McCulloch MAC 838 User Manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Please read these instr uctions carefull y

GB

and make sure you understand them before using this unit. Retain these
instructions for future refer ence.

115164026 Rev. 1 7/15/09 BRW

IDENTIFICATION (WHAT IS WHAT?)

Chain

Adjustment Tool

(Bar Tool)

Bumper
spike

Throttle
Lockout

Rear
Handle

Throttle
Trigger

Front Hand Guard

Chain

Bar Oil Fill Cap

Cylinder Cover

Clutch Cover

Muffler

Starter Housing

Bar Nuts

Front Handle

Starter Rope

Fuel Mix Fill Cap

Chain
Brake

Adjusting Screw

Chain
Catcher

IDENTIFICATION OF SYMBOLS

Idle Speed Screw

ON/STOP
Switch

Choke/
Fast Idle
Lever

Primer Bulb

Guide Bar

Chain
Direction
of Travel

WARNING! This chain

saw can be dangerous! Care­less or improper use can cause
serious or ev en fatal injury.

Always wear appropriate ear
protection, eye protection
and head protection.

Always use two hands when operating the chain saw.

WARNING! Contacting the guide bar tip with any object

should be avoided; tip contact may cause the guide bar to
move suddenly upward and backward, which may cause se­rious injury.

Read and understand the
instruction manual before
using the chain saw.

Sound power level

2

Starting Reminder

IDENTIFICATION OF SYMBOLS

Move ON/STOP switch to
the ON position.

Slowly press primer bulb
6times.

Pull choke/fast idle lever
out to the full extent (to
the FULL CHOKE posi­tion).

SAFETY RULES

WARNING: Always disconnect

spark plug wire and place wire where it can­not contact spark plug to prevent acc idental
starting when setting up, transporting, ad­justing or making repairs except carburetor
adjustments.
Because a chain saw is a high-speed wood­cutting tool, special safety precautions must
be observed to reduce the risk of accidents.
Careless or improper use of this tool can
cause serious injury.

PLAN AHEAD

S Read this manual carefully until you com-

pletely understand and can follow all safety
rules, precautions, and operating instruc ­tions before attempting to use the unit.

S Restrict the use of your saw to adult users

who understand and can follow safety
rules, precautions, and operating instruc­tions found in this manual.

Hearing

Protection

Snug
Fitting

Clothing

Safety
Shoes

S Wear protective gear. Always use steel-toed

safety footwear with non-s lip soles; snug-fit­ting clothing; heavy-duty, non-slip gloves;
eye protection such as non-fogging, vented
goggles or face screen; an approved safety
hard hat; and sound barriers (ear plugs or
mufflers) to protect your hearing. Secure hair
above shoulder length.

Safety Hat

Eye
Protection

Heavy Duty
Gloves

Safety Chaps

Pull the starter rope
sharply 5 times with your
right hand.

Push the choke/fast idle
lever in to the HALF
CHOKE position.

Pull the starter rope sharply
with your right hand until
the engine starts.

S Always use approved hearing protection.

Regular users should have hearing
checked regularly as chain saw noise can
damage hearing. Long-- term exposure to
noise can result in permanent hearing im­pairment.

S Keep all parts of your body away from the

chain when the engine is running.

S Keep children, bystanders, and animals a

minimum of 10 meters away from the work
area. Do not allow other people or animals
to be near the chain saw when starting or
operating the chain saw.

S Do not handle or operate a chain saw

when you are fatigued, ill, or upset, or if you
have taken alcohol, drugs, or medication.
You must be in good physical condition
and mentally alert. Chain saw work is
strenuous. If you have any condition that
might be aggravated by strenuous work,
check with your doctor before operating a
chain saw.

S Carefully plan your sawing operation in ad-

vance. Do not start cutting until you have a
clear work area, secure footing, and, if you
are felling trees, a planned retreat path.

OPERATE YOUR SAW SAFELY

WARNING: Long term inhalation of

the engine’s exhaust fumes, chain oil mist and
dust from sawdust can result in serious per ­sonal injury.
S Do not operate a chain saw with one hand.

Serious injury to the operator, helpers, by­standers or any combination of these per­sons may result from one-handed opera­tion. A chain saw is intended for
two-handed use.

S Operate the chain saw only in a well-venti-

lated outdoor area.

S Do not operate saw from a ladder or in a

tree, unless you are specifically trained to
do so.

3

S Make sure the chain will not make contact

with any object while starting the engine.
Never try to start the saw when the guide
bar is in a cut.

S Do not put pressure on the saw at the end of

the cut. Applying pressure can cause you to
lose control of the chain saw when the cut is
completed and may cause serious personal
injury.

S Stop the engine before setting the saw down.
S Do not operate a chain saw that is dam-

aged, improperly adjusted, or not com­pletely and securely assembled. Always
replace bar, chain, hand guard, or chain
brake immediately if it becomes damaged,
broken or is otherwise removed.

S With the engine stopped, hand carry the

chain saw with the muffler away from your
body, and the guide bar and chain to the
rear, preferably covered with a scabbard.

CHAIN SAW SAFETY EQUIPMENT

NOTE:

In this section, the safety features of
the chain saw and their function are explained.
For inspection and maintenance, see instruc­tions in the CHECKING, MAINTAINING AND
SERVICING CHAIN SAW SAFETY EQUIP­MENT section. See instructions under the
WHAT IS WHAT? section, to find where these
parts are located on your chain saw. The li fe
span of the machine can be reduced and the
risk of accidents can increase if machine
maintenance is not carried out correctly and
if service and/or repairs are not carried out
professionally. If you need further informa­tion, please contact your nearest service
dealer.
S Chain brake. Your chain saw is equipped

with a chain brake that is designed to stop
the chain from moving.

WARNING: The chain brake is de-

signed to stop the chain immediately if you
get a kickback. The chain brake reduces the
risk of accidents, but only you can prevent
them.DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE CHAIN
BRAKE WILL PROTECT YO U IN THE
EVENT OF A KICKBACK.
S Throttle trigger lock--out. The throttle

lock--out is designed to prevent accidental
operation of the throttle trigger.

S Chain catcher. The chain c atcher is de-

signed to catch the saw chain if it breaks.

S Vibration damping system. Your chain

saw is equipped with a vibration damping
system that is designed to minimize vibra­tion and make operation easier.

SAFETY NOTICE: Exposure to vibrations

through prolonged use of gasoline powered
hand tools could cause blood vessel or nerve
damage in the fingers, hands, and joints of peo­ple prone to circulation disorders or abnormal
swellings. Prolonged use in cold weather has
been linked to blood vessel damage in other­wise healthy people. If symptoms occur such
as numbness, pain, loss of strength, change in
skin color or texture, or loss of feeling in the fin­gers, hands, or joints, discontinue the use of
this tool and seek medical attention. An anti­vibration system does not guarantee the avoid-

ance of these problems. Users who operate
power tools on a continual and regular basis
must monitor closely their physical condition
and the condition of this tool.
S ON/STOP switch. The ON/STOP switch

should be used to stop the engine.

CHECKING, MAINTAININ G AND
SERVICING CHAIN SAW SAFETY
EQUIPMENT

WARNING: Never use a chain saw

with defective safety equipment. Safety
equipment must be inspected and main­tained. If your chain saw does not pass in­spection, take the saw to your nearest ser­vice dealer for repair.
S Chain brake. Brush off any wood dust,

resin and dirt from the chain brake and
clutch drum. Dirt and wear can impair op­eration of the brake. For additional infor­mation, see OPERATING YOUR UNIT
section.

S Throttle trigger lock--out. Check that the

throttle trigger can not be operated until the
throttle lock --out is pressed.

S Chain catcher. Check that the chain

catcher is not damaged and is firmly at­tached to the body of the chain saw.

S Vibration damping system. Regularly

check the vibration dam ping units for
cracks or deformation. Make sure the
vibration damping units are securely at­tached to the engine unit and handle unit.

S ON/STOP switch. Start the engine and

make sure the engine stops when you
move the ON/STOP switch to the STOP
position.

MAINTAIN YOUR SAW IN GOOD
WORKING ORDER

S Have all chain saw service performed by a

qualified service dealer with the exception of
the items listed in the maintenance section of
this manual. For example, if improper tools
are used to remove or hold the flywheel
when servicing the clutch, structural damage
to the flywheel can occur and cause the fly­wheel to burst.

S Make certain the saw chain stops moving

when the throttle trigger is released. For
correction, refer to CARBURETOR AD­JUSTMENTS.

S Never modify your saw in any way. Use

only attachments supplied or specifically
recommended by the manufacturer.

S Keep the handles dry, clean, and free of oil

or fuel mixture.

S Keep fuel and oil caps, screws, and fas-

teners securely tightened.

S Use only McCullochR accessories and re-

placement parts as recommended.

HANDLE FUEL WITH CAUTION

S Do not smoke while handling fuel or while

operating the saw.

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.

4

S Mix and pour fuel in an outdoor area on bare

ground; store fuel in a cool, dry, well v enti­lated place; and use an approved, marked
container for all fuel purposes. Wipe up all
fuel spills before starting saw.

S Move at least 10 feet (3 meters) from fuel-

ing site before starting engine.

S Turn the engine off and let saw 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 saw
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
saw chain in the cut. Contacting a foreign ob­ject in the wood can also result in loss of
chain saw 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 the

wood closes in and pinches the moving
saw chain in the cut along the top of the
guide bar and the saw 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
saw to move in the opposite direction of the
chain rotation. The saw 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
saw chain is suddenly stopped. This sudden
stopping pulls the saw forward and away
from the operator and could easily cause the
operator to lose control of the saw.

Avoid Pinch--Kickback:

S Be extremely aware of situations or obstruc-

tions that can cause material to pinch the top
of or otherwise stop the chain.

S Do not cut more than one log at a time.
S Do not twist the saw as the bar is with-

drawn from an undercut when bucking.

Avoid Pull -- In:

S Always begin cutting with the engine at full

speed and the saw housing against wood.

S Use wedges made of plastic or wood.

Never use metal to hold the cut open.

Kickback Path

Avoid Obstructions

Clear The
Working Area

REDUCETHECHANCEOF
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 ob-

ject at the tip of the guide bar.

S Keep the working area free from obstruc -

tions such as other trees, branches, rocks,
fences, stumps, etc. Eliminate or avoid any
obstruction that your saw chain could hit
while you are cutting through a particular log
or branch.

S Keep your saw 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 nuts are 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 log 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 logs 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 saw.

MAINTAIN CONTROL

Stand to the left of
the saw

Never reverse
hand positions

5

K

Symmetrical Guide Bar

L

Elbow locked

Thumb on underside of
handlebar

S K eep a good, firm grip on the saw with both

hands when the engine is running and don’t
let go. A firm grip will help you reduce kick­back and maintain control of the saw. Keep
the fingers of your left hand encircling and
your left thumb under the front handlebar.
Keep your right hand completely around the
rear handle whether your are right handed or
left handed. Keep your left arm straight with
the elbow locked.

S Pos ition your left hand on the front handle-

bar so it is in a straight line with your right
hand on the rear handle when making
bucking cuts. Never reverse right and left
hand positions for any ty pe of cutting.

S Stand with your weight evenly balanced on

both feet.

S Stand slightly to the left side of the saw to

keep your body from being in a direct line
with the cutting chain.

S Do not overreach. You could be drawn or

thrown off balance and lose control of the
saw.

S Do not cut above shoulder height. It is diffi-

cult to maintain control of saw above
shoulder height.I

KICKBACK SAFETY FEATURES

WARNING: The following features are

included on your saw to help reduce the hazard
of kickback; however, such features will not to­tally eliminate this dangerous reaction. As a
chain saw user, do not rely only on safety de­vices. You must follow all safety precautions,
instructions, and maintenance in this manual to
help avoid kickback and other forces which
can result in serious injury.
S Reduced--Kickback Guide Bar, designed

with a small radius tip which reduces the
size of the kickback danger zone on the
bar tip. A Reduced--Kickback Guide Bar has
been demonstrated to significantly reduce
the number and seriousness of kickbacks.

ickback

Reduced
Symmetri cal
Guide B ar

Large Radius Tip

S Low --Kickback Chain, designed with a

contoured depth gauge and guard link
which deflect kickback force and allow
wood to gradually ride into the cutter.

ow-Kickback Chain

Contoured Depth Gauge

Elongated Guard Link
Deflects Kickback
Force And Allows
Wood To Gradually
Ride Into Cutter

S H andguard, designed to reduce the chance

of your left hand contacting the chain if your
hand slips off the front handlebar.

S Pos ition of front and rear handlebars, de-

signed with distance between handles and
“in-line” with each other. The spread and
“in-line” position of the hands provided by
this design work together to giv e balance
and resistance in controlling the pivot of
the saw back toward the operator if kick­back occurs.

WARNING: DO NOT RELY UPON

ANY O F THE DEVICES BUILT INTO YOUR
SAW. YOU SHOULD USE THE SAW
PROPERLY AND CAREFULLY TO AVOID
KICKBACK. Reduced--kickback guide bars
and low-- kickback saw chains reduce the
chance and magnitude of kickback and are
recommended. Your saw has a low kickback
chain and bar as original equipment. Repairs
on a chain brake should be made by an au­thorized servicing dealer. Take your unit to
the place of purchase if purchased from a
servicing dealer, or to the nearest authorized
master service dealer.
S Tip contact in some cases may cause a light -

ning fast reverse REACTION, kicking the
guide bar up and back toward the operator.

S Pinching the saw chain along the top of the

guide bar may push the guide bar rapidly
back toward the operator.

S Either of these reactions may cause you to

lose control of the saw which could result
in serious injury. Do not rely exclusively
upon the safety devices built into your saw.

Small Radius Tip

6