over theOwner’s and Safety Manual.WARNING!This chain saw is capable of severe kickback thatcould result in serious injury to the operator. Do notoperate this chain saw unless you haveextraordinary cutting needs and experience in andspecial training for dealing with kickback. Chainsaws with significantly reduced kickback potentialare available.WARNING!Kickback may occur when the nose or tip of theguide bar touches an object, or when the woodcloses in and pinches the saw chain in the cut. Thiscontact may abruptly stop the saw chain and insome cases may cause a lightning fast reversereaction, kicking the guide bar up and back towardsthe user, or push the guide bar back towards theoperator. Kickback may cause you to lose controlof the saw.As a chain saw user, you can take several steps toreduce the risk of a kickback and potential injury.A. With a basic understanding of kickback, youcan reduce or eliminate the element of surprise.It is a sudden surprise that contributes toaccidents.B. Keep a good firm grip on the saw with bothhands, your right hand on the rear grip andyour left hand on the tubular handle, when theengine is running. Use a firm grip with thumbsand fingers encircling the chain saw handles.A firm grip can neutralize kickback and helpyou maintain control of the saw. Don’t let go!C. Make sure that the area in which you arecutting is free from obstructions. Do not let thenose of the guide bar contact the log, branch,or any other obstructions which could be hitwhile you are operating the saw.D. Do not overreach or cut above shoulder height.E. Follow manufacturer’s sharpening and main-tenance instructions for the saw chain.F. Only use replacement bars and chains speci-fied by the manufacturer or the equivalent.Additional safety precautionsThe following additional safety precautions should beobserved by all users of chain saws:1. Do not operate a chain saw when you are fatigued.2. Use safety footwear; snug-fitting clothing;protective gloves; and eye, hearing, and headprotection devices.3. Use caution when handling fuel. Move the chainsaw at least 10 feet (3 m) from the fueling pointbefore starting the engine.4. Do not allow other persons to be near the chainsaw when starting or cutting with the chain saw.Keep bystanders and animals out of the workarea.5. Do not start cutting until you have a clear workarea, secure footing, and a planned retreat pathfrom the falling tree.6. Keep all parts of your body away from the sawchain when the engine is running.7. Before you start the engine, make sure that thesaw chain is not contacting anything.8. Carry the chain saw with the engine stopped, theguide bar and saw chain to the rear, and themuffler away from your body.9. Do not operate a chain saw that is damaged, isimproperly adjusted, or is not completely andsecurely assembled. Be sure that the saw chainstops moving when the throttle control trigger isreleased.10. Shut off the engine before setting it down.11. Use extreme caution when cutting small sizebrush and saplings because slender material maycatch the saw chain and be whipped toward y o uor pull you off balance.12. When cutting a limb that is under tension be alertfor springback so that you will not be struck whenthe tension on the wood fibers is released.13. Keep the handles dry, clean, and free of oil or fuelmixture.14. Operate the chain saw only in well-ventilatedareas.15. Do not operate a chain saw in a tree unless youhave been specifically trained to do so.16. All chain saw service, other than the items listed inthe owner’s manual maintenance instructions,should be performed by MAKITA . (For example,if improper tools are used to remove the flywheelor if an improper tool is used to hold the flywheelin order to remove the clutch structural damage tothe flywheel could occur and could subsequentlycause the flywheel to burst.)17. When transporting your chain saw, use the chainprotection cover.18. Low kickback bars and low kickback chains aredesigned to reduce the risk of kickback injury. Askyour MAKITA dealer about these devices.