EarthQuake CS3814B Operator's Manual - page 5

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5

Operator's Manual

CS3814B, CS4116B Chainsaws

• Alwaysholdthechainsawfirmlywithbothhandswhenthe

engine is running.  Use a firm grip with thumb and fingers 

encircling the chainsaw handles.

• Whencarryingfromoneplacetoanother,alwaysstopthe

engine and hold the saw with the guide bar and saw chain 

behind you and the muffler away from your body.

• Alwaysinspectthechainsawforworn,loose,ordamagedparts.

Never operate a chainsaw that has been damaged, improperly 

adjusted, or is not completely and securely assembled.

• Useextremecautionwhencuttingsmallbrushandsaplings.

Thinner material may be caught by the chain and could whip 

back toward you or pull you off balance.

• Whencuttinglimbsundertension,stayalertfor“springback”

so you are not struck when the tension in the wood fibers is 

released.

• Alwaysshutofftheenginebeforesettingthechainsawdown.

• Keepthehandlesdry,clean,andfreeoflubricants,oilsandfuel.

Kickback

Kickback may occur when the guide bar nose or 

tip comes into contact with a foreign object, or 

whenthe“sawkerf”(gapinthewoodbeingcut)

closes in on the bar and pinches the saw chain.

Tip contact in some cases may cause a lightning-

fast reverse action, kicking the guide bar up and 

back toward the operator.

Pinching the saw chain along the top of the 

guide bar may push the guide bar and the saw 

unit backward toward the operator.

Either of these reactions may cause the operator 

to lose control of the chainsaw, which could 

result in serious personal injury or death.  

Do not rely exclusively on the safety devises 

built into your saw.  As a chainsaw user, it is 

your responsibility to understand the inherent 

dangers of chainsaw use and the precautions 

necessary to minimize those dangers.

Precautions to Avoid Kickback:

•  Always grip the chainsaw firmly with both

hands;  the right hand on the rear handle, and 

the left hand on the forward grip.

• Makecertaintheareainwhichyouarecutting

is free from obstructions.  Do not let the guide 

bar nose come into contact with a log, branch, rock or other 

objects while cutting.  Such contact could result in a kickback.

• Alwaysmakecutsathighenginespeeds.

• Donotover-reachorcutaboveshoulderheight.

• Always maintain a sharp and clean saw chain.  Follow

manufacturer’s sharpening and maintenance instructions for 

the saw chain.

• Only use replacement bars and chains specified by the

manufacturer or an appropriate equivalent.

Sawing

•Thissawisprovidedforthesoleintendedpurposeofcutting

wood.  Do not cut other materials with this saw.

• Donotattachothertoolsoraccessoriestotheoutputshaftof

the power unit.  Doing so will void the manufacturer’s warranty.

• Donotapplyexcessivepressuretoforcethesawthroughthe

cut.  Run the engine at full throttle and apply only light pressure.

• Alwaysmaintainafirmfooting.

• Nevercutfromastepladderorwhileinatree.

• Neverusetheguidebarasameanstolift,pry,moveorsplit

objects.

•Nevermountthechainsawonafixedstand.

• Iftheguidebarandsawchainbecomepinchedinacut,donot

race the engine or pull the saw out of the cut by force.  Use a 

wedge or lever to open the cut and pull the saw free.

Felling a Tree

Felling refers to the process of cutting down a standing tree.  

Numerous factors must be taken into consideration when 

felling a tree.  First consider the environmental factors which will 

determine the felling direction:

• Windisamajordeterminingfactoroffellingdirection.

• Locationandnumberofheavybranchesandtheleanofthetree.

• Easeofbuckingandclean-upafterfelling

• Nearbystandingtimberinwhichthefelledtreecouldhangup.

• Locationofpower,telephoneanddatautilities,buildings,

roads, bodies of water, property lines, etc. 

• Woodstructureandcondition(i.e.rottenheartwoodorcore).

• Keepallbystandersatleast2-1/2treelengthsawayfromthe

base of the tree to be cut.  This area is considered a danger zone 

and must be avoided before and during the felling operation.

Retreat Path

Plan two (2) retreat paths away from the felling direction of the 

tree.  Do not retreat in the opposite direction from the falling tree.  

Instead, retreat at a 45-degree angle to either side.

• Cleartheretreatpathsofallobstacles.

• Placeallexcesstoolsandequipmentasafedistancefromthe

tree, but not in the retreat paths.