Stihl MS 880 Instruction Manual page 17

English / USA
When a kickback occurs, the guide bar
may rotate around the front handle. If the
cutting position is such that the
operator's left hand is gripping the front
handle behind the hand guard, and if the
left hand rotates around the front handle
and makes a sufficiently forceful contact
with the front hand guard, which is the
Quickstop activating lever, this contact
will activate the Quickstop. The chain
brake on most new model STIHL
chainsaws can also be activated by
inertia. See the chapter entitled "Chain
Brake" of your Owner's Manual.
16
!
Warning!
Never operate your chainsaw without a
front hand guard. In a kickback situation
this guard helps protect your left hand or
other parts of your body. In addition,
removal of the hand guard on a saw
equipped with a chain brake will
deactivate the chain brake.
!
Warning!
No Quickstop or other chain brake
device prevents kickback. These
devices are designed to reduce the risk
of kickback injury, if activated, in certain
kickback situations. In order for the
Quickstop to reduce the risk of kickback
injury, it must be properly maintained
and in good working order. See the
chapter entitled "Chain Brake" and
"Maintenance, Repair and Storing" of
your Owner's Manual. In addition, there
must be enough distance between the
bar and the operator to ensure that the
Quickstop has sufficient time to activate
and stop the chain before potential
contact with the operator.
!
Warning!
An improperly maintained chain brake
may increase the time needed to stop
the chain after activation, or may not
activate at all.
!
Warning!
Never run the chainsaw above idle
speed for more than 3 seconds when the
chain brake is engaged or the chain is
pinched or otherwise caught in the cut.
Clutch slippage can cause excessive
heat, leading to severe damage of the
motor housing, clutch and oiler
component and may interfere with the
operation of the chain brake. If clutch
slippage in excess of 3 seconds has
occurred, allow the motor housing to
cool before proceeding and check the
operation of your chain brake as
described in the chapter entitled "Chain
Brake". Also make sure that the chain is
not turning at idle speed (see above
"Important Adjustments").
Low kickback saw chain and reduced
kickback bars
STIHL offers a variety of bars and
chains. STIHL reduced kickback bars
and low kickback chains are designed to
MS 880