Drop start & kickback experiences

[Kelvin]

I’ll be honest when I was younger and always in a rush I fell for the old 'hold the throttle and drop the bar' trick. Now that I think about it that was pretty foolish.

Have you ever had a close call with drop starting or kickback? We’d love for you to share your stories, tips, or any lessons you’ve learned from those experiences!

 

[Jeff_W]

My close call was probably when drop starting a large saw. The saw started fine, but my foot slipped on some pine needles, and I almost lost control of the running saw as I fell back.
drop starting is not worth the risk if you can secure the saw on the ground. If you must drop start, always make sure you are on absolutely stable ground, have both hands secured on the handles before the pull, and maintain a clear, unobstructed zone around your feet. A split second of imbalance can take you to the ER

 

[Alan]

That was a pretty scary close call! You made a great point about the importance of stable ground and control, definitely a crucial safety reminder.