English
The second recommended method for
starting your chain saw allows you to
start the saw without placing it on the
ground. Make sure the chain brake is
engaged. Grip the front handle of the
chain saw firmly with your left hand,
keep your left arm in a locked (straight)
position. Hold the rear handle of the saw
tightly between your legs just above the
knees. If you are using the rear-handle-
activated chain brake, be careful not to
disengage the brake by depressing the
interlock lever with your leg. Maintain
good balance and secure footing. Pull
the starting grip slowly with your right
hand until you feel a definite resistance
and then give it a brisk, strong pull.
Warning!
Be sure that the guide bar and chain are
clear of you and all other obstructions
and objects, including the ground. When
the engine is started, the engine speed
with the starting throttle lock engaged
will be fast enough for the clutch to
engage the sprocket and, if the chain
brake is not activated, turn the chain. If
the upper quadrant of the tip of the bar
touches any object, it may cause kick-
back to occur (see section on reactive
forces). Never attempt to start the chain
saw when the guide bar is in a cut or
kerf.
8
As soon as the engine is running,
immediately blip the throttle trigger,
which will disengage the starting throttle
lock and allow the engine to settle down
to idle.
Warning!
As soon as you press down the interlock
lever, the rear-handle-activated chain
brake is disengaged and allows the
chain to run at high speed until you blip
the throttle trigger.
Warning!
When you pull the starter grip, do not
wrap the starter rope around your hand.
Do not let the grip snap back, but guide
the starter rope to rewind it properly.
Failure to follow this procedure may
result in injury to your hand or fingers
and may damage the starter
mechanism.
Important Adjustments
Warning!
To reduce the risk of personal injury
from loss of control and/or contact with
the running cutting tool, do not use your
unit with incorrect idle adjustment. At
correct idle speed, the cutting tool
should not move. For directions on how
to adjust idle speed, see the appropriate
section of your instruction manual.
If you cannot set the correct idle speed,
have your STIHL dealer check your
power tool and make proper
adjustments and repairs.
During Operation
Holding and Controlling the Power
Tool
Always hold the unit firmly with both
hands on the handles while you are
working. Wrap your fingers and thumbs
around the handles.
Your right hand should grip the rear
handle. This also applies to left-handers.
With your hands in this position, you can
best oppose and absorb the push, pull
and kickback forces of your saw without
losing control (see section on reactive
forces).
Warning!
To reduce the risk
of serious or fatal
injury to the oper-
ator or bystanders
from loss of con-
trol, never use the saw with one hand. It
is more difficult for you to control reac-
tive forces and to prevent the bar and
chain from skating or bouncing along
the limb or log. Even for those compact
saws designed for use in confined
spaces, one-handed operation is dan-
gerous because the operator may lose
control.
MS 362 C