Stihl MS 880 Instruction Manual page 19

English / USA
Reduced kickback bar
STIHL green labeled reduced kickback
bars are designed to reduce the risk of
kickback injury when used with STIHL
green labeled low kickback chains.
!
Warning!
When used with other, more aggressive
chains, these bars may be less effective
in reducing kickback, and may result in
higher kickback forces.
Bow Guides
!
Warning!
Do not mount a bow guide on any STIHL
chainsaw. Any chainsaw equipped with
a bowguide is potentially very
dangerous. The risk of kickback is
increased with a bow guide because of
the increased kickback contact area.
Low kickback chain will not significantly
reduce the risk of kickback injury when
used on a bow guide.
18
To avoid kickback
The best protection from personal injury
that may result from kickback is to avoid
kickback situations:
1. Hold the chainsaw firmly with both
hands and maintain a secure grip.
2. Be aware of the location of the guide
bar nose at all times.
3. Never let the nose of the guide bar
contact any object. Do not cut limbs
with the nose of the guide bar. Be
especially careful when cutting
small, tough limbs, small size brush
and saplings which may easily catch
the chain.
4 Don't overreach.
5. Don't cut above shoulder height.
6. Begin cutting and continue at full
throttle.
7. Cut only one log at a time.
8. Use extreme caution when
reentering a previous cut.
9. Do not attempt to plunge cut if you
are not experienced with these
cutting techniques.
10. Be alert for shifting of the log or
other forces that may cause the cut
to close and pinch the chain.
11. Maintain saw chain properly. Cut
with a correctly sharpened, properly
tensioned chain at all times.
12. Stand to the side of the cutting path
of the chainsaw.
A = Pull-in:
Pull-in occurs when the chain on the
bottom of the bar is suddenly stopped
when it is pinched, caught or encounters
a foreign object in the wood. The
reaction of the chain pulls the saw
forward and may cause the operator to
lose control.
Pull-in frequently occurs when the
bumper spike of the saw is not held
securely against the tree or limb and
when the chain is not rotating at full
speed before it contacts the wood.
!
Warning!
Use extreme caution when cutting small
size brush and saplings which may
easily catch the chain and pull you off
balance.
To avoid pull-in
1. Always start a cut with the chain
rotating at full speed and the
bumper spike in contact with the
wood.
2. Pull-in may also be prevented by
using wedges to open the kerf or
cut.
A
MS 880