Echo X7523200301 User Manual
CHAIN SAW SAFETY MANUAL
DANGER!
Misuse may result in serious or fatal injuries. Y ou must read, understand,
and follow these safety instructions and the instructions in you Chain
Saw Instruction Manual before operating a Chain Saw.
DANGER!
Chainsaw kickback can cause serious or fatal injuries. Read and follow the
instructions to avoid kickback. ECHO supplies an anti-kick back guard called a Kick
Guard ® with every new chain saw. Read the Kick Guard® instructions to determine
which cutting applications and conditions require the installation of the kick guard.
Always use the Kick Guard® where possible.
T o locate your nearest ECHO dealer visit our website, http://www.echo-usa.com, or call 1-800-
432-ECHO (3246). Ask how to obt ain a FREE Safety Video. Echo’s Supplement al Safety Video
provides helpful safety and cutting information.
X752000031
X7523200301
10/07
KEY SAFETY SYMBOLS AND WARNINGS
These important safety symbols are used throughout this manual and may also appear on your
chain saw. They are provided to make you aware of potential hazards, and the precautions you
must take to protect yourself from injury . You must read and understand the explanations, and obey
the instructions. These symbols appear on safety labels as a reminder to follow these important
precautions whenever you are transporting, fueling, operating, servicing, or handling your saw.
CIRCLE/SLASH SYMBOL
This symbol means the specific action
shown is prohibited. Ignoring these
prohibitions can result in serious or fatal
injury.
SAFETY ALERT SYMBOL
The safety alert symbol is used to alert
you to potential personal injury hazards.
Obey all safety messages that follow this
symbol to avoid serious or fatal injury.
DANGER!
The safety alert symbol appearing with
the word “DANGER!” calls attention to
an act or condition which WILL lead to
serious personal injury if not avoided.
W ARNING!
The safety alert symbol appearing with the
word “WARNING!” calls attention to an act
or condition which COULD lead to serious
personal injury if not avoided.
READ INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Read instruction manual carefully and
follow rules for safe operation.
Failure to do so could result in serious
or fatal injury.
WEAR HEAD, EYE, AND HEARING
PROTECTION
Wear Eye (ANSI Z-87.1), Ear , and Head
Protection that meet ANSI
requirements
WEAR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
Wear cut-resistant protective foot-wear
and leg protection. Chain-saw leg
chaps, or pants with ballistic or cutresistant fabric may help reduce the
risk of injury due to chain contact.
HOT SURFACE SYMBOL
Contact with hot surfaces can cause
serious burns.
CHAIN BRAKE SYMBOL
Arrows show how to engage or disengage chain brake. Push chain brake
lever (front hand guard) all the way
forward to engage, pull back to disengage.
CAUTION!
The safety alert symbol appearing with the
word “CAUTION!” calls attention to an act
or condition which may lead to minor or
moderate personal injury if not avoided.
CAUTION!
The word “CAUTION!” used without a
safety alert symbol calls attention to an act
or condition which can lead to property
damage if not avoided.
STOP SYMBOL
Indicates the Stop position for the
engine ignition switch (Stop Switch).
IGNITION SWITCH ON/OFF POSITIONS
Indicates the ignition ON/OFF positions
for the engine ignition switch (Stop
Switch).
2
IMPORT ANT SAFETY W ARNINGS
DANGER!
Kickback hazard. Do not allow guide bar tip to contact objects. Allowing an unguarded
guide bar tip to touch any object during cutting may cause the guide bar to suddenly kick
up and back toward the operator, a forceful reaction called rotational kickback. Body
contact with a moving saw chain will cause serious or fat al injury.
Rotational Kickback
DANGER!
Prevent hazardous Rotational Kickback! Install the Echo Kick Guard
®
anti-kickback bar tip
guard in cutting applications where bar tip contact with solid objects or surfaces cannot
be avoided.
DANGER!
Follow Kick-back prevention instructions to reduce risk of kick-back injury when cutting
without kick guard. Replace Kick Guard immediately when cutting application requiring
Kick Guard removal has been completed.
WARNING!
Never operate a chain saw using
a one-handed grip. Always use a
secure, two-handed grip!
WARNING!
Always control saw firmly with 2
hands to prevent loss of control
and kick back if saw begins
WARNING!
Use firm, two-handed control
grip with thumb encircling
handle.
WARNING!
Always use reduced kickback saw chain! Ask your
dealer to equip your saw only with certified low- or
reduced kickback saw chain.
skating.
WARNING!
Always use proper positioning!
Keep your body out of cutting
plane at all times!
WARNING!
Carrying or transporting a chain saw with a moving
chain is hazardous. Turn saw off, or allow the chain
to stop, and engage the chain brake when carrying
the saw.
WARNING!
Do not over-reach or cut above
shoulder height! Gravity may
cause the saw to drop toward
WARNING!
Do not operate chain saw while on a
ladder, unless you are a trained
professional.
your legs and feet when the cut
is complete. To avoid injury,
maintain control of the saw after
finishing a cut.
3
IMPORT ANT SAFETY W ARNINGS
WARNING! Keep hands and arms away
from moving chain. Do not reach near a
moving chain to grab or remove the material
that you are cutting.
WARNING! Do Not cut overhead. The cut
material or chain saw can fall on you, causing
serious injury .
WARNING! Do Not use a chain saw with a
loose chain. A loose chain can be thrown off
the guide bar, and cause serious injury.
WARNING! Do Not use a chain saw that
has been modified or is in disrepair.
DANGER! Do not use
bowsaws! Use of bowsaws can
cause extreme kickback and
serious or fatal injuries.
WARNING! Do not allow anyone to use
your chain saw without first reading the
Instruction and Safety manuals.
WARNING! Keep helpers
and bystanders away from the
area where you are cutting.
Never let a helper hold material
you are planning to cut. Serious
injury can occur.
WARNING! Use proper
ground starting procedure. Do
not “drop start!”
WARNING! Cutting a tree or
branch under tension may cause
it to spring back suddenly and
strike you or the saw, causing
serious or fatal injuries.
WARNING! Cutting the
trunk of an uprooted tree can
cause the root ball to fall back
into place, causing serious or
fatal injuries.
WARNING! Never operate a chain saw that
is damaged, improperly adjusted, incorrectly
assembled, or missing parts.
WARNING! Do not operate
a chain saw while up in a tree.
WARNING! Do not use an
open grip!
WARNING! Use extreme caution when handling
fuel and refueling your chain saw. Gasoline is
extremely flammable and can cause serious burns.
Keep away from open flames or sparks. Check fuel
cap for damage or leaking. Repair or replace leaky
cap before using saw!
WARNING! Never cut near
power lines!
WARNING! Use a firm, two-
handed control grip with thumb
encircling handle.
4
KEY CHAIN SAW TERMS – See Glossary at back for additional terms.
BALLISTIC - A special material used in protection devices
designed to reduce the risk of penetration from chain contact.
BINDING - Closing of the cut or shifting of the wood, possibly
trapping the saw blade in the cut. Binding includes pinching.
(Also, see PINCH.)
CHAIN CA TCHER - A projection designed to reduce the risk of
the operator’s right hand from being hit by a chain, which has
broken or derailed from the guide bar during cutting.
CHAIN TENSIONER - The device which permits precise
adjustment of the chain tension.
CHAPS - Specially designed leg protection, which can reduce
the risk of injury due to contact with a moving saw chain.
FOLLOW THROUGH - After the chain saw completes a cut and
is no longer supported by the wood, an uncontrolled chain saw
can continue on its path and strike the legs, feet or body of the
operator.
FRONT HAND GUARD - This required device is intended
to reduce the operator’s risk of injury from projecting
branches and saw-chain contact with the left hand in the
event the operator loses his grip from the upper part of the
handle.
KICK GUARD® DEVICE - The ECHO brand name for its
anti-kickback bar tip guard.
PINCH - Specifically the closing-in of the wood which
pinches and stops the chain along the top rails of the guide bar
during a cut. This can result in the chain saw being propelled
straight back toward the operator (called a Linear Kickback).
Pinch can also occur on the lower rails of the bar, resulting in
the chain saw being pulled away from the operator.
PUSH AND PULL - When cutting is done along the bottom rails
of the guide bar, the reaction on the saw is to pull away from the
operator. When the top of the guide bar is used, the reaction
pushes the saw towards the operator . Both are normal reactions
which must be controlled by the operator.
REDUCED-KICKBACK GUIDE BAR - Guide bars which are
recognized by the ANSI Standard B175.1 as having as small or
reduced radius nose to reduce the potential kickback area.
LOW, or REDUCED-KICKBACK SAW CHAIN - Saw chain
which has been demonstrated to reduce kickback on a selected
group of chain saw models during ANSI testing. Before using
“reduced kickback” chain, ask your ECHO dealer to determine
if your chain saw can accommodate “reduced-kickback” chain
and still meet the 45-degree CKA requirement explained on page
13.
GUIDE BAR - The grooved bar that supports and guides the
saw chain.
KERF - The grooved cut produced by the saw chain cutters.
KICKBACK - The general term describing rotational and linear
kickback, two highly dangerous reactions which can occur when
operating a chain saw. When used alone in this manual, the
term “kickback” refers to rotational kickback. To prevent
kickback, keep the bar nose properly covered with the Kick
®
Guard
device. If the Kick Guard® device is absent, kickback
can occur if the unshielded bar nose touches an object or the
ground.
ROTATIONAL KICKBACK - The violent reaction which can
occur when the chain at the upper section of the nose is suddenly
stopped or impeded, thereby dangerously driving the bar nose
in an upward arc toward the operator.
LINEAR KICKBACK - A push reaction, which can
occur under certain conditions with the guide bar buried in the
cut when the cut closes, pinching the chain along the top rails
of the guide bar and propelling the chain saw straight back
toward the operator.
SKATING - When the chain saw fails to dig in during a cut, the
guide bar can begin hopping or dangerously skidding along the
surface of the log or branch, possibly resulting in the loss of
control of the chain saw. To prevent or reduce skating, hold the
chain saw with two hands and make sure the saw chain
establishes a groove for cutting.
THROTTLE TRIGGER - Located in the rear handle, it is used
to control the speed of the engine.
THROTTLE TRIGGER LA TCH BUTTON - The control used on
some chain saws to set the throttle for a fast idle speed, which
may be required to start a cold engine. The throttle can be
unlatched by squeezing and releasing the throttle trigger.
THROTTLE TRIGGER LOCKOUT LEVER - A safety lever on
the top of the top/rear handle which must be depressed before
the throttle trigger can be activated. When the operator lets go
of the top/rear handle, the throttle will be locked in idle position.
5
INTRODUCTION
Before using your saw, read this Safety Manual and your chain saw instruction manual carefully. You
must completely understand and follow all safety rules, precautions, and operating instructions.
Echo recommends that you obtain and review the supplemental ECHO Chain Saw Safety Video.
Congratulations on taking the right steps to learn basic chain saw safety. Over the years, Echo has developed and
improved technology to increase the safety of chain saw use. However, chain saws are powerful cutting tools intended
to quickly cut trees and branches and to get the job done fast. Like other types of outdoor cutting and wood working
power equipment, the chain saw’s sharp, high-speed cutters require that you operate the saw carefully to avoid serious
or fatal injury .
You must read and understand the specific chain saw instruction manual, the Kick Guard
manual. Before operating your gasoline or electric chain saw, you must learn about the chain saw reactions, which can
occur when cutting. Unless noted, the safety rules presented apply to both gasoline and electric chain saws.
This manual describes the hazards and risks associated with cutting, trimming, felling, refueling and other activities
involving use of a chain saw. Many vit al safety awareness tips are mentioned to help identify the dangers of using chain
saws, and to teach you the precautions to take to avoid injury . ECHO has also provided helpful information about cutting
techniques to make the tasks easier , more productive, and safer.
If you have any feelings that the tree removal or cutting task requires you to put yourself, your property , or others at risk,
please consider calling a professional to handle the job. Tree trimming and felling mishaps can cause serious or fatal
injury to you, others, and possible damage to property.
If you need a copy of a chain saw safety or instruction manual, have product questions, are unsure about the safe use
or maintenance of your saw, or would like to obtain a chain saw safety video, please visit our website at http://www.echo-
usa.com. You may also contact your local ECHO dealer, or contact ECHO directly at (800) 432-3246. The chain saw
safety video provides operational safety information and cutting demonstrations.
WARNING!
®
instructions and this safety
TABLE OF CONTENTS
KEY SAFETY SYMBOLS AND MAJOR WARNINGS-------------------------------------------------------------- 2
KEY CHAIN SAW TERMS------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5
INTRODUCTION------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6
FORCES YOU MUST CONTROL -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7
KICK GUARD® INST ALLATION ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9
CONDITIONS WHICH MAY REQUIRE REMOVAL OF KICK GUARD®-------------------------------------10
OPERATING SAW WITH KICK GUARD® DEVICE --------------------------------------------------------------- 11
OPERATING SAW WITHOUT KICK GUARD® DEVICE ---------------------------------------------------------12
ADDITIONAL SAFETY DEVICES TO REDUCE KICKBACK ---------------------------------------------------14
OPERATOR SAFETY-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------17
KEY SAFETY AND RISK PREVENTION GUIDELINES ---------------------------------------------------------19
RULES FOR SAFE FUELING ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------23
SAFE WOOD CUTTING PRACTICES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------24
PINCHING, BINDING & SPLITTING ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------25
PRUNING SHADE TREES AND CUTTING SAPLINGS ---------------------------------------------------------26
FELLING TREES-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------27
LIMBING AND BUCKING ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------29
FELLING VERY LARGE TREES---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------31
BOW SAW WARNING ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------32
ELECTRIC CHAIN SAW SAFETY-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------32
GLOSSARY OF CHAIN SA WING DEFINITIONS -----------------------------------------------------------------34
6
FORCES YOU MUST CONTROL
This section explains the forces which must be controlled to avoid injury
when operating either a gas or electric-powered chain saw. Always remember that your best defenses are to exercise caution and use the chain saw
properly , and to be prep ared to react to these forces
PULL, PUSH and KICKBACK are terms for the direction a reaction takes.
PULL
PULL - When you are cutting on top of a log with the lower portion of the
chain moving toward you, the chain saw will be pulled into the wood and
away from you.
PUSH - Cutting on the underside of a log pushes the chain saw toward you.
PUSH and PULL forces are controlled by anticipating which reaction will
happen and adjusting your position and stance to compensate.
ROT ATIONAL KICKBACK - When the chain is moving downward around the
upper nose of the bar, solid cont act there may drive the bar tip upward in an
arc toward you. This is an extremely dangerous reaction called Rotational
Kickback. When used alone in this manual, the term kickback will always
refer to the rotational kickback.
CUTTING ON BOTTOM OF GUIDEBAR PULLS SAW A WAY FROM YOU
PUSH
CUTTING ON TOP OF GUIDE-BAR
PUSHES SAW TOWARD YOU
WOOD
FORCE
REACTION
Rotational kickback
Rotational kickback is predictable, preventable and controllable. If the
operator is not alert to the possibility of a kickback, it may come as a
complete surprise. The possibility of kickback can be greatest if the chain is
not a low- or reduced kickback type, or if the bar is not a reduced-kickback
type. The best defense against rotational kickback is making sure the chain
does not contact anything solid at the upper nose of the bar . This can be
assured by proper installation of the Kick Guard
®
device.
LINEAR KICKBACK - A sudden PUSH reaction that occurs when the chain
along the top rails of the bar gets pinched in a cut. This type of reaction
pushes the chain saw straight back toward the operator. The Kick Guard
®
device on your bar nose acts as a stop against this type of kickback by
stopping the guide bar.
Chain moving downward at impact
ROT A TIONAL KICKBACK
PINCH
PINCHING TOP OF GUIDE BAR
CAUSES LINEAR PUSH OR
KICKBACK
7
FORCES YOU MUST CONTROL
FORCE OF GRAVITY & “FOLLOW THROUGH” – Gravity is always present and
you must be prepared for it when you are operating a chain saw . During the
cutting operation, the weight of the chain saw is supported by the material being
cut. When the saw completes the cut, the saw is no longer supported, and the
operator must control both the weight and the downward momentum of the saw.
Never reach too far out with the saw. If you reach too far out with the saw, you
may be unable to control it. Maintain a proper grip, a balanced stance, and good
footing. Never cut when you are off balance – the sudden burden of supporting
the weight of the saw could cause you to fall or lose control of the saw. Make no
cuts above chest height where control may be more difficult.
IMPORTANT: When you’re about to complete a cut on an elevated tree branch or
limb, be ready to release the throttle and support the chain saw so that the guide
bar and moving chain will not “follow through” and cut into your legs, feet, or body
after the guide bar breaks into the clear .
DO NOT OVER -REACH TO
MAKE A CUT
SKATING - This condition occurs when the saw chain does not dig in properly
when starting a cut, and does not start a defined groove as it attempts to
penetrate the wood. The guide bar then begins “hopping” or skidding side-to-side
along the surface. When this occurs, you do not have full control of the chain
saw, and the bar nose could strike something and cause a kickback. If you are
holding the chain saw with one hand and a branch with the other, the chain saw
could skate laterally into your hand holding the branch. To prevent or reduce
skating, always hold the chain saw with two hands, and make sure the saw chain
has established a groove for cutting. For gasoline-powered units, throttling down
the chain speed may help the chain get grooved, but once the chain is grooved,
throttle up the chain speed to complete the cut.
BEWARE OF SKATING
8
KICK GUARD
®
INSTALLATION
DANGER!
Chain saw kickback is an extremely dangerous reaction. Kickback can cause serious, or fatal
injuries!
KICK GUARD ANTI-KICKBACK BAR TIP GUARD: This is an anti-kickback device that covers
Kick Guard
the bar nose to prevent chain contact at the kickback-generating area of the nose. The ECHO bar
®
tip guard is called the Kick Guard
device. With the device properly mounted on the bar nose,
rotational kickback cannot occur. The device will also halt linear kickback. (See definitions of rotational
and linear kickback.)
The Kick Guard ® device is not installed on the guide bar when you purchase your ECHO chain saw. It is the
operator’s responsibility to decide upon the safest cutting approach for the job being done. If you think the Kick Guard
limits or obstructs the cutting operation and you decide to use the saw without the guard, it is your responsibility to know
how to operate the saw safely . This manual provides safety information to operate with and without the Kick Guard
®
The Kick Guard ® can be used in a majority of cutting operations, and is especially recommended for beginners,
homeowners, or chain saw novices. However, it is designed to be removable to allow the saw to be used without the
device. Use of the saw without the Kick Guard device requires a higher level of caution on the part of the operator. S tudy
the information and precautions in this manual carefully to learn how to operate the saw safely. Contact ECHO if you
have any questions, or if you do not understand the information.
Kick Guard
Prevents
Rotational
Kickback!
®
Kick Guard
Simple to Install!
See Installation Procedure
in your chain saw Instruction
®
Manual.
®
®
.
Use the Kick Guard ® in cutting applications where the bar’s tip may come into contact with solid objects or
surfaces. Most cutting operations can be accomplished with the Kick Guard® in place.
ECHO HIGHLY RECOMMENDS the use of the Kick Guard ® Device:
1. If you are a beginner or novice chain saw user.
2. If you are cutting in or around adjacent brush, small saplings, trees, or other solid objects that can be contacted by
the bar tip.
3. If it is possible that the tip of the saw may come in contact with an adjacent object such as a log, other trees,
branches, root, stump, fence, post, wall, rocks, nails etc.
4. If you can’t see the tip of the saw and it may come in contact with another object, such as in a log pile, brushy area,
or dense leafy area.
5. If you are limbing a tree and can’t see the tip due to leaves or other debris blocking the view.
6. If you have any concern that the cutting you will be doing may have an increased risk of tip contact.
9
CONDITIONS WHICH MAY REQUIRE REMOVAL OF KICK GUARD
®
In any circumstance, it is your responsibility to learn how to minimize the risk of kickback if you are using the
saw without the Kick Guard in place.
Even if you have prior experience with safe chain saw operation, or are trained in the prevention of kickback, please
use extreme caution if you choose not to install the tip guard, or if you decide to remove it. If you plan to use the saw
®
without the Kick Guard
device to facilitate cutting, refer to the section “Operating Saw Without Kick Guard® Device”.
The Kick Guard® is ideal for most cutting applications, but it may be necessary to remove it in limited
situations such as:
1. Felling trees that are larger in diameter than the working length of
the guide bar.
2. Cutting trees and logs that are larger in diameter than the
effective cutting length of the bar (dimension from engine to the
inside of the Kick Guard ®).
3. To remove a bound saw out from a cut log.
4. To draw the bar nose through a cut.
5. Making a boring cut into a log or tree. (Professional Users
Only)
6. To remove a saw when a wedge is being used.
Limit
imposed
by
kick
guard
MAXIMUM
DIAMETER
Limit
imposed by
saw bumper
Echo has incorporated additional technology to help minimize the risk of kickback, such as reduced kickback chain,
reduced kickback guide bar, and the chain brake system. These other devices only reduce kick back forces, and do not
guarantee the prevention of kickback or kickback injuries. Only a properly installed kick guard absolutely prevents
all rotational kick back.
If you use the saw without the Kick Guard, you can prevent injury from kickback by: avoiding contact with solid
objects at the upper tip of the guide bar; properly positioning yourself out of the line of the guide bar; and using
a firm, two-handed grip. It is solely your responsibility to take these precautions.
Prevent Rotational Kickback!
10
OPERA TING SAW WITH THE KICK GUARD® DEVICE
WARNING! Study your safety and instruction manuals, and be sure you understand how to keep control of the
chain saw either with or without the Kick Guard ® device.
WARNING! The Kick Guard ® device prevents rotational kickback when properly installed, but it cannot prevent
other chain saw mishaps. Always wear protective articles such as cut-resist ant boots, gloves, and leg chaps, and
proper attire for chain sawing. Use the correct two-handed grip on the saw handles at all times. Position the saw
properly with the cutting plane away from the body , and maint ain a balanced body position to the left of the saw.
®
Check that the Kick Guard
fastened securely to the guide bar.
is correctly installed before each use, and is
Illustrations below show various applications, which can be performed
effectively and safely when the Kick Guard
®
device is in place on the bar
nose. Notice that the device is often used to protect the saw chain, as well
as adjacent objects such as walls, fences and trees. The Kick Guard
often can be used against an obstruction as a bumper plate.
®
Using the Kick Guard
when cutting in a brush pile eliminates the threat of
kickback and helps speed up brush removal. Cutting brush requires that
you be alert for brush and branches that may be whipped back at you.
Even when using the Kick Guard
®
device, you must be alert to control the
saw against the forces of gravity, push, pull and “skating.” Maintain good
footing and balance. Reaching above chest height is extremely hazardous.
Twisting and falling limbs are a hazard, which must always be anticip ated.
Before buying a new guide bar or new saw chain, check first with your
ECHO dealer to be sure the new configuration can be mounted to your
®
ECHO chain saw. Be sure ECHO’s Kick Guard
device can be mounted
onto the new guide bar. The tip of the bar must be equipped with the
proper Kick Guard
®
device mounting holes.
KICK GUARD® APPLICATIONS
®
KICK GUARD® ALLOWS KICK-BACK
FREE CUTTING NEAR MASONRY,
FENCES, ETC.
KICK GUARD
AGAINST OBSTRUCTION.
KICK GUARD® ALLOWS SAFE CUTTING
NEAR OTHER TREES
®
AS A BUMPER
KICK GUARD
ACTION TO REMOVE BRUSH
®
ALLOWS SCYTHING
KICK GUARD® PROTECTS CHAIN FROM
GROUND WHEN FLUSH CUTTING.
KICK GUARD® ALLOWS SAFE CUTTING IN
BRUSH PILE.
11
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