English
All STIHL chain saws are equipped with
a Quickstop chain brake which can be
activated by inertia. If the forces of an
occurring kickback are sufficiently high,
the hand guard is accelerated towards
the bar nose even without hand contact.
See the chapter entitled "Chain Brake"
of your instruction manual.
WARNING
Never operate your chain saw without a
front hand guard. In a kickback situation
this guard helps protect your left hand
and other parts of your body. In addition,
removal of the hand guard on a saw
equipped with a Quickstop chain brake
will deactivate the chain brake.
WARNING
No Quickstop or other chain brake
device prevents kickback. These
devices are designed to reduce the risk
of kickback injury, if activated, in certain
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kickback situations. In order for the
Quickstop to reduce the risk of kickback
injury, it must be properly maintained
and in good working order. See the
chapter of your instruction manual
entitled "Chain Brake" and the section
"Maintenance, Repair and Storing" at
the end of these Safety Precautions. In
addition, there must be enough distance
between the bar and the operator to
ensure that the Quickstop has sufficient
time to activate and stop the chain
before potential contact with the
operator.
WARNING
An improperly maintained chain brake
may increase the time needed to stop
the chain after activation, or may not
activate at all.
WARNING
Never run the chain saw above idle
speed for more than 3 seconds when the
chain brake is engaged or when the
chain is pinched or otherwise caught in
the cut. Clutch slippage can cause
excessive heat, leading to severe
damage of the motor housing, clutch
and oiler component and may interfere
with the operation of the chain brake. If
clutch slippage in excess of 3 seconds
has occurred, allow the motor housing to
cool before proceeding and check the
operation of your chain brake as
described in the chapter entitled "Chain
Brake" of your instruction manual. Also
make sure that the chain is not turning at
idle speed (see above at "Important
Adjustments").
Low Kickback Saw Chain and Reduced
Kickback Bars
STIHL offers a variety of bars and
chains. STIHL reduced kickback bars
and low kickback chains are designed to
reduce the risk of kickback injury. Other
chains are designed to obtain higher
cutting efficiency or sharpening ease but
may result in higher kickback tendency.
STIHL has developed a color code
system to help you identify the STIHL
reduced kickback bars and low kickback
chains. Cutting attachments with green
warning decals or green labels on the
packaging are designed to reduce the
risk of kickback injury. The matching of
green decaled powerheads under
3.8 cubic inches (62 cm³) displacement
with green labeled bars and green
labeled chains gives compliance with
the computed kickback angle
requirements of ANSI B 175.1-2000
when the products are in their original
condition. Products with yellow decals or
labels are for users with extraordinary
cutting needs and experience and
specialized training for dealing with
kickback.
STIHL recommends the use of its green
labeled reduced kickback bars, green
labeled low kickback chains and a
STIHL Quickstop chain brake for both
experienced and inexperienced chain
saw users.
Please ask your STIHL dealer to
properly match your powerhead with the
appropriate bar / chain combination to
reduce the risk of kickback injury. Green
labeled bars and chains are
recommended for all powerheads.
MS 461 R