Visit by "Mr. Lucky"

Richard · Nov 2, 2001

Visit by \"Mr. Lucky\"

Just another reminder to NEVER forget about safety...

When I got home from work, it was warm outside and I WAS going to change into shorts...I did not by happenstance.

I worked on a 5-minute project last night. Needed to take loader, pick up downed cedar tree/log and make 3 simple cuts in the 20” trunk to make myself two “tables” out of log to set my propane tanks on.

Fired up Brutus, picked up the tree drove it to the field for slaying. Grabbed chainsaw, helmet/ear protection & gloves. I checked chain for tension and all was fine. I did NOT put on my chaps, after all, I was only going to make 3 quick, simple cuts.

The saw was BUZZING at full RPM while I was making the third and final cut when it happened. Something (?) happened, pinched blade maybe, and whammo, chain came FLYING off bar and slapped the dickens out of my right knee. I just stood there with a real sinking feeling. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif I stopped saw, looked down at knee and saw....nothing. I just knew my knee had been sliced. My main thought (that I can say publicly) was “#$@(&^ why didn’t I put my chaps on”. Of course it was now...too late. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

It was about then that I realized that I did not see any blood nor any tear in pants. I was ok. I suppose the chain had grabbed the little catch bar on the bottom of saw and stopped it’s rotation but not it’s inertia. My knee was sore for maybe 5 minutes but you couldn’t tell that anything had happened. No cut, no bruise, no dirt from contact...no nothing. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif The chain was junked as the drive links got “buggered” (by the catcher I think).

Heck...I don’t really know what happened and why my knee wasn’t sliced...maybe it’s because I have blue eyes?
All I really know for sure is I was VERY lucky and the score by accident is:

“Mr. Stihl” = 0
“Mr. Lucky” = 1

I’ll take a little bit of luck ANY day, but my intent from now forward is to NEVER give "Mr. Luck" the opportunity to "not" shine his smile on me. Meaning...if I grab saw, I grab in full battle gear. This way, I can do MY best to make my own luck.

Hopefully if this influences someone, it might make their day a bit more lucky.

Richard

Joe_W · Nov 2, 2001

Re: Visit by \"Mr. Lucky\"

Thanks for the reminder to think safety when using tools. I know I can't be reminded too often, as I often get in a hurry to finish a job, and I'm lazy by nature when it comes to putting on my chaps. I probably use my Stihl helmet 99% of the time, but my chaps maybe 75% of the time. Now if I can only remember your warning, as I'm in the early stages of pre-Alzheimers. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
Joe W.

MossRoad · Nov 2, 2001

Re: Visit by \"Mr. Lucky\"

Good lesson for all. I was reading last week the post about mowers sending debris through all kinds of stuff. It made me think. So last weekend the kids and wife were helping rake leave while I mowed. I made sure to mow on the opposite side of the house from them at all times. Made the job take a little longer, but peace of mind is worth it.

 MossRoad

TerryinMD · Nov 2, 2001

Re: Visit by "Mr. Lucky"

Richard,

Very lucky and good for you! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I've often wondered if the chain could fly off. It has never happened to me (knock on wood). /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Has anyone else heard of this? How old was the chain?

Terry

MikePA · Nov 2, 2001

Re: Visit by \"Mr. Lucky\"

I've had a chain come off the bar, but it never came out of the saw. It always jammed back at the sprocket. It happened, I think, because the chain was too loose and I didn't notice it.

ronjhall · Nov 2, 2001

Re: Visit by \"Mr. Lucky\"

Richard
Thanks for the influence. I'm going to be cutting an old apple tree down tomorrow. It never hurts having reminders when it comes to safety.

bgott · Nov 2, 2001

Re: Visit by \"Mr. Lucky\"

I have a Craftsman ( Poulan) POS that I'm going to retire. I've spit the chain off of it more times than I can remember. I've never been hit from the chain coming loose but I've busted the chain hitting metal in the tree. Having that broken chain fly back and slap Mr. Lucky will definitely show you the error of your ways!/w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

HR_Mutt · Nov 3, 2001

Re: Visit by \"Mr. Lucky\"

Richard
The Stihl Attack continues!!
I rested mine on my upper leg after making a cut(that old left shoulder ache thing). Bet you know what's next/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif.
It didn't cut leg but the ferrets have a modified pair of jeans to play in.
regards
Mutt

Edited by HR_Mutt on 11/03/01 07:34 AM (server time).

TerryinMD · Nov 3, 2001

Re: Visit by \"Mr. Lucky\"

bgott,

I have a Craftsman (Poulan) 18" bar myself.

I've never had any problems with the chain breaking or coming off. Maybe its the amount of usage. When I first got it, I lived in house with a woodstove. After we moved, we never had another woodstove. So, the chainsaw usage is down to a couple of times a year to clean up downed trees and branches.

Terry

jhburke · Nov 3, 2001

Re: Visit by \"Mr. Lucky\"

When I was in grade school my dad bough a sawmill. I have used chain saws for years. My dad started me out with a saw and he set it so it wouldn't idle. Reason being if you didn't keep poping the throttle it would die. That way if for any reason you got hung up it would die instead sawing something you didn't want sawed on. It also had the added factor of keeping you focused on what you were doing. This was long before OSHA. My brothers and I spent almost 10 years in this work and never were hurt. Saying this it still is appropriate to take all safe guards that you can. Our safe guard was our dad. He brooked no slacking of alertnes to what could happen. JIM

Boondox · Nov 3, 2001

Re: Visit by \"Mr. Lucky\"

Thanks for posting this, Richard. I was getting pretty lazy about putting on the chaps for "just a couple of cuts" till I read of your experience. It made me realize how quickly an idyllic country day can turn tragic. So I dug out the chaps and draped them over the Husky as a reminder to put them on before using the saw. Thanks again for sharing.

Pete

www.GatewayToVermont.com

beenthere · Nov 3, 2001

Re: Visit by "Mr. Lucky"

Good reminders. I will not fire up the saw without the chaps on. A few years back I was cutting small trees (about 1 to 2 inch diameter), and working among the stumps. The saw handle caught on a stump and my leg moved forward into the running chain (the day before I left for my elk hunt). The kevlar in the chaps wrapped around the clutch and shut down the chain so quick, I didn't know what happened at first. Not a scratch. I thought about missing that elk hunt often, but glad I didn't have to.
I heard a chain saw expert say once that it isn't a question of whether you will get injured using a chain saw, but only when. I think about that statement often when I use my Stihl. Not to be morbid, but you are better off cutting yourself with a sharp axe, as it is easier to sew up the wound. A chainsaw will remove about 1/4" of tendons, muscle, nerves, etc that is difficult to repair (so I hear).

bgott · Nov 4, 2001

Re: Visit by \"Mr. Lucky\"

This thing was probably defective and I just screwed up and didn't take it back. To keep from losing a chain I had to tighten the chain every half a cut on 12'' logs and bigger probably five or six times or off it went. I changed the bar thinking that would solve the problem and it didn't. The saw got to the point where it would cut a semi-circle. I checked the sprocket and it looks O.K.. I have a guy working for me that thinks that the anti-vibration springs in the handle must be of differing tensions letting the saw turn. I'm trying to find a good deal on either an Echo or a Stihl. The local small engine shop stocks Echo but he won't deal and I've seen Stihls on sale but the dealer is across town. I want to wait but I have a bunch of cutting to do. I might just buy an $89 special and chunk it once a year, or go sell 'em at the pawn shop when they get to be a PITA!

Richard · Nov 5, 2001

Re: Visit by \"Mr. Lucky\"

The chain was essentially brand new. I had installed it as a new chain to cut a ~24" diamater dead oak tree that was by county road. I cut that single tree down and cut maybe 4 8 to 10 inch branches off of it. Those are the only cuts/useage on the chain prior to this event. Again, I want to make emphatic that prior to usage, I DID check the tightness of chain and it was snug on bar. I really suspect it got pinched somehow as the log gave way. The chain stayed on the sprocket, but from the powerhead forward, that entire length of chain is what somehow reached back and hit my knee.

Richard

dmccarty · Nov 6, 2001

Re: Visit by \"Mr. Lucky\"

Mr. Lucky,

I had this happen to me back in September. I know my chain was pinched and pulled off by a limb. It was a 3-4 inch limb that was under some tension and I was pushing which I should not have been doing. I had just refueled/reoiled and checked the chain. The chain catcher on the bottom of the saw caught the chain but it still slapped my leg. I was wearing my chaps! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I have only TRIED to use the saw once or twice without the chaps but I have caught myself and stopped before actually cutting.

My chain looked to be in good condition after it was pulled off the bar. One link was bent slightly so the chain wont run in the bar. I figure I could bend the link BUT I'm not pushing my luck. The chain will eventually get thrown out. Tain't worth $25 to run any risk......

Thanks for posting your incident. It will help other people!
Dan McCarty

jhburke · Nov 6, 2001

Re: Visit by \"Mr. Lucky\"

If your chain has more life in it, just take it to a saw shop and have them replace the bent link. When dad had sawmill we did it ourselves as dad had a saw dealership and repair shop. JIM

kcbarnes · Nov 7, 2001

Re: Visit by \"Mr. Lucky\"

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Because of you I blew the dust off my chaps and put them to use. I have also asked santa for a logger helmet, the one with the face screen and ear muffs.

Kevin

TimSullivan · Nov 19, 2001

Re: Visit by \"Mr. Lucky\"

Read your post and ordered chaps and helmet with face mask and ear muffs. I have been using a chain saw for forty years and have not had an accident, just some close calls. I figured it was time to be smarter and safer. Thanks for the post, it got me thinking.

duckboy · Nov 21, 2001

Re: Visit by \"Mr. Lucky\"

It is a good thing to share experiences, as it reminds us to be careful. Oh, but for the grace of God go I........
I am lucky to have a left leg today as a result of a chain saw accident. Even doing something as carefully as possible can still have danger present. Once, after falling a 10" tree, I was
reminded of that. As the tree was falling, I backed away to be clear, and shut the saw off, lowering it to the carrying position. As I backed up, my left leg hit a small branch in the undergrowth, which acted like a spring when it released from another branch. My leg was pushed forward, right into the saw and the chain, which was slowing to a stop. I felt no pain, but looking into the slice in my jeans, I could see my kneecap, from an inside view. Oops.... 60 stitches. I do have a good scar to remind me of that day, but it just dosen't seem to be in the right place to remind me to be careful everyday. That happened 15 years ago, and I sit here today
recovering from a dislocated hip after falling 10 feet from a ladder while cleaning gutters last week. Just trying to go too fast because I had other things to do. Now I have too much time, just not able to do those other 'things' I had to do. I think I will get that tattoo on my forehead....DIPUTS, so when I can make it to a mirror, I will have a reminder to do a little more thinking before acting.

PR