Echo Pole Pruner manual

POLE PRUNER SAFETY MANUAL X75200001 1 12/07 X7522300101 DANGER! DANGER! T o locate your nearest Echo dealer , visit our website at www .echo-usa.com , or call 1-800- 432-ECHO (3246). Ask how to obtain a FREE Safety V ideo. Echo’s supplement al Safety Video provides helpful safety and operating information. Misuse may result in serious or fat al i[...]

2 2 2 2 2 SYMBOL MEANINGS AND W ARNINGS CONTENTS SYMBOL MEANINGS AND W ARNINGS ................................................................................... 3 DEFINITION OF TERMS ............................................................................................................ .. 4 SAFETY APP AREL ...................................[...]

3 3 3 3 3 SYMBOL MEANINGS AND W ARNINGS O ON OF F I Maintain a distance 15m (50 feet) from electrical lines and electrical sources to avoid electrocution or electrical shock. W ear sturdy , protective safety shoes or boots with non- skid soles. Maintain secure footing and balance. Read and understand Operator ’ s Manual to avoid injury . W ear he[...]

4 4 4 4 4 DEFINITION OF TERMS UNIT - Power head, handles, cutting assembly and pole. GASOLINE AND ELECTRIC POWERED TERMS CHOKE LEVER - The engine control attached to the carburetor that is used to enrich the fuel mixture for cold starting. Refer to Operator ’ s Manual for more details about correct position and use of the choke lever . CLUTCH - T[...]

5 5 5 5 5 DEFINITION OF TERMS CROWN CLEANING - The removal of dead, dying, diseased, crowded, weakly attached branches from the tree’ s crown. CROWN REDUCTION - The reduction of the top, sides, or individual limbs by the means of removal of the leader or longest portion of a limb. CROWN THINNING - The selective removal of branches to increase lig[...]

6 6 6 6 6 DEFINITION OF TERMS PRECUT OR PRECUTTING - The two-step process to remove a branch before the finished cut is made so as to prevent splitting or bark tearing into the parent stem. The branch is first undercut, then cut from the top before the final cut. PRUNING - Removal of plant parts. RECIPROCA TING CUTTING BLADE - A moving blade that a[...]

7 7 7 7 7 Always wear eye protection conforming to the ANSI Z87.1 or CE Standard when operating a pole saw (Z87 or CE is stamped on the eye protection). W ood chips, dust, snapping branches and other debris can be tossed by the cutting saw chain into the operator’s facial area. Eye protection may also offer some protection in the event the chain [...]

8 8 8 8 8 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS Do not attempt to start or operate your pole saw until you have carefully read and completely understand your Operator ’ s and Safety Manuals. Locate, understand and follow the warning decals on your pole saw . Be familiar with the controls and the proper use of the unit. Know how to shut the unit off. Failure to foll[...]

9 9 9 9 9 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS • Follow sharpening and maintenance instructions for the saw chain in your Operator ’ s Manual. Do not resharpen saw blades. • Use only replacement guide bars, saw chains or blades specified by the manufacturer . • Do not over reach. • Do not operate the unit if you are fatigued, or under the influence of alco[...]

10 10 10 10 10 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS • Keep all parts of your body away from the saw chain or blade when the engine is running. • Before you start the engine or motor , make sure the saw chain or blade is not contacting anything. • Carry the pole saw with the engine or motor stopped, the guide bar and saw chain or blade to the front, and keep th[...]

11 11 11 11 11 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS • Do not run the gasoline engine indoors, or where there is poor ventilation. Engine exhaust contains deadly carbon monoxide poison. • Keep both feet on the ground. Do not work from off-the ground positions. W orking from ladders is extremely dangerous because ladders can slip, as well as, limit your control of[...]

12 12 12 12 12 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS The pole saw’ s engine can continue to run when the blade is jammed. Before attempting to release or free the jam, always switch the engine off, disconnect the spark plug wire from the spark plug. After assuring the blade and engine have stopped, proceed to clear the jam. W ear gloves while clearing material from[...]

13 13 13 13 13 SOME ADDITIONAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS PRECAUTIONS IN HOT , HUMID WEA THER - Heavy clothing can increase an operator ’ s fatigue. Heat stroke or heat exhaustion is pos- sible. Under these adverse conditions, you must judge whether wearing heavy protective clothing or lighter but less protective items bears the least risk. Or you might [...]

14 14 14 14 14 FORCES TO CONTROL This section is about forces which must be controlled to avoid injury when operating a pole saw . Pros and cons of various safety devices are included in the discussion. Always remember that your best defenses are to exercise caution and use the pole saw properly . Here is an example of a reaction to an action: if y[...]

15 15 15 15 15 On guide bar and saw chain configured pole saws, proper saw chain tension cannot be maintained when and if the: • Drive sprocket is worn. • Guide bar is improperly clamped to the pole saw . • T ension adjuster has not engaged the guide bar, thus allowing the guide bar to shift. • Guide Bar rails are in poor condition. • Gui[...]

16 16 16 16 16 Pole saws are designed for light to medium trimming of limbs and branches up to 20.3 cm (8 in.) in diameter . After starting, pick up the pole saw and proceed as follows: • Plan cut carefully . Check direction branch will fall. • Do not stand directly beneath branch being cut. • Plan a retreat path from falling branches. Branch[...]

17 17 17 17 17 BALANCE AND BODY POSITION FOR CUTTING • When completing an elevated cut, be ready to hold up the pole saw as it cuts into the clear , so it will not follow through. • Limit your cutting to the range within which you can control the pole saw fully . Don’t reach out because you could lose your balance. • Make limbing and prunin[...]

18 18 18 18 18 When you wish to cut off an unsupported section from the end of a branch, the weakening or finishing cut should be an overbuck (from top down). However , you may begin with a shallow underbuck to avoid splitting and some damage to the tree or limb. Do not cut, walk or stand on a limb while cutting. Serious personal injury may result.[...]

19 19 19 19 19 WHEN TO CALL A PROFESSIONAL There are times that the solution to a problem with a mature tree is best handled by a professional arborist. When do you call for professional help? 1 . When you don’t have the expertise and proper equipment to safely accomplish the job. 2 . When the tree is too large and pruning requires extension equi[...]

20 20 20 20 20 PRUNING: TIMING AND TECHNIQUE Pruning is vital to the health and beauty of trees. Pruning controls the size and direction of growth, improves a tree’ s health, diminishes risk of infection and increases the size of flower and fruit production. Proper pruning also encourages growth by opening up the tree’ s canopy and branch struc[...]

21 21 21 21 21 • WOUND DRESSINGS - W ound dressings have been shown to interfere with the natural development of callus tissues that eventu- ally close the pruning wound. In some cases, wound dressings can even harbor disease organisms much like what occurs when a Band- Aid is left on a skin cut too long. It is far more important to make the cut [...]

22 22 22 22 22 C . W ith most needled evergreens, pruning is confined to trimming back a portion of new growth to control height or spread, or to even the shape. Pine growth tips (commonly called candles) can be cut back from one-third to three- quarters prior to the time the needles of the candles unfold. The growth tips of spruce and fir can be t[...]

23 23 23 23 23 NOTES[...]

NOTICE: ECHO, INCORPORA TED reserves the right to make changes in this safety manual or the models without advanced notice. ECHO INCORPORA TED 400 OAKWOOD ROAD LAKE ZURICH, IL 60047 PHONE: (847) 540-8400 www .echo-usa.com Printed in USA[...]