Stihl MS 261 Instruction Manual page 20

English
A = Pull-in
Pull-in occurs when the saw chain on the
bottom of the bar is suddenly stopped
when it is pinched, caught or encounters
a foreign object in the wood. The
reaction of the saw chain pulls the chain
saw forward and may cause the
operator to lose control.
Pull-in frequently occurs when the
bumper spike of the chain saw is not
held securely against the tree or limb
and when the saw chain is not rotating at
full speed before it contacts the wood.
WARNING
Use extreme caution when cutting small
size brush and saplings which may
easily catch the saw chain, be whipped
towards you or pull you off balance.
To avoid pull-in
1. Always start a cut with the saw
chain rotating at full speed and the
bumper spike in contact with the
wood.
2. The risk of pull-in may also be
reduced by using wedges to open
the kerf or cut.
18
B = Pushback
A
Pushback occurs when the saw chain on
the top of the bar is suddenly stopped
when it is pinched, caught or encounters
a foreign object in the wood. The
reaction of the saw chain may drive the
chain saw rapidly straight back toward
the operator and may cause loss of
chain saw control, which, in turn, may
cause serious or fatal injury. Pushback
frequently occurs when the top of the bar
is used for cutting.
To avoid pushback
1. Be alert to forces or situations that
may cause material to pinch the top
of the saw chain.
2. Do not cut more than one log at a
time.
3. Do not twist the chain saw when
withdrawing the bar from a plunge
cut or underbuck cut because the
saw chain can pinch.
Limbing
Limbing is removing the branches from a
fallen tree.
WARNING
There is an extreme danger of kickback
during the limbing operation. Do not
work with the nose of the bar. Be
extremely cautious and avoid contacting
the log or other limbs with the nose of the
guide bar.
Do not stand on a log while limbing it –
you may slip or the log may roll.
B
Start limbing by leaving the lower limbs
to support the log off the ground. When
underbucking freely hanging limbs, a
pinch may result or the limb may fall,
causing loss of control. If a pinch occurs,
stop the engine and remove the saw by
lifting the limb.
WARNING
Be extremely cautious when cutting
limbs or logs under tension (spring
poles). The limbs or logs could spring
back toward the operator and cause loss
of control of the saw and severe or fatal
injury to the operator.
MS 261