Reactive Forces - Stihl MS 261 C-M Instruction Manual

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Reactive Forces

The most common reactive forces are:
kickback, pushback and pull-in.
Dangers of kickback
Kickback can result in
fatal cuts.
Kickback occurs when the saw is
suddenly thrown up and back in an
uncontrolled arc towards the operator.
8
Kickback occurs if, for example,
The saw chain in the area of the
–
upper quarter of the guide bar nose
unintentionally comes into contact
with wood or a solid object – e. g.,
unintentionally touches another limb
during limbing
The saw chain at the nose of the
–
guide bar is briefly pinched in the cut
QuickStop chain brake:
This device reduces the risk of injury in
certain situations – it cannot prevent
kickback. If activated, the brake stops
the saw chain within a fraction of a
second –
refer to chapter "Chain brake" in this
Instruction Manual.
Reducing the risk of kickback
Work cautiously and methodically
–
Hold the chain saw firmly with both
–
hands and maintain a secure grip
Always cut at full throttle
–
Be aware of the location of the guide
–
bar nose
Do not cut with the guide bar nose
–
Be especially careful with small,
–
tough limbs, undergrowth and
offshoots – the saw chain may
become caught in them
Never cut several limbs at once
–
Do not lean too far forward
–
Do not cut above shoulder height
–
Use extreme caution when re-
–
entering a previous cut
Do not attempt plunge cuts if you
–
are not experienced in this cutting
technique
Be alert for shifting of the log or
–
other forces that may cause the cut
to close and pinch the chain
Always cut with a correctly
–
sharpened, properly tensioned saw
chain – the depth gauge setting
must not be too large
Use low-kickback saw chains as
–
well as narrow-radius guide bars
Pull-in (A)
When the chain on the bottom of the bar
– overbucking – is suddenly pinched,
caught or encounters a foreign object in
the wood, the chain saw may suddenly
A
MS 261 C-M