Working Techniques - Stihl MS 271 Instruction Manual

4 Working Techniques

complicated, if not impossible. Use aids such as
a cable winch or tractor in such cases.
When felling in the vicinity of roads, railways,
power lines, etc., take extra precautions. If nec‐
essary, inform the police, utility company or rail‐
way authority.
4 Working Techniques
Sawing and felling work, including all related
work (plunge cutting, limbing, etc.) may only be
carried out by persons who have been specially
trained and instructed. Persons who are not
experienced chain saw users should not carry
out any such work – increased risk of accidents!
Country-specific legislation on felling technique
must be complied with during felling work.
4.1 Sawing
Do not operate your saw with the starting throttle
lock engaged. Engine speed cannot be control‐
led with the throttle trigger in this position.
Work calmly and carefully – in daylight conditions
and only when visibility is good. Ensure you do
not endanger others – stay alert at all times.
It is advisable for first-time users to practice cut‐
ting logs on a sawbuck – see "Sawing thin
wood".
Use the shortest possible guide bar: The chain,
guide bar and chain sprocket must match each
other and your saw.
Position the saw so that your body is clear of the
cutting attachment.
Always pull the saw out of the cut with the chain
running.
Use your chain saw for cutting only. It is not
designed for prying or shoveling away limbs,
roots or other objects.
Do not underbuck freely hanging limbs.
0458-574-8221-D
Be careful when cutting scrub and young trees.
Thin shoots can be scooped up by the chain saw
and hurled towards the user.
Be careful when cutting splintered wood – Risk of
injury from ejected pieces of wood!
Make sure your saw does not touch any foreign
materials: Stones, nails, etc. may be flung off
and damage the saw chain. The chain saw may
kick back unexpectedly – risk of accident!
If a rotating saw chain hits a stone or another
hard object, sparks may be generated which may
ignite easily flammable materials under certain
conditions. Also dried-out plants and brushwood
are combustible, above all in hot and dry
weather. If there is a risk of fire, do not use the
chain saw in the vicinity of easily combustible
materials, dry plants or scrub. It is mandatory
that you ask the responsible forestry office about
the current fire hazard.
If on a slope, stand on the uphill side of the log.
Watch out for rolling logs.
When working at heights:
– Always use a lift bucket
– Never use the machine while standing on a
ladder or in a tree
– Never work on an insecure support
– Never work above shoulder height
– Never use the machine with just one hand
Begin cutting with the saw at full throttle and
engage the spiked bumper firmly in the wood,
and then continue cutting.
Never work without the spiked bumper because
the saw may pull you forwards and off balance.
Always hold the spiked bumper securely against
the tree or limb.
At the end of the cut, the chain saw is no longer
supported by the cutting attachment in the cut.
The chain saw's weight must be borne by the
user – risk of loss of control!
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