Stihl MS 661 C-M Instruction Manual page 20

English
running at idle. If it does, have your STIHL dealer
check your chain saw and make proper adjustments
and repairs before use.
￭ To reduce the risk of severe personal injuries from
unintentional starting:
– Never touch a chain with your hand or any part of
your body when the engine is running, even when
the chain is not rotating.
￭ The chain continues to move for a short period after the
throttle trigger is fully released. This is known as the
"flywheel effect." To reduce the risk of serious personal
injury from contact with the chain:
– Wait for the chain to stop and engage the chain
brake before walking with the chain saw or putting it
down.
￭ Your chain saw is equipped with a chain catcher. It is
designed to reduce the risk of personal injury in the event
of a thrown or broken chain.
– Never operate the chain saw with a damaged or
missing chain catcher.
￭ Contacting foreign objects while sawing might cause the
chain to break or be thrown, or cause the chain saw to
propel dangerous debris or kick back in the direction of the
operator. To reduce the risk of severe or fatal personal
injury caused by contact with foreign objects:
– Inspect the tree, log or branch before cutting.
– Remove any foreign objects to ensure that the wood
is free of materials such as nails, spikes, cables, or
wires.
– Before starting a cut, ensure that it can be completed
without contacting surrounding objects or structures
such as fencing or stonework.
￭ Check the chain saw, chain and guide bar at regular short
intervals during operation, or immediately if there is a
change in cutting behavior:
– Shut off the engine and activate the chain brake.
– Have damaged, broken or excessively worn anti-
vibration elements replaced immediately. A
"sponginess" in the feel of the saw, increased
18
5 IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
vibration or increased "bottoming" during normal
operation may indicate damage, breakage or
excessive wear.
– Anti-vibration elements should always be replaced in
sets. If you have any questions as to whether the
anti-vibration elements should be replaced, consult
your authorized STIHL servicing dealer.
– Check the condition and tension of the chain. Look
for damage to the chain or guide bar.
– If the chain cannot be properly tensioned, or if other
components of the saw are worn or damaged, stop
work immediately and take your chain saw to an
authorized STIHL servicing dealer for inspection,
repair or maintenance.
￭ The muffler and other parts of the engine (e.g. fins of the
cylinder, spark plug) become hot during operation and
remain hot for a while after stopping the engine. To reduce
the risk of burn injury:
– Allow the engine to cool before inspecting,
transporting or storing the chain saw. Avoid
contacting the muffler while it is still hot following
operation.
– Keep the area around the muffler clean. Remove
excess lubricant and all debris such as pine needles,
branches or leaves.
– Allow the chain saw to cool on concrete, metal, bare
ground or solid wood (e.g. the trunk of a felled tree)
away from any combustible substances.
– Do not continue work with a damaged or improperly
mounted cylinder housing or a damaged/deformed
muffler shell. It may interfere with the cooling
process of the muffler.
￭ The muffler of this chain saw is furnished with a spark
arresting screen. If your gas/oil mix ratio is correct (i.e.,
not too rich), this screen will normally stay clean as a
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