Starting the Saw

There are two recommended methods of starting. These are known as cold starting and warm starting.

Cold Starting

See the owner's manual for setting the choke and throttle control lockout.

• Place the chainsaw firmly on the ground. If a chainbrake is fitted, put the brake on.
• Hold your left arm straight, with the front handlebar firmly cradled between the thumb and fingers. If a mitt is fitted, your hand must be in the mitt.
• Place the front of your right foot in the rear handle, or place a knee on the chainsaw body.
• Position your other leg to provide stability.
• Pull the starter cord with your right hand, using short sharp pulls to start the motor.
• When started, close the choke and release the throttle control latch by squeezing the throttle control trigger.

Cold starting method.

Warm Starting

• Place your left hand in the safety mitt if fitted. Keep left arm straight.
• Position saw on left thigh pointing left.
• Step over rear handle and secure saw behind bent right knee.
• Start with short sharp pulls on the starter cord.
• If the saw does not start, revert to the cold start method.

Warm starting method.

Warning on Drop Starting

Never drop start a saw. The danger is that the saw will swing in an arc at the end of the cord and cause serious injury, especially to the body or face.

Cutting with the Saw

It's important that you hold the saw correctly and adopt the proper stance. It's also necessary to know the different types of cutting action.

Holding the Saw

Place your left hand on the front handle and ensure the handle is gripped between thumb and finger, with your thumb under the handle. Use the mitt if fitted. Your right hand should grip the rear handle, with your index finger on the throttle trigger.

Maintain control of the saw while the motor is running by keeping a firm grip with both hands.

• Keep your feet firmly planted slightly apart in a balanced position. Do not over-reach. Move feet closer to the cutting position.
• Hold the saw close to your body with the saw body close to the cut for better control. Slightly bent arms will improve your control over the saw.
• Position yourself to the side of the intended cut to lessen the chance of injury from kickback.
• Never use the saw with one hand as you can easily lose control over it.
• Start the cut at high speed and maintain engine speed as you cut.
• When the cut is almost finished, reduce speed to avoid a sudden finish with loss of balance, or the guide bar and chain hitting the ground or other objects.
• Regularly check chain tension and ensure that chain is correctly sharpened.

Types of Cutting Action

There are three main types of cutting action.

You need to understand the differences in order to avoid accidents or dangerous situations.

The Down Cut

This cut uses the bottom of the bar. It is the safest and easiest cut as the chain action draws the saw towards the cut and away from the operator. This is called traction.

The down cut draws saw towards the cut.

The Up Cut

This uses the upper part of the bar. The chain's reactive force will push the saw away from the cut and towards you. There is a risk of kickback if the saw is pushed far enough away from the cut for the nose of the bar to ride out of the cut.

The upcut pushes saw away from the cut.

The Boring Cut

This cut starts by using the bottom portion of the nose of the bar and then the upper portion as the cut proceeds. Because of the likelihood of kickback, this cut should be used only by trained or experienced operators.

Proceed as follows:

• Using the lower tip of the guide, bar cut until the depth is about bar width.
• Align the saw towards the horizontal with the saw at full throttle.
• Still at full throttle, press the guide bar straight into the log.

The boring cut - for experienced operators only.

Avoiding Kickback

Kickback is a potential danger when-ever you use your saw. You need to know why it occurs and how to reduce it.

What is Kickback?

Kickback occurs when the upper part of the bar nose contacts a solid object or is pinched. This causes a reactive force that may throw the guide bar in an uncontrolled arc towards you and can result in serious injury.

Chainsaw kicks back when critical area of bar nose contacts wood or is pinched.

Kickback can occur when:

• The bar nose hits hidden limbs or light material.
• The saw is boring into a log (as explained on page 23).
• The bar nose is pinched while cutting.
• The bar nose contacts ends of logs or obscured material.
• The chain is loose.
• The depth gauge setting is too low.

Remember that kickback can occur in any plane. It may occur when using the saw with the guide bar horizontal when making a felling cut, while making a bore cut or while trimming.

How to Reduce Kickback

Using proper operating techniques will reduce the likelihood of kickback.

• Hold the saw firmly with both hands.
• Make sure your left thumb is wrapped firmly under the front handle and in the mitt if fitted.
• Be aware of the location of the guide bar nose at all times.
• Do not let the guide bar nose come in contact with any object.

Other points to watch are:

• Be especially careful when cutting small limbs or light material that may catch in the chain.
• Do not over-reach or cut above shoulder height.
• Use extreme caution when re-entering a cut.
• Cut only one log at a time.
• Correctly maintain your saw.
• Make sure there are no loose- fitting nuts, bolts or screws.
• Ensure that safety devices are operable.
• Make sure the chain is tensioned, sharpened and depth gauges set to the manufacturer's specification.
• Use a safety chain and the correct bar and chain combination.

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