Stihl MS 460 Instruction Manual page 17

English / USA
Position the chainsaw in such a way that
your body is clear of the cutting
attachment whenever the engine is
running. Stand to the left of cut while
bucking.
Don't put pressure on the saw when
reaching the end of a cut. The pressure
may cause the bar and rotating chain to
pop out of the cut or kerf, go out of
control and strike the operator or some
other object. If the rotating chain strikes
some other object, a reactive force may
cause the moving chain to strike the
operator.
Reactive forces including kickback
!
Warning!
Reactive forces may occur any time the
chain is rotating. Reactive forces can be
dangerous! In any chainsaw,
16
the powerful force used to cut wood can
be reversed (and work against the
operator). If the rotating chain is
suddenly stopped by contact with any
solid object like a log or branch or is
pinched, reactive forces may occur
instantly. These reactive forces may
result in loss of control which may, in
turn, cause serious or fatal injury. An
understanding of the causes of these
reactive forces may help you avoid loss
of control.
The most common reactive forces are
– kickback,
– pushback,
– pull-in.
Kickback:
Kickback may occur when
the moving saw chain
near the upper quadrant
of the bar nose contacts a
solid object or is pinched.
The reaction of the cutting force of the
chain causes a rotational force on the
chainsaw in the direction opposite to the
chain movement. This may fling the bar
up and back in an uncontrolled arc
mainly in the plane of the bar. Under
some cutting circumstances the bar
moves towards the operator, who may
suffer severe or fatal injury.
Kickback may occur, for example,
when the chain near the upper quadrant
of the bar nose contacts the wood or is
pinched during limbing or when it is
incorrectly used to begin a plunge or
boring cut.
Rescue Saw