Ryobi Chainsaw P540 User Manual

OPERATOR’S MANUAL  
18 VOLT cHAIN SAW  
P540  
P540A  
P540B  
AccEPTS ALL ONE+  
BATTERY PAcKS  
BATTERIES ANd cHARGERS  
SOLd SEPARATELY  
Your chain saw has been engineered and manufactured to our high standard for dependability, ease of operation, and  
operator safety. When properly cared for, it will give you years of rugged, trouble-free performance.  
WARNING: To reduce the risk of injury, the user must read and understand the operator's manual before using  
this product.  
Thank you for your purchase.  
SAVE THIS MANUAL FOR FUTURE REFERENcE  
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TABLE OF cONTENTS  
Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................ꢀ  
General Safety Rules.....................................................................................................................................................3-5  
Specific Safety Rules.........................................................................................................................................................6  
Symbols.........................................................................................................................................................................7-8  
Features.............................................................................................................................................................................9  
Assembly.........................................................................................................................................................................10  
Operation...................................................................................................................................................................10-18  
Maintenance..............................................................................................................................................................19-ꢀ5  
Troubleshooting...............................................................................................................................................................ꢀ6  
Warranty ..........................................................................................................................................................................ꢀ7  
Parts Ordering / Service ....................................................................................................................................Back Page  
INTROdUcTION  
This product has many features for making its use more pleasant and enjoyable. Safety, performance, and dependability  
have been given top priority in the design of this product making it easy to maintain and operate.  
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GENERAL SAFETY RULES  
Keep handles dry, clean, and free of oil and grease.  
WARNING:  
Do not operate a chain saw that is damaged, improperly  
adjusted,ornotcompletelyandsecurelyassembled.Chain  
should stop turning when the trigger is released. If the  
chain turns after the trigger has been released, have the  
unit serviced by your nearest Ryobi service dealer.  
Do not attempt to operate this unit until you have read  
thoroughly and understand completely all instructions,  
safety information, etc. contained in this manual. Failure  
to comply can result in accidents involving fire, electric  
shock, or serious personal injury.  
Checkfordamagedparts.Anypartorguardthathasbeen  
damaged should be carefully checked to determine that  
it will operate properly and perform its intended function.  
Check for alignment of moving parts, binding of moving  
parts, breakage of parts, mounting, and any other condi-  
tions that may affect its operation. A guard or other part  
that is damaged should be properly repaired or replaced  
byanauthorizedservicedealerunlessotherwiseindicated  
elsewhere in this manual.  
REAd ALL INSTRUcTIONS  
BASIc SAFETY PREcAUTIONS  
Do not operate a chain saw with one hand! Use a firm grip  
with thumbs and fingers encircling the chain saw handles.  
Serious injury to the operator, helpers, bystanders, or any  
combinationofthesepersonsmayresultfromone-handed  
operation. A chain saw is intended for two-handed use.  
All chain saw service, other than the items listed in the  
operationandmaintenancesections,shouldbeperformed  
by your nearest Ryobi service dealer.  
Always be aware of what you are doing when using the  
chain saw. Use common sense. Do not operate the chain  
saw when you are tired, ill, or under the influence of al-  
cohol, drugs, or medication.  
Do not use in the rain, snow or wet conditions.  
Always maintain a proper stance. Do not overreach.  
Do not adapt your powerhead to a bow guide or use it  
to power any attachments or devices not listed for the  
saw.  
Stay alert and pay attention to what you are doing. Use  
common sense when using this unit.  
Keep all parts of your body away from the saw chain  
Do not cut vines and/or small underbrush.  
when the unit is running.  
Always carry the chain saw by the front handle with the  
unit stopped and the guide bar and saw chain positioned  
to the rear. When transporting your chain saw, use the  
appropriate guide bar scabbard.  
SAFETY APPAREL  
Wearsnugfittingclothing.Alwayswearheavy,longpants,  
overalls, jeans or chaps made of cut resistant material or  
onesthatcontaincutresistantinserts.Wearnon-slipsafety  
footwear. Wear non-slip heavy duty gloves to improve  
your grip and to protect your hands. Do not wear jewelry,  
short pants, sandals, or go barefoot. Do not wear loose  
fitting clothing, which could be drawn into the motor or  
catch the chain or underbrush. Secure hair so it is above  
shoulder level.  
Neverletanyoneuseyourchainsawwhohasnotreceived  
adequate instructions in its proper use. This applies to  
rentals as well as privately owned saws.  
Before you start the unit, make sure the saw chain is not  
contacting any object.  
Stop the chain saw before setting it down. Do not leave  
the unit running unattended.  
WeareyeprotectionwhichismarkedtocomplywithANSI  
Z87.1 as well as hearing and head protection when oper-  
ating this equipment.  
Toavoidaccidentalstarting, nevercarrytheunitwithyour  
finger on the trigger.  
Maintain the unit with care. Keep the cutting edge sharp  
and clean for best performance and to reduce the risk  
of injury. Follow instructions for lubricating and changing  
accessories. Inspect the battery charger cord periodi-  
cally, and if damaged, have it replaced or repaired by an  
authorized service dealer.  
3
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GENERAL SAFETY RULES  
KIcKBAcK  
See Figures 1 - 2.  
ROTATIONAL  
KICKBACK  
WARNING: Kickback may occur when the moving chain  
contacts an object at the upper portion of the tip of the  
guide bar or when the wood closes in and pinches the  
saw chain in the cut. Contact at the upper portion of the  
tip of the guide bar can cause the chain to dig into the  
object and stop the chain for an instant. The result is  
a lightning fast, reverse reaction which kicks the guide  
bar up and back toward the operator. If the saw chain  
is pinched along the top of the guide bar, the guide bar  
can be driven rapidly back toward the operator. Either of  
these reactions can cause loss of saw control which can  
result in serious injury. Do not rely exclusively upon the  
safety devices built into the saw. As a chain saw user,  
you should take several steps to keep your cutting jobs  
free from accident or injury.  
BAR shOwN wIThOuT sAfE-T-TIp® NOsE GuARD fOR  
ILLusTRATION puRpOsEs ONLy.  
Fig. 1  
Thefollowingprecautionsshould befollowed tomini-  
mize kickback:  
KICKBACK  
DANGER ZONE  
1. Always grip the saw firmly with both hands. Hold the  
saw firmly with both hands when the unit is running.  
Place your right hand on the rear handle and your left  
hand on the front handle with your thumbs and fingers  
encircling the chain saw handles. A firm grip together  
with a stiff left arm will help you maintain control of  
the saw if kickback occurs.  
Fig. ꢀ  
ꢀ. Make sure that the area in which you are cutting is free  
from obstructions. Do not let the nose of the guide bar  
contact a log, branch, fence, or any other obstruction  
that could be hit while you are operating the saw.  
3. Always cut with the unit running at full speed. Fully  
squeeze the throttle trigger and maintain a steady  
cutting speed.  
ꢁ. Use replacement parts such as low kickback chain,  
SAFE-T-TIP® anti-kickbacknoseguards, chainbrakes  
andspecialguidebarsthatreducetherisksassociated  
with rotational kickback.  
Useonlythereplacementguidebarsandlowkickback  
chains specified by the manufacturer for the saw.  
puLL  
With a basic understanding of kickback, you can reduce  
or eliminate the element of surprise. Sudden surprise  
contributes to accidents.  
Keep proper footing and balance at all times.  
Do not cut above shoulder height or overreach when cutting.  
Keep the SAFE-T-TIP® anti-kickback nose guard properly  
mounted on the guide bar to prevent rotational kickback.  
Follow the sharpening and maintenance instructions for  
the saw chain.  
Push and Pull - This reaction force is always opposite to  
the direction the chain is moving where wood contact is  
made. Thus, the operator must be ready to control the  
PULL when cutting on the bottom edge of the bar, and  
PUSH when cutting along the top edge. See Figure 3.  
push  
Fig. 3  
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GENERAL SAFETY RULES  
UNdERSTANdING YOUR cHAIN SAW SAFETY  
dEVIcES  
See Figure 4.  
IN THE cUTTING/WORK AREA  
Do not operate a chain saw in a tree, on a ladder, or scaf-  
fold; this is extremely dangerous.  
®
Keep ALL children, bystanders, visitors, and animals out  
of the work area while starting or cutting with the chain  
saw.  
SAFE-T-TIP Anti-Kickback Nose Guard  
The SAFE-T-TIP® prevents kickback from happening, be-  
cause it covers the tip of the bar where kickback is gener-  
ated. Never attempt any kind of cutting where the SAFE-T-  
TIP® would have to be removed from the bar tip.  
NOTE: The size of the work area depends on the job  
being performed as well as the size tree or work piece  
involved. For example, felling a tree requires a larger work  
area than making bucking cuts.  
LOW KIcKBAcK SAW cHAIN  
The rakers (depth gauges) ahead of each cutter can minimize  
the force of a kickback reaction by preventing the cutters  
from digging in too deeply at the kickback zone. Only use  
replacement chain that is equivalent to original chain or has  
been certified as low kickback chain per ANSI B175.1.  
Neverstartcuttinguntilyouhaveaclearworkarea,secure  
footing, and a planned retreat path from the falling tree.  
Cluttered area invite injuries.  
Do not expose the chain saw to rain.  
Do not use the chain saw in damp or wet locations.  
Low kickback saw chain is chain that has met the kickback  
performance requirements of ANSI B175.1 - 1991 (Amer-  
ican National Standard for Power Tools - Gasoline-Powered  
Chain Saws-Safety Requirements) when tested on the rep-  
resentative sample of chain saws below 3.8 c.i.d. specified  
in ANSI B175.1 - 1991.  
Do not use the chain saw near flammable liquids, gases,  
or in any type of explosive atmosphere.  
Use extreme caution when cutting small size brush and  
saplings, because slender material may catch the saw  
chain and be whipped toward you or pull you off bal-  
ance.  
As saw chains are sharpened during their useful life, they  
lose some of the low kickback qualities and extra caution  
should be used.  
When cutting a limb that is under tension, be alert for  
spring back so that you will not be struck when the ten-  
sion in the wood fibers is released.  
GUIdE BARS  
Generally, guide bars with small radius tips have somewhat  
lower kickback potentials.  
Do not force the chain saw. The job can be performed  
better and safer at the rate for which it was intended.  
Always use the right product for your application. The  
chain saw should be used for cutting wood only. Never  
use the chain saw to cut plastic, masonry or non-wood  
building materials.  
When making a replacement, be sure to order one of the  
Ryobi bars listed for the saw in this operator's manual. The  
proper size SAFE-T-TIP® nose guard comes installed on the  
bar. Use only guide bars that have a provision for mounting  
the SAFE-T-TIP®.  
Do not use the chain saw for purposes not intended.  
Store idle chain saw when not in use. Chain saw should  
be stored in a dry and high or locked area out of the reach  
of children. When storing chain saw, remove battery and  
placethescabbardonthebarandchainorstorethechain  
saw in a carry case.  
sAfE-T-TIp®  
Remove the battery pack from the chain saw before  
cleaning, servicing, storing, removing material from the  
unit, changing accessories such as the bar and chain, or  
when not in use.  
Fig. ꢁ  
5
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SPEcIFIc SAFETY RULES  
explosion. Properly dispose of a dropped or damaged  
battery immediately.  
BATTERY SAFETY  
Battery operated units do not have to be plugged into an  
electrical outlet; therefore, they are always in operating  
condition. Be aware of possible hazards even when unit  
is not operating.  
Batteries can explode in the presence of a source of ig-  
nition, such as a pilot light. To reduce the risk of serious  
personal injury, never use any cordless product in the  
presence of open flame. An exploded battery pack can  
propel debris and chemicals. If exposed, flush with water  
immediately.  
Remove the battery pack from the chain saw before  
cleaning, servicing, storing, removing material from the  
unit, changing accessories such as the bar and chain, or  
when not in use.  
Do not charge unit in a damp or wet location. Following  
this rule will reduce the risk of electric shock.  
A battery pack must be recharged only with the speci-  
fied charger for the battery pack. A charger that may be  
suitable for one type of battery pack may create a risk  
of fire when used with another battery pack. Use battery  
pack only with charger listed.  
For best results, your battery unit should be charged in  
a location where the temperature is more than 50°F but  
less than 100°F. Do not store outside or in vehicles.  
Under extreme usage or temperature conditions, battery  
pack leakage may occur. If liquid comes in contact with  
your skin, wash immediately with soap and water, then  
neutralize with lemon juice or vinegar. If liquid gets into  
your eyes, flush them with clean water for at least 10  
minutes, then seek immediate medical attention.  
MOdEL  
BATTERY PAcK  
cHARGER (P113)  
(P104 Li-ion)  
130ꢁꢀ9001, 130ꢁꢀ900ꢀ  
130155001  
1ꢁ0501001  
1ꢁ0501005  
P5ꢁ0  
P5ꢁ0A  
P5ꢁ0B  
(P100 Ni-cd)  
130ꢀ5500ꢁ, 130ꢀꢀꢁ0ꢀ8  
Do not dispose of batteries in a fire. The cell may explode.  
Batteries should be recycled, consult your local waste  
authority for information regarding available recycling  
and/or disposal options.  
BATTERY PAcK  
cHARGER (P110)  
1ꢁꢀ3701, 1ꢁ0ꢀ370ꢀ1,  
1ꢁ0ꢀ370ꢀ3  
(P100 Ni-cd)  
130ꢀ5500ꢁ, 130ꢀꢀꢁ0ꢀ8  
When battery pack is not in use, keep it away from other  
metal objects like: paper clips, coins, keys, nails, screws,  
or other small metal objects that can make a connection  
from one terminal to another. Shorting the battery pack  
terminals together may cause sparks, burns, or a fire.  
To reduce the risk of explosion and possible injury, Do not  
place battery units or their batteries near fire or heat.  
Do not open or mutilate the battery pack. Released elec-  
trolyte is corrosive and may cause damage to the eyes  
or skin. It may be toxic if swallowed.  
Do not crush, drop or damage battery pack. Do not  
use a battery pack or charger that has been dropped or  
received a sharp blow. A damaged battery is subject to  
6
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SYMBOLS  
Some of the following symbols may be used on this product. Please study them and learn their meaning. Proper  
interpretation of these symbols will allow you to operate the product better and safer.  
SYMBOL  
NAME  
dESIGNATION/EXPLANATION  
V
A
Volts  
Voltage  
Current  
Amperes  
Hertz  
Hz  
W
Frequency (cycles per second)  
Watt  
Power  
min  
Minutes  
Time  
Alternating Current  
Direct Current  
Type of current  
Type or a characteristic of current  
n
o
No Load Speed  
Rotational speed, at no load  
Class II Construction  
Per Minute  
Double-insulated construction  
.../min  
Revolutions, strokes, surface speed, orbits etc., per minute  
Wet Conditions Alert  
Do not expose to rain or use in damp locations.  
To reduce the risk of injury, user must read and understand  
operator’s manual before using this product.  
Read The Operator’s Manual  
Wear eye protection which is marked to comply with ANSI Z87.1  
as well as hearing and head protection when operating this  
equipment.  
Wear Eye, Hearing, and  
Head Protection  
Safety Alert  
Precautions that involve your safety.  
The SAFE-T-TIP nose guard on the guide bar helps prevent  
kickback.  
SAFE-T-TIP Nose Guard  
Operate With Two Hands  
One Handed  
Hold and operate the saw properly with both hands.  
Do not operate the saw using only one hand.  
DANGER! Beware of kickback.  
Kickback  
Bar Nose Contact  
Avoid bar nose contact.  
Wear non-slip, heavy-duty protective gloves when handling the  
chain saw.  
Wear Gloves  
Wear Safety Footwear  
Keep Bystanders Away  
Wear non-slip safety footwear when using this equipment.  
Keep all bystanders and animals at least 50 ft. away.  
7
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SYMBOLS  
The following signal words and meanings are intended to explain the levels of risk associated with this product.  
SYMBOL  
SIGNAL  
MEANING  
dANGER:  
Indicates an imminently hazardous situation, which, if not avoided, will  
result in death or serious injury.  
WARNING:  
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation, which, if not avoided, could  
result in death or serious injury.  
cAUTION:  
cAUTION:  
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation, which, if not avoided, may  
result in minor or moderate injury.  
(Without Safety Alert Symbol) Indicates a situation that may result in  
property damage.  
SERVIcE  
Servicing requires extreme care and knowledge and should  
be performed only by a qualified service technician. For  
service we suggest you return the product to your nearest  
AUTHORIZEd SERVIcE cENTER for repair. When servic-  
ing, use only identical replacement parts.  
WARNING:  
To avoid serious personal injury, do not attempt to use this  
product until you read thoroughly and understand com-  
pletely the operator’s manual. If you do not understand  
the warnings and instructions in the operator’s manual,  
do not use this product. Call Ryobi customer service for  
assistance.  
WARNING:  
The operation of any power tool can result in foreign objects being thrown into your eyes, which can  
result in severe eye damage. Before beginning power tool operation, always wear safety goggles,  
safety glasses with side shields, or a full face shield when needed. We recommend Wide Vision Safety  
Mask for use over eyeglasses or standard safety glasses with side shields. Always use eye protection  
which is marked to comply with ANSI Z87.1.  
SAVE THESE INSTRUcTIONS  
8
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FEATURES  
PROdUcT SPEcIFIcATIONS  
Motor......................................................................................................................................................................18 Volt DC  
Bar Length......................................................................................................................................................................10 in.  
Replacement Bar Part Number ......................................................................................................671ꢀ5600ꢀ or 67183ꢁ007  
Replacement Chain Part Number ......................................................................................................6958301 or 69058300ꢀ  
NOTE: This saw was designed for occasional light duty use and has some limitations as to what it can cut.  
sCABBARD  
ChAIN OIL  
TANK CAp  
REAR  
hANDLE  
BAR  
sAfE-T-TIp®  
ChAIN  
BATTERy pACK  
(NOT INCLuDED)  
fRONT hANDLE  
hAND GuARD  
TRIGGER RELEAsE  
BuTTON  
BATTERy pACK  
(NOT INCLuDED)  
hEX KEy  
hEX KEy  
sTORAGE AREA  
TRIGGER  
Fig. 5  
9
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ASSEMBLY  
UNPAcKING  
This product has been shipped completely assembled.  
WARNING:  
If any parts are damaged or missing do not operate this  
product until the parts are replaced. Failure to heed this  
warning could result in serious personal injury.  
Carefully remove the product and any accessories from  
the box. Make sure that all items listed in the packing list  
are included.  
Inspect the product carefully to make sure no breakage  
or damage occurred during shipping.  
WARNING:  
Do not discard the packing material until you have care-  
Do not attempt to modify this product or create acces-  
sories not recommended for use with this product. Any  
such alteration or modification is misuse and could result  
in a hazardous condition leading to possible serious  
personal injury.  
fully inspected and satisfactorily operated the product.  
If any parts are damaged or missing, please call  
1-800-860-50ꢁ0 for assistance.  
PAcKING LIST  
Chain Saw with Scabbard  
Wrench  
WARNING:  
Bar and Chain Lubricant  
Operator’s Manual  
To prevent accidental starting that could cause serious  
personal injury, always remove the battery pack from the  
product when assembling parts.  
OPERATION  
WARNING:  
WARNING:  
Do not use any attachments or accessories not recom-  
mended by the manufacturer of this product. The use of  
attachments or accessories not recommended can result  
in serious personal injury.  
Do not allow familiarity with this product to make you  
careless. Remember that a careless fraction of a second is  
sufficient to inflict serious injury.  
WARNING:  
APPLIcATIONS  
You may use this product for the following purposes:  
Limbing and pruning branches from trees  
Felling small trees up to 5 in. diameter  
Bucking the fallen tree into shorter lengths  
Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side  
shields when operating power tools. Failure to do so  
could result in objects being thrown into your eyes result-  
ing in possible serious injury.  
10  
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OPERATION  
This product will accept Ryobi One+ 18 V lithium-ion  
battery packs and Ryobi One+ 18 V nickel-cadmium battery  
packs.  
cHAIN OIL SYSTEM  
See Figure 7.  
Use Ryobi Bar and Chain Lubricant. It is formulated to  
perform over a wide temperature range with no dilution  
required.  
For complete charging instructions, refer to the Operator’s  
Manual for the battery packs and chargers listed in the  
General Safety Rules.  
NOTE: Do not use dirty, used or otherwise contaminated  
oils. Damage may occur to the bar or chain.  
TO INSTALL BATTERY PAcK  
See Figure 6.  
Carefully pour the bar and chain oil into the tank.  
Check and fill the oil tank when battery is recharged, or  
Place the battery pack in your chain saw. Align raised  
rib on battery pack with groove in chain saw’s battery  
port.  
as needed.  
Depress the oil tank cap several times to pump the oil to  
the chain before starting the saw.  
Make sure the latches on each side of the battery pack  
snap in place and that battery pack is secured in chain  
saw before beginning operation.  
Depress the oil tank cap every ꢀ0-30 seconds while cut-  
ting to keep the chain lubricated.  
NOTE: It is normal for oil to seep from the saw when not  
in use. To prevent seepage, empty the oil tank after each  
use. When storing the unit for a long period of time (three  
months or longer) be sure the chain is lightly lubricated; this  
will prevent rust on the chain and bar sprocket.  
TO REMOVE BATTERY PAcK  
See Figure 6.  
Locate latches on side of battery pack and depress both  
sides to release the battery pack from the chain saw.  
cAUTION:  
When placing battery pack in your chain saw, be sure  
raised rib on battery pack aligns with groove in chain  
saw's battery port and latches snap in place properly.  
Improper assembly of battery pack can cause damage  
to internal components.  
cAUTION:  
BATTERy  
pORT  
Remove battery pack from unit. Fill oil tank with Ryobi  
Bar and Chain Lubricant before starting the chain saw.  
Failure to lubricate the chain will cause damage to the  
bar and chain.  
BATTERy  
pACK  
LATChEs  
Fig. 6  
Fig. 7  
11  
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OPERATION  
STARTING ANd STOPPING THE cHAIN SAW  
See Figure 8.  
WARNING:  
Keep body to the left of the chain line. Never straddle  
the saw or chain, or lean over past the chain line.  
Starting the chain saw:  
Place the chain saw on a flat bare surface and make sure  
no objects or obstructions are in immediate vicinity which  
could come in contact with the bar and chain.  
TRIGGER RELEAsE  
BuTTON  
Press and hold the trigger release button. This makes the  
trigger operational.  
Press and hold the trigger, release the trigger release  
button and continue to squeeze the trigger for continued  
operation.  
TRIGGER  
Stopping the chain saw:  
Release the trigger to stop the chain saw.  
TRIGGER RELEAsE  
BuTTON  
Upon release of the trigger, the trigger release button will  
be automatically reset to the lock position.  
This cordless chain saw is not designed for cutting trees  
larger than 5 in. in diameter.  
This cordless chain saw is designed for limbing and pruning  
type cutting, as well as cutting trees up to 5 in. in diameter  
only.  
Do not attempt to make any cut that would require removal  
of the SAFE-T-TIP®.  
PREPARATION FOR cUTTING  
PROPER GRIP ON HANdLES  
See Figures 9 - 11.  
TRIGGER  
Fig. 8  
Refer to Important SaFety InStructIonS earlier in  
this manual for appropriate safety equipment.  
Wear non-slip gloves for maximum grip and protection.  
Hold the saw firmly with both hands. Always keep your  
left hand on the front handle and your right hand on the  
rear handle so that your body is to the left of the chain  
line.  
1ꢀ  
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