Instruction Manual

0458-791-8221-C
19
English 6 Kickback and Other Reactive Forces
been specifically certified to comply with the 25°
computer-derived kickback angle of the chain saw
standards.
– STIHL recommends green-labeled bars and green-
labeled chains for all chain saws and all users.
– Please see your STIHL Bar and Chain Information
leaflet for the appropriate bar and chain
combinations for your saw.
– Please ask your authorized STIHL servicing dealer
to properly match your chain saw with the
appropriate bar and chain combination to reduce the
risk of kickback injury.
￭ A blunt or incorrectly sharpened chain may reduce or
negate the effectiveness of design features intended to
reduce the propensity for kickback and kickback energies.
Improper lowering or sharpening of the depth gauges or
changing the shape of the cutters may increase the risk
and the energy of kickback.
– Always cut with a properly sharpened chain.
– Read and follow the instructions on sharpening a
chain, @ 23.4.
￭ Any chain saw mounted with a bow guide is potentially
very dangerous. The risk of kickback is increased with a
bow guide because of the increased kickback contact area
and because the design of bow guides places the upper
portion of the bar closer to the operator's body. Using a
low kickback chain will not significantly reduce the risk of
kickback injury when used on a bow guide.
– Never mount a bow guide on any STIHL chain saw.
b. Reduced Kickback Bars
STIHL green-labeled reduced kickback bars are designed to
reduce the risk of kickback injury when used with STIHL
green-labeled low kickback chains.
WARNING
￭ When used with other, more aggressive chains,
green-labeled reduced kickback bars may be less
effective in reducing kickback.
– STIHL recommends green-labeled bars and green-
labeled chains for all chain saws and all users.
￭ For proper balance and to comply with the chain saw
standards:
– Use only bar lengths listed in this manual, @ 27.
6.2.4 To Avoid Kickback
The best protection from personal injury that may result from
kickback is to avoid kickback situations:
1)Hold the chain saw firmly and with both hands and
maintain a secure grip, with your right hand on the control
handle and left hand on the front handle. Maintain a
secure grip with thumbs and fingers encircling the chain
saw handles. Don't let go.
2)Make sure the area in which you are cutting is free from
obstructions.
3)Be aware of the location of the guide bar nose at all times.
Never let the nose of the guide bar unintentionally contact
any object. Do not cut limbs with the nose of the guide bar.
Be especially careful near wire fences and when cutting
small, tough limbs, small size brush and saplings which
may easily catch the saw chain.
4)Do not overreach.
5)Do not cut above shoulder height.
6)Begin cutting and continue at full speed.
7)Cut only one log at a time.
8)Use extreme caution when re-entering a previous cut.
9)Do not attempt to plunge cut if you are not experienced
with this cutting technique.
10)Be alert for shifting of the log or other forces that may
cause the cut to close and pinch the saw chain.
11)Maintain saw chain properly. Cut with a correctly
sharpened, properly tensioned saw chain at all times.