EL12 and EL16 - OwnerIQ

FIRST EDITIONPART NO. 17957-A

Printed in U.S.A.Price $1.00

OWNER’S MANUAL

ELECTRIC CHAINSAWSEL12 and EL16

®

WARNING ICON G 001

Man Reading Icon G037

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ELECTRIC CHAINSAWHOMELITE EL12 AND EL16

WARNING ICON G 001WARNINGS

IMPORTANT: Make certain youread and understand all SafetyWarnings on pages 2 through 4.Improper use of this chain sawcan cause severe injury or deathfrom fire, electrical shock, bodycontact with moving chain, orfalling wood.

BEFORE OPERATING CHAINSAW1. Read and understand this owner’s

manual before operating chain saw.

2. Use chain saw for cutting wood only.Do not use for cutting any non-wooditems.

3. Only well-instructed adults should op-erate chain saw. Never allow childrento operate chain saw.

4. Use only electrical voltage noted onmodel plate of chain saw.

5. Use only extension cords marked foroutdoor use. See page 8 for extensioncord requirements.

6. Do not operate chain saw• while under the influence of alcohol,

medication, or drugs• in rain or in damp or wet areas• where highly flammable liquids or

gases are present• if saw is damaged, adjusted wrong,

or not fully assembled• if trigger does not turn saw on and

off. Chain must stop moving whenyou release trigger. Have faultyswitch replaced by authorized servicecenter.

• while tired or in a hurry• while in tree or on a ladder unless

trained to do so

7. Wear snug-fitting clothes when oper-ating chain saw. Do not wear looseclothing or jewelry. They can get caughtin moving saw chain.

SAFETYINFORMATION

8. Wear the following safety gear whenoperating chain saw.• heavy-duty gloves (wear rubber

gloves when working outdoors)• steel-toed safety footwear with non-

skid soles• eye protection such as safety glasses,

goggles, or face screen• safety hard hat• ear mufflers or ear plugs• hair covering to contain long hair• face or dust mask (if working in dusty

areas)

9. Before cutting, always provide the fol-lowing:• clear work area• secure footing• planned retreat path from falling tree

10. Inspect tree before cutting down. Makesure there are no dead limbs or branchesthat may fall on you.

CHAIN SAW OPERATION1. Stay alert. Use common sense while

operating chain saw.

2. Keep work area clean. Cluttered areasinvite injuries.

3. Be aware of extension cord while op-erating chain saw. Be careful not to tripover cord.

4. Keep children, animals, and bystand-ers away from chain saw and extensioncord. Only chain saw user should be inwork area.

5. Do not cut down a tree unless you aretrained or have expert help.

6. If two or more persons perform buck-ing and felling operations at the sametime, provide plenty of distance be-tween operations. Provide distance ofat least twice the height of tree beingfelled.

7. Secure wood you are cutting by usingclamps or chocks.

8. Grip chain saw firmly with both hands.Never operate chain saw with one hand.Never use hand guard as handle.

9. Keep finger off trigger until ready tomake cut.

10. Before starting chain saw, make surechain is not touching anything.

11. Avoid body contact with grounded ob-jects such as pipes, fences, and metalposts.

12. Keep all parts of body away from chainwhen saw is running.

13. Do not force chain saw while cutting.Apply light pressure.

14. Cut small brush and saplings with ex-treme care. Slender material may catchin chain and be whipped toward you.This could also pull you off balance.

15. When cutting limb or tree trunk that isunder tension, use extreme caution. Bealert for wood springing back. Whenwood tension is released, limb couldspring back and strike operator caus-ing severe injury or death.

16. Carry chain saw from one place to an-other• with chain saw unplugged• by holding front handle (never use

hand guard as handle)• with finger off trigger• with guide bar and chain to rear

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OWNER’S MANUAL

Direction

90°Quadrant

Figure 1 - Kickback Hazard Example.Do Not Let Nose of Guide Bar TouchObject While Chain is Moving

Do Not LetGuide BarTouch Here

PUSHBACK AND PULL-IN

Avoid pushback and pull-in. Thesehazards can cause you to losecontrol of chain saw. Pushback orpull-in can cause severe injury.

Cause Of Pushback and Pull-In

Pushback may occur while cutting with topof guide bar. Pushback will force saw backtowards you. Pull-in may occur while cut-ting with bottom of guide bar. Pull-in willforce saw in towards wood you are cutting.These hazards can occur if chain is pinched,caught or contacts a non-wood object.

The following steps will reduce the risk ofpushback or pull-in.

• Use both hands to grip saw while saw isrunning. Use firm grip. Thumbs andfingers must wrap around saw handles.

• Do not overreach or cut above shoulderheight.

• Keep solid footing and balance.

• Stand slightly to left side of saw. Thiskeeps your body from being in direct linewith chain.

• Have saw running at full speed beforestarting a cut.

• When cutting, make sure spike of saw isagainst wood (pull-in only). See Prod-uct Identification, page 4, to locate spike.

• Never try cutting through two logs atsame time. Only cut one log at a time.

• Watch for shifting of log or other forcesthat may pinch chain.

• Use extreme caution when re-entering aprevious cut.

• Do not twist saw when removing guidebar from undercut.

• Use wedges made of plastic, wood, orlight alloy (never steel or iron) to holdcut open.

KICKBACK

Avoid Kickback. Kickback cancause you to lose control ofchain saw. Kickback can causesevere injury or death.

Kickback Safety Devices OnThis Saw

This saw has a Dual Raker low-kickbackchain, reduced kickback guide bar, and aSAFE•T•TIP® anti-kickback devicemounted to tip of guide bar. These itemsreduce the chance of kickback. Kickbackcan still occur with this saw. Do not removeSAFE•T•TIP® anti-kickback device from tipof guide bar. Do not let tip of guide bar touchanything when chain is moving.

Properly install front hand guard. This itemcan reduce injuries from kickback. Followassembly instructions on page 6. Do notremove front hand guard. Do not replacefront hand guard with substitute.

Cause Of Kickback

Kickback may occur when nose or tip ofguide bar touches an object while chain ismoving. If chain cutter catches on object, asudden reverse action will result. The guidebar will kick up and back towards operator.

Kickback may also occur when woodpinches chain at guide bar nose. A suddenreverse action will also result.

The following steps will reduce the risk ofkickback.

• Do not remove SAFE•T•TIP® anti-kick-back device from tip of guide bar.

• Use both hands to grip saw while saw isrunning. Use firm grip. Thumbs and

fingers must wrap around saw handles.

• Keep all safety items in place on saw.Make sure they work properly.

• Do not overreach or cut above shoulderheight.

• Keep solid footing and balance

• Stand slightly to left side of saw. Thiskeeps your body from being in direct linewith chain.

• Do not let guide bar nose touch anythingwhen chain is moving (see Figure 1).


IMPORTANT: Make certain youread and understand all SafetyWarnings on pages 2 thru 4. Im-proper use of this chain saw cancause severe injury or death fromfire, electrical shock, body con-tact with moving chain or fallingwood.

Continued

• Never try cutting through two logs atsame time. Only cut one log at a time.

• Do not bury guide bar nose or try plungecut (boring into wood using guide barnose).

• Watch for shifting of wood or otherforces that may pinch chain.

• Use extreme caution when re-entering aprevious cut.

• Use low-kickback chain and guide barsupplied with this chain saw. Only re-place these parts with chains and guidebars listed in this manual.

• Never use dull or loose chain. Keep chainsharp and tensioned correctly.

Saw Maintenance and KickbackSafety

Follow maintenance instructions in thismanual. Proper cleaning of saw along withchain and guide bar maintainance can re-duce chances of kickback. Inspect and main-tain saw after each use. This will increasethe service life of your saw. Note: Evenwith proper sharpening, risk of kickbackcan increase with each sharpening.

SAFETYINFORMATIONContinued

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PRODUCTIDENTIFICATION

Power Cord

Rear HandGuard

RearHandle

Front HandGuard

Guide Bar

Spike

SawChain

Scabbard

Figure 2 - Electric Chain Saw

Safe•T•Tip®

Anti-KickbackDevice

Oil Cap

TriggerSwitchLockout

Motor Housing

Oil Level Sight Hole(located on saw body,hidden by front handle)

Front Handle

MAINTENANCE ANDSTORAGE OF CHAIN SAW1. Unplug chain saw from power source

• when not in use• before moving from one place to an-

other• before servicing• before changing accessories or at-

tachments

2. Inspect chain saw before and after eachuse. Check saw closely if guard or otherpart has been damaged. Check for anydamage that may affect operator safetyor operation of saw. Check for align-ment or binding of moving parts. Checkfor broken or damaged parts. Do notuse chain saw if damage affects safetyor operation. Have damage repaired byauthorized service center.

3. Maintain chain saw with care.• Never expose saw to rain.• Keep chain sharp, clean, and lubri-

cated.• Follow steps outlined in this manual

to sharpen chain.• Keep handles dry, clean, and free of

oil.• Keep all screws and nuts tight.• Inspect power cord often. If dam-

aged, have repaired by authorizedservice center.

• Never carry chain saw by powercord.

• Never yank power cord to unplug it.• Keep power cord from heat, oil, and

sharp edges.• Inspect extension cords often and

replace if damaged.

4. When servicing, use only identical re-


IMPORTANT: Make certain youread and understand all SafetyWarnings on pages 2 through 4.Improper use of this chain sawcan cause severe injury or deathfrom fire, electrical shock, bodycontact with moving chain, orfalling wood.

UNPACKING1. Remove all items from carton.

2. Check all items for any shipping dam-age. If you find any damage or if anyparts are missing, promptly informdealer where you bought chain saw.

placement parts.

5. Always store chain saw• in a high or locked place, out of

children’s reach• in a dry place• in a carrying case or with scabbard

over guide bar

Keep this manual for reference. It is yourguide to safe and proper operation of thischain saw.

SAFETYINFORMATIONContinued

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OWNER’S MANUAL

CHAIN SAW NAMESAND TERMSBucking Process of cutting a felled tree orlog into lengths.

Felling Process of cutting down a tree.

Felling Cut Final cut when felling a tree.Make this cut on opposite side of tree fromnotching cut.

Front Handle Located at front of sawbody.

Front Hand Guard Shield between fronthandle and guide bar. Protects left handwhile using saw.

Guide Bar Metal bar that extends fromsaw body. The guide bar supports and guideschain.

Guide Bar Nose Tip or end of guide bar.

Kickback Quick backward and upwardmotion of guide bar. Kickback may occurwhen tip of guide bar touches an objectwhile chain is moving. The guide bar willkick up and back towards operator.

Limbing Process of cutting limb(s) from afelled tree.

Low-Kickback Chain Chain that re-duces chance of kickback as required byANSI B175.1.

Normal Cutting Position Stance usedwhile making bucking and felling cuts.

Notching Cut Notch cut in tree thatdirects fall of tree.

Oiler Control System for oiling guide barand chain.

Power Head Chain saw without chain andguide bar. Also known as saw body.

Pushback (Kickback, Pinch) Rapidpushback of chain saw. Pushback may oc-cur if chain along top of guide bar is pinched,caught or contacts a foreign object.

Rear Handle Handle located at rear of sawbody.

Reduced Kickback Guide Bar Guidebar that reduces chance of kickback.

Replacement Chain Chain that com-plies with ANSI B175.1 when used with aspecific saw. It may not meet ANSI require-ments when used with other saws.

Saw Chain (Chain) Loop of chain havingcutting teeth for cutting wood. The motordrives chain. The guide bar supports chain.

Spiked Bumper (Spike) Pointed teeth atfront of saw body beside guide bar. Keepspiked bumper in contact with wood whenfelling or bucking. It helps maintain posi-tion of saw while cutting.

Sprocket Toothed wheel that drives chain.

Switch Device that completes or interruptselectrical circuit to motor of saw.

Switch Linkage This device connectsswitch to trigger. It moves switch when yousqueeze trigger.

Switch Lockout Device that reduces ac-cidental starting of saw.

Trigger Device that turns saw on and off.Squeezing trigger turns saw on.

Releasing trigger turns saw off.

Trimming (Pruning) Process of cuttinglimb(s) from a living tree.

Undercut An upward cut from undersideof log or limb. This is done while in normalcutting position and cutting with top ofguide bar.

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MountingStand-Outs

Guide BarBolts

Guide BarNuts

AdjustingHole

GuideBar

TappingScrew

SawChain

CuttingEdge

CuttingEdge

TowardsGuideBar Nose

Front HandGuard

DriveSprocket

Figure 3 - Assembling Guide Bar, Chain, and Hand Guard

AdjustingPlate

AdjustingScrew

SprocketSupport

Figure 4 - Part Locations For Assembling Guide Bar

AdjustingBlock

ASSEMBLY

WARNING: Cutting edges onchain are sharp. Use protectivegloves when handling chain.

IMPORTANT: Do not clamp chainsaw in vise during assembly.

The plastic hardware bag should include:

• two guide bar bolts

• two guide bar nuts

• one Phillips-head tapping screw

1. Lay chain out flat.

2. Install front hand guard onto saw body.Do this by pressing two mountingstand-outs on hand guard into hex-shaped holes in saw body (see Figure 3).

3 Insert tapping screw through handguard and into saw handle. Tightenscrew firmly.

4. Turn adjusting screw counterclockwise(see Figure 4). Continue to turn adjust-ing screw until adjusting block is to rearof adjusting plate.

5. Install guide bar onto saw body. Placerear of guide bar between adjustingplate and sprocket support.IMPORTANT: Make sure to insert ad-justing block into oval adjusting holeon guide bar.

6. Line up holes on sprocket support withcenter slot on guide bar and holes insaw body.

7. Insert guide bar bolts through fronthand guard, saw body, center slot ofguide bar, and sprocket support. Attachguide bar nuts to guide bar bolts.IMPORTANT: Tighten guide bar nutsfinger tight only. Make sure adjustingblock is in oval adjusting hole on guidebar.

8. Place chain around drive sprocket, thenalong top groove of guide bar andaround guide bar nose. Note: Makesure cutting edges of chain are facingthe right direction. Position chain socutting edges on top of guide bar faceguide bar nose (see Figure 3).

9. Adjust saw chain tension. Follow stepsunder Saw Chain Tension Adjustment,page 7.

CAUTION: Do not place chainon saw backwards. If chain isbackwards, saw will vibrate badlyand will not cut.

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OWNER’S MANUAL

1. Before adjusting chain, make sureguide bar nuts are only finger tight. Alsomake sure adjusting block is in ovaladjusting hole on guide bar.

2. Turn adjusting screw clockwise untilall slack is out of chain (see Figure 5).Note: There should be no gap betweenside links of chain and bottom of guidebar (see Figure 6).

3. Wearing protective gloves, move chainaround guide bar. Chain should movefreely. If chain does not move freely,loosen chain by turning adjusting screwcounterclockwise.

4. After chain tension is correct, tightenguide bar nuts firmly. If not, guide barwill move and loosen chain tension.This will increase the risk of kickback.This can also damage saw. Note: A newchain will stretch. Check new chainafter first few minutes of operation.Allow chain to cool down. Readjustchain tension.

SAW CHAINTENSIONADJUSTMENT

WARNING: Unplug chain sawfrom power source before adjust-ing saw chain tension.


WARNING: Maintain properchain tension always. A loosechain will increase the risk ofkickback. A loose chain may jumpout of guide bar groove. This mayinjure operator and damagechain. A loose chain will causechain, guide bar and sprocket towear rapidly.

Figure 5 - Turning Adjusting Screw

Guide Bar

Correct TensionGuide Bar

Gap

Incorrect Tension

Guide BarNuts

Figure 6 - Saw Chain Adjustment

1. Remove oil cap.

2. Fill oil tank with SAE #30 motor oil. Note: For temperatures below 30°F, use SAE#10 oil. For temperatures above 75°F, use SAE #40 oil.

3. Replace oil cap at once. Tighten oil cap firmly for good seal. This will avoid oil seep-age from tank.

4. Wipe off excess oil.

Note: It is normal for oil to seep when saw is not in use. Empty oil tank after each use toprevent seepage.

FILLINGOIL TANK

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CUTTING WITH THE CHAINSAW1. Connect saw to extension cord. Con-

nect extension cord to power supply.

2. Make sure section of log to be cut isnot laying on ground. This will keepchain from touching ground as it cutsthrough log. Touching ground withmoving chain will dull chain.

3. Use both hands to grip saw. Always useleft hand to grip front handle and righthand to grip rear handle. Use firm grip.Thumbs and fingers must wrap aroundsaw handles (see Figure 9).

4. Make sure your footing is firm. Keepfeet apart. Divide your weight evenlyon both feet.

Figure 9 - Switch Lockout and Trigger Location

5. When ready to make a cut, press inswitch lockout with right thumb andsqueeze trigger (see Figure 9). This willturn saw on. Releasing trigger will turnsaw off. Make sure saw is running atfull speed before starting a cut.

6. When starting a cut, place movingchain against wood. Hold saw firmlyin place to avoid possible bouncing orskating (sideways movement) of saw.

7. Guide saw using light pressure. Donot force saw. The motor willoverload and can burn out.

8. Remove saw from a cut with sawrunning at full speed. Stop saw byreleasing trigger. Make sure chainhas stopped before setting sawdown.

9. Practice until you can maintain asteady, even cutting rate.

SwitchLockout

Trigger

OPERATING CHAINSAW

EXTENSION CORDSUse proper extension cords with this saw.Use only extension cords marked for out-door use. The cord must be marked withsuffix W-A following the cord type designa-tion. Example: SJTW-A.

Use proper sized cord with this saw. Cordmust be heavy enough to carry currentneeded. An undersized cord will cause volt-age drop at saw. Saw will lose power andoverheat. Follow cord size requirementslisted below.

Cord Length AWG Cord Size25 feet 1650 feet 16

100 feet 14150 feet 12

Keep cord away from cutting area. Makesure cord does not catch on branches or logsduring cutting. Inspect cords often. Replacedamaged cords.

The extension cord may come undone fromthe power cord during use. To avoid this,make a knot with the two cords as shown inFigure 7 below.

ExtensionCord

Chain SawPower Cord

Figure 7 - Tying Extension Cord and PowerCord in Knot

WARNING: Read and under-stand this owner’s manual be-fore operating this saw. Makecertain you read and understandall Safety Warnings. Improper useof this chain saw can cause se-vere injury or death from fire,electrical shock or body contactwith moving chain, or fallingwood.

OILING CHAINAlways check oil level before using saw. Tooil chain, press oil cap. Oil will feed ontoguide bar and chain. Press oil cap at leastonce before each cut. Check oil level oftenby looking at oil level sight hole. Oil levelsight hole is on left side of saw, betweenfront handle and front hand guard.

Figure 8 - Pressing Oil Cap to Oil Chain

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OWNER’S MANUAL

OPERATING CHAINSAWContinued

FELLING A TREE (Cutting Downa Tree)

Felling is the process of cutting down a tree.Make sure your footing is firm. Keep feetapart. Divide your weight evenly on bothfeet. Follow directions below to fell a tree.

Before Felling a Tree1. Before felling, inspect tree. Make sure

there are no dead limbs or branches thatmay fall on you. Study natural lean oftree, location of larger branches, andwind direction. This will help you judgewhich way tree will fall.

2. Clear work area around tree.

3. Plan and clear a retreat path before fell-ing. Make retreat path opposite toplanned direction of fall of tree and at45° angle (see Figure 10).

WARNING:• Avoid kickback. Kickback can

result in severe injury or death.See KICKBACK, page 3 toavoid risk of kickback.

• Do not fell a tree without ampleskill or expert help.

• Keep children, animals, andbystanders away from areawhen felling a tree.

• If two or more persons per-form bucking and felling op-erations at the same time, pro-vide ample distance betweenoperations. Provide distanceof at least twice the height oftree being felled.

RetreatPath

45°

WARNING: When felling atree, be aware of your surround-ings. Do not endanger any per-son, strike utility lines, or causeproperty damage. If tree strikesutility lines, contact utility com-pany at once.

Figure 10 - Retreat Path From Tree

Direction of Fall

RetreatPath

Tree

4. Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, nails,staples, and wire from tree where youwill make felling cuts.

5. Stay on uphill side when felling tree.Tree could roll or slide downhill afterfalling.

FELLING PROCEDURE

Felling Notch

A properly placed felling notch will deter-mine direction tree will fall. Place fellingnotch on side of tree in direction you wanttree to fall (see Figure 11). Follow direc-tions on page 16 to create a felling notch.

1. Make lower notch cut as close toground as possible. Hold saw so guidebar is horizontal. Cut 1/3 the diameterof tree trunk (see Figure 11). Note: Al-ways make this horizontal lower notchcut first. If you make this cut second,tree can pinch chain or guide bar.

2. Start upper notch cut the same distanceabove first cut as first cut is deep.

Example: If lower notch cut is eightinches deep, start upper notch cut eightinches above it. Cut downward at 45°angle. The upper notch cut should meetend of lower notch cut (see Figure 11).

3. Remove tree trunk wedge created bynotching cuts.

Felling Cut1. Make felling cut two inches higher than

lower notch cut and on opposite sideof tree (see Figure 11). Keep felling cutparallel to lower notch cut.

2. Cut towards notch.

3. As felling cut nears hinge, tree shouldbegin to fall. Note: If needed, drivewedges into felling cut to control di-rection of fall. If tree settles back andpinches chain, drive wedges into fell-ing cut to remove saw. Only use wedgesmade of wood, plastic, or aluminum.Never use wedge made of steel. Thiscould cause kickback and damage tochain.

4. When tree begins to fall, quickly• remove saw from felling cut• release trigger to turn saw off• put saw down• exit area using retreat path

Continued

Figure 11 - Felling A Tree

Directionof Fall

2"1st Cut -LowerNotch Cut

2nd Cut -UpperNotch Cut

Hinge

2"

3rd Cut -FellingCut

WARNING: Do not cut all theway through tree. Leave abouttwo inches of tree diameter un-cut directly behind felling notch(see Figure 11). This uncut por-tion acts as a hinge. The hingehelps keep tree from twisting andfalling in wrong direction.

WARNING: Be alert for fallingoverhead limbs. Watch your foot-ing while exiting area.

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Bucking a log is cutting a log into sections.Make sure your footing is firm. Keep feetapart. Divide your weight evenly on bothfeet. When possible, raise log or section offground. Do this by using limbs, logs, chocks,etc.

When cutting through log, maintain controlby reducing cutting pressure near end of cut.Do not relax your grip on chain saw handles.Do not let moving chain touch ground.Ground will dull moving chain. After cut-ting through log, release trigger to turn sawoff before moving saw.

Follow directions below to buck a log.

Figure 13 - Bucking Log With EntireLength On Ground

WARNING: Avoid kickback.Kickback can result in severe in-jury or death. See Kickback, page3, to avoid risk of kickback.

WARNING:• If on slope, make sure log will

not roll down hill. Secure logby using wooden stakes. Drivewooden stakes into ground ondownhill side of log. Stand onuphill side of log while cutting.Log may roll after cutting.

• Never try cutting through twologs at same time. This couldincrease the risk of kickback.

• While cutting log, never holdlog with your hand, leg, or foot.

• While cutting log, never allowanother person to hold log.

• Turn off and unplug saw be-fore moving from one place toanother.

LIMBING A TREE

Figure 12 - Limbing A Tree

WARNING: When cutting limbthat is under tension, use extremecaution. Be alert for wood spring-ing back. When wood tension isreleased, limb could spring backand strike operator causing se-vere injury or death.



Limbing is removing branches from a fallentree. Make sure your footing is firm. Keepfeet apart. Divide your weight evenly onboth feet. Do not remove larger limbs undertree that support log off ground. Removeeach limb with one cut (see Figure 12).Clear cut limbs from work area often. Thiswill help maintain a safe work area.

Make sure you start your cut where limbwill not pinch saw during cutting. To avoidpinching, start cut on freely hanging limbsfrom above limb. Start cut on limbs undertension from under limb. If pinch occurs,turn saw off, lift limb, and remove saw.

BUCKING A LOG

Figure 14 - Bucking Log When Log IsSupported On One End

1st Cut

2nd Cut

Entire Length Of Log OnGround

Cut log from top (see Figure 13).

Log Supported On One End1. Make first cut on underside of log (see

Figure 14). Use top of guide bar tomake this cut. Cut 1/3 through diam-eter of log. This cut will keep sectionfrom splintering when cut.

2. Make second cut directly above firstcut. Cut down to meet first cut. Thiscut will keep log from pinching guidebar and chain.

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OWNER’S MANUAL


1st Cut

Figure 15 - Bucking Log When Log IsSupported On Both Ends

2nd Cut

TRIMMING A TREE(PRUNING)

2" to 4"

6"

1st Cut - Pruning Undercut(to avoid splintering)

3rd Cut - StubUndercut(to avoid splintering)

Figure 16 - Cutting A Limb

2nd Cut - Pruning Cut(to avoid pinching)4th Cut - Final

Stub Cut

Trimming a tree is the process of cuttinglimbs from a living tree. Make sure yourfooting is firm. Keep feet apart. Divide yourweight evenly on both feet. Follow direc-tions below to trim a tree.

1. Make first cut six inches from tree trunkon underside of limb. Use top of guidebar to make this cut. Cut 1/3 throughdiameter of limb (see Figure 16).

2. Move two to four inches farther out onlimb. Make second cut from abovelimb. Continue cut until you cut limboff.

3. Make third cut as close to tree trunk aspossible on underside of limb stub. Usetop of guide bar to make this cut. Cut1/3 through diameter of stub.

4. Make fourth cut directly above thirdcut. Cut down to meet third cut. Thiswill remove limb stub.

CAUTION: Seek professionalhelp if facing conditions beyondyour ability.

WARNING: Do not cut limbshigher than your shoulders.

WARNING: Do not operatechain saw while• in a tree• on a ladder or any other un-

stable surface• in any awkward positionYou may lose control of saw caus-ing severe injury.


Log Supported On Both Ends1. Make first cut from above log (see Fig-

ure 15). Cut 1/3 through diameter oflog. This cut will keep section fromsplintering when cut.

2. Make second cut on underside of log,directly under first cut. Use top of guidebar to make this cut. Cut up to meetfirst cut. This will keep log from pinch-ing guide bar and chain.

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Figure 18 - Guide Bar Maintenance

Flat File Burr

Oil Slot

Cleaning Groove WithPutty Knife

GuideBar

Keep saw body clean. Use a soft cloth damp-ened with a mild soap and water mixture.Wipe saw body to clean.

CARE OF GUIDE BARUneven bar wear causes most guide barproblems. Incorrect sharpening of chain cut-ter and depth gauge settings often cause this.When bar wears unevenly, it widens guidebar groove (see Figure 17). This causeschain clatter and rivet popping. Saw will notcut straight. Replace guide bar if this occurs.

Inspect guide bar before sharpening chain.A worn or damaged guide bar is unsafe. Aworn or damaged guide bar will damagechain. It will also make cutting harder.

CLEANING ANDMAINTENANCE

NOTICE: Below are instructionsfor servicing your chain saw. Anyservicing not mentioned belowshould be done by an authorizedservice center.

Guide BarGroove

Guide Bar

Normal Guide Bar Guide Bar WithUneven Wear

Figure 17 - Guide Bar Cross Section Showing Uneven Bar Wear

Guide BarGroove

Guide Bar


WARNING: Unplug chain sawfrom power source before ser-vicing. Severe injury or deathcould occur from electrical shockor body contact with movingchain.

WARNING: When cleaningsaw body,• do not submerge saw in any

liquids• do not use products that con-

tain ammonia, chlorine, orabrasives

• do not use chlorinated clean-ing solvents, carbon tetrachlo-ride, kerosene, or gasoline

CLEANING SAW BODY

Normal Guide Bar Maintenance1. Remove guide bar from chain saw.

2. Remove sawdust from guide bar groove periodically. Use putty knife or wire.

3. Clean oil slots after each day of use.

4. Remove burrs from sides of guide bar. Use flat file to make side edges square.

Replace guide bar when• bar is bent or cracked• inside groove of bar is badly worn

Note: When replacing guide bar, see Replacement Parts and Accessories, page 14 forproper bar.

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OWNER’S MANUAL

CLEANING ANDMAINTENANCEContinued

Kickback-suppressing type 35-MD50 semi-chisel tooth, 3/8" pitch, Dual Raker sawchain has two rakers (depth gauges) insteadof just one gauge preceding each tooth.When chain contact is made within thekickback zone of a guide bar nose, the tworakers provide sufficient support to preventthe cutters from pulling themselves deeplyinto the wood. Thus the tendency toward aviolent kickback reaction is suppressed orreduced.

Keep chain sharp. Your saw will cut fasterand more safely. A dull chain will causeundue sprocket, guide bar, chain and motorwear. If you must force chain into wood andcutting creates only sawdust with few largechips, chain is dull.

Items Needed to Sharpen Chain

Purchase these items from your local dealer,hardware store, or chain saw supplies outlet.

ITEM PART NO.File Holder ........................... DA-92617-A

Includes Round

File - 5/32" (4 mm) dia. ..... D-92604-A

Round File -

1/8" (3.2 mm) dia. ............. 92605

Flat File -(for depth gauges) ..........D-92609-A

Depth Gauge Filing

Tool - .020" (0.5mm) .....D-92630-C

WARNING: Unplug chain sawfrom power source before ser-vicing. Severe injury or deathcould occur from electrical shockor body contact with movingchain.


SHARPENING YOURHOMELITE® DUAL RAKERSAW CHAIN

Sharpening Cutters

Use file holder for 30° filing.

1. Adjust chain for proper tension (seeSaw Chain Tension Adjustment, page 7).

2. Clamp guide bar in vise to hold sawsteady. Note: Do not clamp chain.

3. Press 5/32" round file (attached to fileholder) into groove between top plateand depth gauges on chain. File holdershould rest on top plate of cutter tooth(see Figures 19 and 20). Note: File atmidpoint of guide bar.

FILE

HO

LDE

R

4. Hold file holder level. Make sure 30°mark on file holder is parallel to centerof guide bar (see Figure 19). This willinsure that you file cutters at 30° angle.

5. File from inside towards outside of cut-ter until sharp. Only file in this one di-rection (see Figure 19). Note: Two orthree strokes with file should sharpencutter.

6. After sharpening each cutter, movechain forward to sharpen next cutter.File all cutters on one side of chain.

7. Move to other side of chain and repeatprocess.

30° GuideMark

FileHolder

5/32"RoundFile

Note: This illustrationshows file holderplacement and filingdirection for sharpeningcutters on left side ofchain.

FilingDirection

Figure 19 - File and File Holder Placement On Chain

Top Plate(right sideof chain)

Groove

Top Plate(left sideof chain)

Right Side ofChain

Left Side of Chain

Figure 20 - Chain Part Locations

GrooveDepthGauges

Continued

14 099732


If storing saw for more than 30 days, followsteps below.

1. Drain oil tank.

2. Remove and clean guide bar and chain.Clean guide bar and chain by soakingin petroleum based solvent or mild soapand water mixture.

3. Dry guide bar and chain.

4. Place chain in container filled with oil.This will prevent rust.

5. Wipe a thin coating of oil over surfaceof guide bar.

6. Wipe off outside of saw body. Do thiswith soft cloth dampened with a mildsoap and water mixture.

7. Store chain saw• in a high or locked place, out of chil-

dren 's reach• in a dry place• in a carrying case or with scabbard

over guide bar

STORAGECLEANING ANDMAINTENANCEContinued

Figure 21 - Depth Gauge Filing Tool OnChain

After several hand filings, have authorizedservice center or sharpening service ma-chine sharpen chain. This will insure evenfiling.

Replacing Saw Chain

Replace chain when cutters are too worn tosharpen or when chain breaks. Only useDual Raker low-kickback chain noted inthis manual. Note: For proper chain, seeReplacement Parts and Accessories.

Front Corner

Figure 22 - Round Off Front Corner OfDepth Gauges

Depth GaugeFiling Tool

Flat File

DepthGauges

DepthGaugeSlot

Filing Cutter Depth Gauges

The cutter depth gauge clearance is reducedas cutters are sharpened. After every secondor third sharpening, reset cutter depth gauges.

1. Place depth gauge filing tool firmlyacross top of two cutters. Make suredepth gauges enters slot in depth gaugefiling tool (see Figure 21).

2. Use medium flat file. File depth gaugeslevel with depth gauge filing tool.

3. Remove depth gauge filing tool. Withflat file, round off front corner of cutterdepth gauges (see Figure 22).

REPLACEMENTPARTS ANDACCESSORIES

Purchase these parts and accessories fromyour local dealer.

EL-12Part Number DescriptionNE-12001-G7 Guide Bar, 12"H1-N7245-AH Saw Chain, 12"

(Type 35-MD50-45)

EL-16Part Number DescriptionNE-16001-G7 Guide Bar, 16"H1-N7255-AH Saw Chain, 16"

(Type 35-MD50-55)

Note: Only use original replacement parts.This will protect your warranty coverage forparts replaced under warranty.

Warranty Service

If saw requires warranty service, return it tonearest authorized service center. You mustshow proof of purchase. If faulty materialsor workmanship caused damage, we willrepair or replace saw without charge.

Non-Warranty Service

If saw requires service, return it to nearestauthorized service center. Repairs will bebilled to you at regular repair list prices.Note: Normal wear, misuse, abuse, neglect,or accidental damage is not covered underwarranty.

REPAIR SERVICE

WARNING: Use only replace-ment parts and accessories de-scribed in this manual. Use ofother parts or accessories coulddamage saw or injure operator.

15099732

OWNER’S MANUAL

TROUBLESHOOTING

OBSERVED PROBLEM

Saw runs, but does not cut.

Saw does not cut unless heavily forced.Cutting produces only sawdust with fewlarge chips.

Saw runs slow. Saw stalls easily.

Motor of saw does not run when you squeezetrigger.

Motor of saw runs, but chain does not move.

Chain does not get oil.

Chain comes off guide bar.

Saw smokes.

Saw leaks oil.

POSSIBLE CAUSE

1. Chain assembled backwards on guidebar

1. Chain is dull

1. Low power supply voltage

1. Switch lockout not pressed in to releasetrigger

2. Extension cord connections loose

3. Open line fuse or circuit breaker

4. Bad motor brushes

5. Open wiring circuit on saw

1. Gear train failure

1. Clogged oil slot in guide bar

2. Oil is too thick

1. Chain is loose

2. Guide bar and chain not assembled right

1. Saw damaged. Do not use saw.

1. Oil cap is not secure.

REMEDY

1. See Assembly, page 6

1. See Sharpening your Homelite® DualRaker Saw Chain, page 13

1. Extension cord wire size too small. SeeExtension Cords, page 8

1. Press in switch lockout before squeez-ing trigger

2. Check cord connections

3. Check line fuse or circuit breaker

4. Have repaired by authorized service center



1. Remove guide bar and clean oil slot

2. Use correct weight of oil. See Filling OilTank, page 7

1. Tighten chain. See Saw Chain TensionAdjustment, page 7

2. See Assembly, page 6


1. Tighten oil cap. Note: Empty oil tankwhen not in use.

WARNING: Unplug chain saw from power source before servicing.Severe injury or death could occur from electrical shock or body contactwith moving chain.

WARNING ICON G 001

SYMBOL DEFINITIONS

G 0

18

Man Reading Icon G037

THIS SAFE•T•TIPDEVICE ON YOURBAR NOSEPREVENTSKICKBACK

THIS SYMBOLINDICATES DANGEROR WARNING.

DO NOT USEONE-HANDED.

HOLD SAWPROPERLY WITHBOTH HANDS.

READ YOURPRODUCTLITERATURE.

DANGER!BEWARE OF KICK-BACK.

AVOID BAR NOSECONTACT.

WEAR HEARING ANDEYE PROTECTIONDEVICES.

DIAGONAL LINEACROSS A SYMBOL“PROHIBITED” OR“TO BE AVOIDED.”

G 015

CUSTOMER ASSISTANCEFOR THE LOCATION OF YOUR NEAREST HOMELITE SERVICING DEALER IN THE UNITEDSTATES, PUERTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

CALL: 1-800-242-4672NOTE: DEALER INFORMATION, TECHNICAL ADVICE AND PRODUCT INFORMATION

CAN BE OBTAINED AT THIS NUMBER.

HEADQUARTERSHOMELITE DIVISION OF TEXTRON INC.

P.O. BOX 7047CHARLOTTE, N.C. 28241

OVERSEAS OFFICESNETHERLANDS

HOMELITE TEXTRONDIVISION OF TEXTRON ATLANTIC

(HDQS. — Europe, Africa and Middle East)Haverstraat 24

2153 GB Nieuw VennnepThe Netehrlands

AUSTRALIAHOMELITE DIVISION OF TEXTRON PACIFIC LIMITED

HEADQUARTERS22 Terra - Cotta Drive

Blackburn, 3130Victoria, Australia

FRANCEHOMELITE TEXTRON

UNE DIVISION DE TEXTRONS.A.R.L.

Z.I. du vert-GalantRue du Chateau/Rue de la Garenne

95310 Saint=Quen-L’AumoneFrance

CANADIAN OFFICESHOMELITE

HDIVISION OF TEXTRON CANADA LIMITED1850 55th Avenue

Lacine, Quebec, CanadaH8T 3J5

212-214 590 Ebury PlaceAnnacis Island

delta, British ColumbiaV3M 6K7

595 Canarctic DriveDownsview (Toronto)

Ontario, CanadaM3J 2P9

16520-111th AvenueEdmonton, Alberta

T5M 3V8

691 Malenfant Blve.Dieppe Industrial Park

Dieppe, New BrunswickE1A 5T8

Homelite Division of Textron Inc.

1192

1

099732-01REV. E9/97

099732 01

NOT A UPC

Documents

EL12 and EL16 - OwnerIQ