Stihl MS 261 C-MQ Instruction Manual page 15

and the like. Such objects may be flung
off, damage the saw chain or cause the
chain saw to kickback.
WARNING
If the rotating saw chain strikes a rock or
other hard object, sparks may be
created, which can ignite flammabale
materials under certain circumstances.
Flammable materials can include dry
vegetation and brush, particularly when
weather conditions are hot and dry. Do
not use your chain saw around
flammable materials or around dry
vegetation or brush when there is a risk
of fire or wildfire. Contact your local fire
authorities or the U.S. Forestry Service if
you have any question about whether
vegetation and weather conditions are
suitable for the use of a chain saw.
WARNING
Take special care when cutting
shattered wood because of the risk of
injury from slivers being caught and
thrown in your direction.
WARNING
Never modify your muffler. Any
modification could cause an increase in
heat radiation, sparks or sound level,
thereby increasing the risk of fire, burn
injury or hearing loss. You may also
permanently damage the engine. Have
your muffler serviced and repaired by
your STIHL servicing dealer only.
WARNING
The muffler and other parts of the engine
(e.g. fins of the cylinder, spark plug)
become hot during operation and remain
MS 261 C-MQ
hot for a while after stopping the engine.
To reduce risk of burns, do not touch the
muffler and other parts while they are
hot. Keep the area around the muffler
clean. Remove excess lubricant and all
debris such as pine needles, branches
or leaves. Let the engine cool down
sitting on concrete, metal, bare ground
or solid wood (e.g. the trunk of a felled
tree) away from any combustible
substances.
WARNING
An improperly mounted or damaged
cylinder housing or a
damaged/deformed muffler shell may
interfere with the cooling process of the
muffler. To reduce the risk of fire or burn
injury, do not continue work with a
damaged or improperly mounted
cylinder housing or a
damaged/deformed muffler shell.
Your muffler is furnished with a spark
arresting screen designed to reduce the
risk of fire from the emission of hot
particles. Never operate your unit with a
missing or damaged spark arresting
screen. If your gas/oil mix ratio is correct
(i.e., not too rich), this screen will
normally stay clean as a result of the
heat from the muffler and need no
service or maintenance. If you
experience loss of performance and you
suspect a clogged screen, have your
muffler maintained by a STIHL servicing
dealer. Some state or federal laws or
regulations may require a properly
maintained spark arrester for certain
uses. See the "Maintenance, Repair and
Storing" section of these Safety
Precautions. Remember that the risk of
a brush or forest fire is greater in hot or
dry conditions.
WARNING
Some STIHL chain saws
are equipped with a cata-
lytic converter, which is
designed to reduce the
exhaust emissions of the
engine by a chemical
process in the muffler.
Due to this process, the
muffler does not cool
down as rapidly as con-
ventional mufflers when
the engine returns to idle
or is shut off. To reduce
the risk of fire and burn
injuries when using a cat-
alytic converter, always
set your chain saw down
in the upright position and
never locate it where the
muffler is near dry brush,
grass, wood chips or
other combustible materi-
als while it is still hot.
English
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