Stihl MS 201 TC-M Instruction Manual page 18

English
Keep the chain, bar and sprocket clean;
replace worn sprockets or chains. Keep
the chain sharp. You can spot a dull
chain when easy-to-cut wood becomes
hard to cut and burn marks appear on
the wood. Keep the chain at proper
tension.
Tighten all nuts, bolts and screws after
each use.
WARNING
In order for the chain brake on your
STIHL chain saw to properly perform its
function of reducing the risk of kickback
and other injuries, it must be properly
maintained. Like an automobile brake, a
chain saw chain brake incurs wear each
time it is engaged.
The amount of wear will vary depending
upon usage, conditions under which the
saw is used and other factors. Excessive
wear will reduce the effectiveness of the
chain brake and can render it
inoperable.
For the proper and effective operation of
the chain brake, the brake band and
clutch drum must be kept free of dirt,
grease and other foreign matter which
may reduce friction of the band on the
drum.
For these reasons, each STIHL chain
saw should be returned to trained
personnel such as your STIHL servicing
dealer for periodic inspection and
servicing of the brake system according
to the following schedule:
Heavy usage – every three months,
Moderate usage – twice a year,
Occasional usage – annually.
16
The chain saw should also be returned
immediately for maintenance whenever
the brake system cannot be thoroughly
cleaned or there is a change in its
operating characteristics.
For any maintenance of the emission
control system please refer to the
maintenance chart and to the limited
warranty statement near the end of the
instruction manual.
Do not clean your machine with a
pressure washer. The solid jet of water
may damage parts of the machine.
Store chain saw in a dry place and away
from children. Before storing for longer
than a few days, always empty the fuel
tank (see chapter "Storing the Machine"
in the instruction manual).
REACTIVE FORCES INCLUDING
KICKBACK
WARNING
Reactive forces may occur any time the
chain is rotating. Reactive forces can
cause serious personal injury.
The powerful force used to cut wood can
be reversed and work against the
operator. If the rotating saw chain is
suddenly and significantly slowed or
stopped by contact with any solid object
such as a log or branch or is pinched, the
reactive forces may occur instantly.
These reactive forces may result in loss
of control, which, in turn, may cause
serious or fatal injury. An understanding
of the causes of these reactive forces
may help you avoid the element of
surprise and loss of control. Surprise
contributes to accidents.
The most common reactive forces are:
kickback,
–
pushback,
–
pull-in.
–
WARNING
Kickback:
Kickback may occur
when the moving saw
chain near the upper
quadrant of the bar nose
contacts a solid object or
is pinched.
When this occurs, the energy driving the
saw chain can create a force that moves
the chain saw in a direction opposite to
the saw chain movement at the point
where the saw chain is slowed or
stopped. This may fling the bar up and
back in a lightning fast reaction mainly in
the plane of the bar and can cause
severe or fatal injury to the operator.
MS 201 TC-M