Electric Chain Saw: Owner'S Manual
Electric Chain Saw: Owner'S Manual
Electric Chain Saw: Owner'S Manual
Model EL-3
IMPORTANT
Read and understand this manual before assembling or operating this
chain saw. Improper use of saw can cause severe injury. Keep this
manual for future reference.
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OWNER’S MANUAL
CHAIN SAW NAMES Notching Undercut A notch cut in a tree
that directs the tree’s fall.
AND TERMS Oiler Control A system for oiling the guide
Boring The process involved in cutting bar and saw chain.
with the saw chain at the nose (tip) of the Rear Handle The support handle located at
guide bar, in order to make a hole. This is not or toward the rear of the saw.
recommended because of hazard of kick-
back. Reduced Kickback Guide Bar A guide
bar which has been demonstrated to reduce
Bucking The process of cross cutting a kickback significantly.
felled tree or log into lengths.
Saw Chain A loop of chain having cutting
Chain Saw Powerhead A chain saw teeth, that cut the wood, and that is driven by
without the saw chain and guide bar. the motor and is supported by the guide bar.
Clutch A mechanism for connecting and Spiked Bumper (Spike) The pointed tooth
disconnecting a driven member to and from or teeth for use when felling or bucking to
a rotating source of power. pivot the saw and maintain position while
Drive Sprocket or Sprocket The toothed sawing.
part that drives the saw chain. Switch A device that when operated will
Felling The process of cutting down a tree. complete or interrupt an electrical power
circuit to the motor of the chain saw.
Felling Back Cut The final cut in a tree
felling operation made on the opposite side Switch Linkage The mechanism that trans-
of the tree from the notching undercut. mits motion from a trigger to the switch.
Front Handle The support handle located Switch Lockout A movable stop that
at or toward the front of the chain saw. prevents the unintentional operation of the
switch until manually actuated.
Front Handle Guard A structural barrier
between the front handle of a chain saw and
the guide bar, typically located close to the
hand position on the front handle.
Guide Bar A solid railed structure that
supports and guides the saw chain.
Kickback The backward and/or upward
motion of the guide bar occurring when the
saw chain near the nose of the top area of the
guide bar contacts any object such as an-
other log or branch, or when the wood closes
in and pinches the saw chain in the cut.
Kickback, Pinch The rapid pushback of
the saw which can occur when the wood
closes in and pinches the moving saw chain
in the cut along the top of the guide bar.
Kickback, Rotational The rapid upward
and backward motion of the saw which can
occur when the moving saw chain near the
upper portion of the tip of the guide bar
contacts an object, such as a log or branch.
Normal Cutting Position Those posi-
tions assumed in performing the bucking
and felling cuts.
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OWNER’S MANUAL
OPERATING Switch Lockout The moveable button that
prevents unintentional operation of the trig-
Kickback Safety Devices On
Your Saw
INSTRUCTIONS ger. The trigger cannot be depressed to start
the saw again until the lockout is pushed in. Your saw is equipped with a low-kickback
FILLING OIL RESERVOIR When the trigger is released the lockout will saw chain and a reduced kickback guide bar.
automatically lock the trigger in the power Both devices reduce the possibility of rota-
1. Remove the oil fill knob. tional kickback which can occur when the
off position.
2. Fill the oil reservoir with SAE #30 tip of the bar contacts a solid object. DO
motor oil. Guard The restraint in front of the handle NOT assume that kickback will not happen
3. Replace and tighten fill knob which prevents accidental contact of the because of these devices. Contact of the
IMMEDIATELY . This will avoid hand with the chain. guide bar tip with any object should be
continuous oil feed. Oil Fill Knob By pushing the oil fill knob, avoided.
4. Wipe off excess oil. using only moderate pressure, oil will feed A properly installed Front Hand Guard can
on the guide bar and saw chain. To keep the help reduce injuries from kickback. Install
Note: When cutting in temperatures below saw chain oiled, push the oil fill knob at least
30°F, use SAE #10 oil. In temperatures by following the assembly instructions in
once before each cut. Frequently check the this manual. DO NOT remove or replace it
above 75°F, use SAE #40 oil. oil sight level hole located on the front left with a substitute.
EXTENSION CORDS side of the chain saw.
Manual Oil Causes of Kickback
Guard
The proper extension cord must be used Control
with the chain saw. Use a HO7RN extension Kickback occurs when a chain cutter going
cord no less than 1.5 square millimeters at
Rear around the upper quadrant of the guide bar
Switch Handle nose is suddenly stopped (See Figure 5).
distances up to 30 meters. It is recommended Lockout
that a ground fault circuit interrupter be part This can happen when the cutter contacts a
of the power supply system. solid object or is pinched. The result is a
LEFT SIDE sudden reverse action which kicks the saw
Use an extension cord heavy enough to tip up and/or back toward the operator.
carry the current your saw will draw. An
undersized cord will cause a voltage drop at Kickback may also occur when a chain
the saw, loss of power and overheating. Switch cutter is pinched along the length of the bar.
Trigger The result is a sudden linear reverse action
Front Handle Guide Bar which kicks the saw straight back at the
WARNING: Read and under- operator.
RIGHT SIDE
stand all instructions before op-
erating the saw. Power
Sprocket DIRECTION
Cord
SAW CONTROLS Saw
Front Handle The support located toward Chain CONTACT HERE
the front of the chain saw which extends Sprocket Sprocket
from the left side of the chain saw. The Guard Support
90 DEGREE
QUADRANT
proper grip of this handle in the normal
cutting position gives you the greatest abil- Figure 4 - Left and Right Sides
ity to control the chain saw in the cut (See
Figure 4). KICKBACK
Rear Handle The support located toward WARNING: Guard against
the rear of the saw, houses the control trig- kickback. Study this section be-
ger. A firm grip of this handle while cutting fore operating saw.
is necessary to control the chain saw in the
cut.
Kickback is the sudden upward and/or back-
Trigger Switch The control which starts ward movement of the chain saw while Figure 5 - Causes of Kickback
and stops the motor. The motor only oper- cutting. If the chain saw moves toward the
ates at full speed. operator in an uncontrolled manner, serious
or fatal injuries may result. Understanding
why kickback occurs can help you reduce
the chance of kickback and maintain control.
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Cutting a Limb 1. The chain saw operator should keep on 4. As the felling cut gets close to the hinge,
1. Make the first cut from the underside about the uphill side of the terrain as the tree the tree should begin to fall. If there is
1/2 foot from the trunk and 1/3 through is likely to roll or slide downhill after any chance that the tree may not fall in
the diameter of the limb (See Figure 10). it is felled. the desired direction or it may rock back
2. CONSIDER the natural lean of the tree, and bind the saw chain, stop cutting
2. Make the second cut two to four inches before the felling back cut is complete
farther out on the limb from above until the location of larger branches and the
wind direction to judge which way the and use wedges of wood, plastic or
the limb falls. aluminum to open the cut and drop the
tree will fall.
3. Make the third cut 1/3 the diameter of tree along the desired line of fall.
the limb stub from underneath as close 3. A RETREAT PATH should be planned
and cleared as necessary before cuts are 5. When the tree begins to fall remove the
to the trunk as possible. chain saw from the cut, stop the motor,
started. The retreat path should extend
4. Make the fourth cut from above as close back and diagonally to the rear of the put the chain saw down, then use the
to the trunk as possible to meet the third expected line of fall as illustrated in retreat path planned. Be alert for overhead
cut. Figure 11. limbs falling and watch our footing.
4th Final 2nd Limbing Cut
(to avoid pinching)
4. CLEAR the work area around the tree Direction of
Stub Cut to be cut and on your retreat path. Fall
5. REMOVE dirt, stones, loose bark, nails, 3rd -
staples, and wire from the tree where Hinge
6" Felling 2nd - Upper
(15cm) felling cuts are to be made. Cut Notching Cut
2" to 4"
1st (5-10 cm) Retreat Path Approx. 2"
(5 cm) 1st - Lower
Limbing Undercut Notching Cut
(to avoid splintering) Direction of Fall
3rd Stub Undercut
(to avoid splintering)
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2nd Cut
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MAINTENANCE HAND SHARPENING 5. File from inside toward the outside of
PROCEDURE the cutter in one direction only. Use a
AND STORAGE 1. Disconnect the saw from the power light stroke, only one or two strokes are
source. Wear gloves when handling the needed. File all cutters the same.
CLEANING THE CHAIN SAW chain. 6. Move to the other side of the guide bar
2. Properly tension the saw chain. and file all cutters on the second side.
To clean housing of dirt and oil, wipe with a
Care should be taken to never file into
damp cloth using a solution of warm water 3. Position the cutter that is to be filed in the bottom of the top plate or it will
and a mild detergent. DO NOT use products the center of the guide bar. Move the become dull faster.
that contain ammonia, chlorine or abrasives, chain after each cutter is finished.
DO NOT use chlorinated cleaning solvents, 4. Place the round file and guide on the
carbon tetrachloride, kerosene or gasoline. cutter so it rests on the top plate and
DO NOT submerge saw in any liquids. the depth gauge. Hold the file level and
with the guide marks parallel to the
guide bar.
CARE OF THE GUIDE BAR
Most guide bar problems are caused by
uneven bar wear. Incorrect filing of cutter Filing
and depth gauge settings are the primary Direction
cause of uneven bar wear. When the bar
wears unevenly it widens the bar slot and Filing
causes chain clatter, rivet popping and diffi- Direction
culty in making a straight cut.
1. Remove saw dust from the guide bar
groove periodically with a putty knife
or a wire (See Figure 17).
Filing
2. Clean oil holes after each day of use. Direction
3. Remove burrs and restore square edges
to an uneven rail top by filing with a 30° Guide
Mark File Guide
flat file.
4. Replace the guide bar if it is bent or
cracked.
FILE
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TROUBLE
SHOOTING
PROBLEM SOLUTION
Saw operates but does not cut. Saw chain is assembled backwards. See manual for correct assembly.
Saw does not cut unless heavily forced. Chips are fine, Dull saw chain. See manual.
dust like.
Saw seems to run slow and easily stalled. Low supply voltage. Check extension cord size noted in the manual. Low
voltage can cause poor performance and motor burnout.
Saw does not operate when trigger switch is squeezed. Lock out button has not been depressed to release trigger. OR, extension cord
connections are loose. OR, line fuse or circuit breaker is open. OR, motor
brushes need replacement. See your service center. OR, wiring circuit open,
See your service center.
Saw runs but chain does not move. Gear train failure. See your service center.
Chain does not get oil. Oil slot in bar or mount is clogged with saw dust. Remove and clean. OR, oil
is not thin enough. See manual.
Saw chain comes off guide bar. Chain is too loose and requires adjustment. See manual. Or, bar and chain are
not assembled properly. See manual, recheck assembly.
Saw leaks oil. Oil cap is not secure. Note: when storing, empty oil tank to avoid seepage.
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LIMITED WARRANTY
This product is warranted to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for six (6) months from the
date of first purchase when operated and maintained in accordance with instructions. This warranty is
extended only to the original retail purchaser.
This warranty covers only the cost of parts required to restore this to proper operating condition.
Transportation and incidental costs associated with warranty repairs are not reimbursable under this
warranty.
This warranty does not cover commercial or rental usage nor defects resulting from misuse, accidents, lack
of proper maintenance, bar, chain.
THIS EXPRESS WARRANTY IS GIVEN IN LIEU OF ANY OTHER WARRANTY EITHER EXPRESSED
OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OR MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICU-
LAR PURPOSE.
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REV. D
PRINTED IN USA 3/97