Instruction Manual

0458-759-8621-C
23
English 6 Kickback and Other Reactive Forces
New bar and chain combinations may be developed after
publication of this literature, which will, in combination with
certain chain saws, comply with the chain saw standards as
well.
WARNING
￭ Use of bar and chain combinations not listed in the STIHL
Bar and Chain Information leaflet (or other combinations
that do not comply with the chain saw standards) may
increase kickback forces as well as the propensity for
kickback and increase the risk of kickback injury.
– Please ask your authorized STIHL servicing dealer
to properly match your chain saw with the
appropriate bar and chain combination to reduce the
risk of kickback injury.
￭ Reduced kickback bars and low kickback chains do not
prevent kickback, but they are designed to reduce the risk
of kickback injury.
– STIHL recommends green-labeled bars and green-
labeled chains for all chain saws and all users.
￭ Even if your saw is equipped with a Quickstop chain
brake, a reduced kickback bar and/or low kickback chain,
this does not eliminate the risk of injury from kickback.
– Observe all safety precautions discussed in this
manual to avoid kickback situations.
a. Low Kickback Saw Chain
Some types of chain have specially designed components to
reduce the propensity for kickback and the force of kickback
if it occurs. STIHL has developed low kickback chain for your
chain saw.
A "low kickback chain" is a chain that has met the kickback
performance requirements of ANSI/OPEI B175.1 when
tested according to the provisions specified in ANSI/OPEI
B175.1.
WARNING
￭ Some low kickback chains have not been tested with all
chain saw and bar combinations. There are potential saw,
bar and low kickback chain combinations which have not
been specifically certified to comply with the 45°
computer-derived kickback angle of the chain saw
standards.
– STIHL recommends green-labeled bars and green-
labeled chains for all chain saws and all users.
– Please see your STIHL Bar and Chain Information
leaflet for the appropriate bar and chain
combinations for your saw.
– Please ask your authorized STIHL servicing dealer
to properly match your chain saw with the
appropriate bar and chain combination to reduce the
risk of kickback injury.
￭ A blunt or incorrectly sharpened chain may reduce or
negate the effectiveness of design features intended to
reduce kickback energy and the propensity for kickback.
Improper lowering or sharpening of the depth gauges or
changing the shape of the cutters may increase the risk
and the energy of kickback.
– Always cut with a properly sharpened chain.
– Read and follow the instructions on sharpening a
chain, @ 22.5.
￭ Any chain saw mounted with a bow guide is potentially
very dangerous. The risk of kickback is increased with a
bow guide because of the increased kickback contact area
and because the design of bow guides places the upper
portion of the bar closer to the operator's body. Using a
low kickback chain will not significantly reduce the risk of
kickback injury when used on a bow guide.
– Never mount a bow guide on any STIHL chain saw.
b. Reduced Kickback Bars
STIHL green-labeled reduced kickback bars are designed to
reduce the risk of kickback injury when used with STIHL
green-labeled low kickback chains.