STIHL MS 881 2 - 30 Instruction Manual
English Guide to Using this Manual 2.1 Symbols used with warnings in the text WARNING ■ This symbol indicates dangers that can cause serious injuries or death. ► The measures indicated can avoid serious injuries or death. NOTICE ■ This symbol indicates dangers that can cause damage to property. ► The measures indicated can avoid damage to property. 2.2 Symbols in Text This symbol refers to a chapter in this instruction manual. 3 Overview 3.
Overview 2 Front hand guard The front hand guard protects the operator's left hand from contact with the saw chain and is used to engage the chain brake in case of kickback. 3 Muffler Reduces chainsaw noise emissions. 4 Guide bar The guide bar supports and guides the saw chain. 5 Saw chain The saw chain cuts the wood. 6 Spiked bumper Supports the chainsaw against wood while cutting. 7 Tensioning screw Adjusts the chain tension. 8 Chain sprocket The chain sprocket drives the saw chain.
English 4 Safety Precautions ► Read, understand and save the instruction manual. This symbol marks the decompression valve. Master Control lever is moved in this direc‐ tion to stop the engine. Master Control lever is moved in this direc‐ tion to stop the engine. Engine is operated with the Master Control lever in this position. Engine is started with the Master Control lever in this position. Engine is made ready for start with the Master Control lever in this position.
4 Safety Precautions ► STIHL recommends that you wear a face shield. ► Wear a long-sleeved, snug-fitting upper gar‐ ment. ■ Noise occurs during operation. Noise can harm your hearing. ► Wear hearing protection. English can ignite easily flammable materials and cause a fire. ► Keep exhaust gas well away from easily flammable materials. 4.6 Safe Condition 4.6.1 Chainsaw The chainsaw is in a safe condition if the follow‐ ing points are observed: – The chainsaw is not damaged.
English 4 Safety Precautions ► Never insert objects in the chainsaw’s open‐ ings. ► Replace worn or damaged labels. ► If you have any doubts, be sure to consult a STIHL dealer. 4.6.2 Guide Bar The guide bar is in a safe condition if the follow‐ ing points are observed: – Guide bar is not damaged. – Guide bar is not deformed. – The minimum groove depth is maintained, 19.3. – Bar rails are free from burrs. – Bar groove is not pinched or splayed.
4 Safety Precautions explosion in an easily combustible or explo‐ sive environment. This can result in serious or fatal injuries and damage to property. ► Use the spark plugs described in this instruc‐ tion manual. ► Insert and tighten down the spark plug. ► Connect the spark plug boot and press it down firmly.
English 4 Safety Precautions ■ Note that the saw chain continues to rotate for a short period after you release the trigger. The rotating saw chain can cut the user. This can result in serious injuries. ► Wait for the chain to come to a standstill. 1 2 2 1 0000-GXX-1245-A0 ■ ■ WARNING ■ The guide bar can be pinched when cutting wood that is under tension. The user can lose control of the saw and be seriously injured.
4 Safety Precautions Reactive Forces Kickback can be caused for the following rea‐ sons: – The rotating saw chain in the upper quadrant of the bar nose makes contact with a hard object and is suddenly braked. – The rotating saw chain is pinched at the bar nose. The saw is pulled away from the operator when the bottom of the bar is used for cutting. WARNING ■ If the rotating chain makes contact with a hard object and is suddenly pinched, the saw is abruptly jerked away from the operator.
English 4.10 5 Preparing the Saw for Operation Transporting WARNING 0000-GXX-2733-A0 ■ The saw may turn over or shift during trans‐ port. This can result in serious injuries and damage to property. ► Shut off the engine. ► Engage the chain brake. ► Fit the scabbard so that it completely covers the guide bar. ► Secure the chainsaw with lashing straps or a net to prevent it turning over and moving. ■ The muffler and engine may be hot after a period of operation. There is a risk of burn injuries.
6 Assembling the Saw English ► If you cannot carry out these steps: Do not use your chainsaw and contact your STIHL servic‐ ing dealer for assistance. 6 ► Fit the guide bar and chain on the saw and check the following points: – Chain drive links are seated in teeth of chain sprocket (7). – Collar studs (5) are located in slot in tail of guide bar (6). – Peg of tensioner slide (4) engages hole (8) in guide bar (6). Assembling the Saw 6.1 Mounting and Removing the Bar and Chain 6.1.
English 7 Engaging and Disengaging the Chain Brake 1 1 a ► Loosen the nuts (1). ► Disengage the chain brake. ► Hold the bar nose up and turn the tensioning screw (2) clockwise until the following points apply: – Chain sag ‘a’ in the center of the bar is 1 - 2 mm. – The chain can still be pulled easily along the bar with two fingers. ► Keep holding the bar nose up and tighten down the nuts (1) firmly. ► If chain sag ‘a’ in the center of the bar is not 1 - 2 mm: Readjust chain tension. 6.
English 0000-GXX-2932-A0 8 Mixing Fuel and Refueling the Chainsaw ► Push the hand guard away from the front han‐ dle with your left hand. The hand guard engages with an audible click. The chain brake is engaged. Disengaging the Chain Brake 0000-GXX-2933-A0 7.2 ► Depending on the required amount of fuel, determine the correct amounts of two-stroke engine oil and gasoline in a mix ratio of 50:1.
English 9 Starting and Stopping the Engine ► Remove the fuel tank cap. ► Press the cap down and rotate it counterclock‐ wise until mark (1) points to mark (2). ► Now try again to close the fuel tank. ► If the fuel tank still cannot be closed properly: Do not use the chainsaw and contact a STIHL dealer for assistance. The chainsaw is not in a safe condition. NOTICE ■ Bright light, sunlight and extreme tempera‐ tures can cause the fuel mix to separate much faster.
9 Starting and Stopping the Engine English 2 Starting the engine 5 Engage the chain brake (2). Pull off the chain scabbard. Depress the decompression valve (1). Press the throttle trigger lockout (5) and keep pressed. ► Press the throttle trigger (4) and keep pressed. ► Move the Master Control Lever (3) to posi‐ tion . ► Move the Master Control Lever (3) to posi‐ tion . 0000-GXX-2936-A0 0000-GXX-2937-A0 9.
English 10 Checking the Saw 10 ► Pull the starter grip slowly with your right hand until you feel it engage. ► Pull the starter grip quickly and allow the starter rope to rewind several times until the engine runs. ► Press the throttle trigger lockout (5) and keep pressed. ► Blip the throttle trigger (4). The master control lever (3) springs to position . The engine runs at idling speed. NOTICE ■ Do not accelerate the engine with the chain brake engaged since this can damage the chain brake.
11 Operating the Saw English 10.5 1 0000-GXX-1218-A0 2 ► Use a STIHL filing gauge (2) to check the height of the depth gauges (1). The STIHL fil‐ ing gauge must match the chain pitch. ► If a depth gauge (1) projects from the filing gauge (2): Lower the depth gauge (1), 16.3. 1 2 4 ► Make sure the service marks (1 to 4) on the cutters are visible. ► If one of the service marks is not visible on a cutter: Do not use your chainsaw and contact your STIHL servicing dealer for assistance.
English 11 Operating the Saw NOTICE ■ The engine may overheat if is operated in win‐ ter mode at temperatures above +10 °C. ► Change setting to summer mode. 1 3 0000-GXX-A383-A0 2 ► Push the shutter (2) into the guides (3) as far as it will go. You will feel it engage. ► Fit the filter cover (1). 11.3 Adjusting Carburetor for Opera‐ tion at High Altitude If you use the chainsaw at high altitude, the engine will not deliver optimum power.
11 Operating the Saw English 11.6 ► Warm up the engine by opening and closing the throttle for about 1 minute. Holding and Controlling the Chainsaw ► Hold and control your chainsaw with your left hand on the handlebar and your right hand on the control handle. Wrap thumb of left hand around the handlebar and thumb of right hand around the control handle. NOTICE ■ Engine power may drop noticeably when the chainsaw is subsequently used at tempera‐ tures above –10°C. ► Carry out the standard setting.
English Limbing 11.9.2 Preparing work area at base of tree ► Remove obstacles from work area at tree base. ► Remove growth from tree base. ► Support the chainsaw on the log. ► With the chain running a full speed, pivot the guide bar downward against the limb. ► Cut through the limb with the top of the guide bar. 0000-GXX-1247-A0 0000-GXX-2950-A1 11.
11 Operating the Saw Cutting the felling notch ► Cut until depth of kerf is twice the width of the guide bar. ► Swing the saw into plunge-cutting position. ► Perform the plunge cut 0000-GXX-1249-A0 The felling notch determines the direction in which the tree falls. Country-specific standards for making the felling notch must be observed. ► Position the saw so that the felling notch is an right angles to the direction of fall and the saw is close to the ground. ► Make the horizontal cut.
English 11 Operating the Saw ► Plunge the guide bar into the felling cut until it is visible at the other side of the trunk, 11.9.5. ► Apply the spiked bumper behind the hinge and use it as a pivot. ► Enlarge felling cut in direction of hinge. ► Enlarge felling cut in direction of stabilizing strap. ► Enlarge felling cut in direction of stabilizing strap. 0000-GXX-1257-A0 6. 0000-GXX-1255-A0 3. ► Insert a felling wedge. The felling wedge must match the tree diameter and the width of the felling cut.
12 After Finishing Work English ► ► ► ► ► ► Allow chainsaw to cool down. If the saw is wet: Allow the saw to dry. Clean the saw. Clean the bar and chain. Loosen nuts on the chain sprocket cover. Turn the tensioning screw two full turns coun‐ terclockwise. The chain is now slack. ► Tighten down nuts on the chain sprocket cover. ► Fit the scabbard so that it completely covers the guide bar. ► With arms outstretched, cut through the hold‐ ing strap from outside at a downward angle. The tree falls. 11.9.
English 15 Cleaning 3 1 3 4 0000-GXX-A376-A0 2 3 ► Remove the filter cover (1). ► Pull off the spark plug boot (2). ► Turn the shroud locks (3) counterclockwise until the cover (4) can be removed. ► Remove cover (4). ► Remove the chain sprocket cover. ► Use a soft brush, damp cloth or STIHL resin solvent to clean the chain sprocket cover, cyl‐ inder fins and the inside of the cover and filter cover. ► Clean the area around the chain sprocket with a damp cloth or STIHL resin solvent.
English 16 Maintenance 3 ► Press the spark plug boot (2) firmly home. ► Fit the filter cover (1). 1 2 16 0000-GXX-A378-A0 16.1 ► Push the air filter (3) into place by hand. ► Fit the filter cover (2). ► Turn the filter cover lock (1) clockwise and tighten it down firmly by hand. The filter cover (2) is closed. ► Press the throttle trigger lockout and keep pressed. ► Press the throttle trigger and keep pressed. ► Move the Master Control Lever to position .
English 17 Repairing ► File down the depth gauges with a flat file so that they are level with the STIHL filing gauge and parallel to the service mark. The STIHL fil‐ ing gauge must match the chain pitch. ► If you have any queries: Contact your STIHL servicing dealer for assistance. WARNING ■ The chain's cutters are very sharp. There is a risk of cut injuries. ► Wear work gloves made of durable material. 17 0000-GXX-1219-A0 17.
18 Troubleshooting English Condition Engine idles errati‐ cally. Engine stops while idling Poor acceleration Cause Remedy Carburetor is iced up. ► Allow saw to warm up to +10°C. Carburetor is iced up. ► Allow saw to warm up to +10°C. The chain is over-ten‐ sioned. Chain lubrication sys‐ tem is supplying insufficient chain oil. Saw chain does not The chain brake is rotate when throttle is engaged. opened. The chain is over-ten‐ sioned. Bar nose sprocket is blocked.
19 Specifications Saw chain runs continuously while engine is idling ► Carry out the standard setting. ► Start the engine and disengage the chain brake. ► Warm up the engine by opening and closing the throttle for about 1 minute. ► Turn the idle speed screw (LA) counterclock‐ wise until the saw chain stops running. ► Turn the idle speed screw (LA) one full turn counterclockwise. 18.4 2 ► Press the spark plug boot (2) firmly home. ► Fit the filter cover (1). Clearing the Combustion Chamber 19 19.
20 Bar and Chain Combinations English For information on compliance with Employers' Vibration Directive 2002/44/EC see www.stihl.com/vib. 19.5 REACH REACH is an EC regulation and stands for the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances. For information on compliance with the REACH regulation see www.stihl.com/reach. 19.
English 23 EC Declaration of Conformity declares under our sole responsibility that – Category: chainsaw – manufacturer's brand: STIHL – Model: MS 881 – serial number: 1124 – Displacement: 121.6 cm³ conforms to the relevant provisions of Directives 2011/65/EU, 2006/42/EC, 2014/30/EU and 2000/14/EC and has been developed and manu‐ factured in compliance with the following stand‐ ards in the versions valid on the date of produc‐ tion: EN ISO 11681‑1, EN 55012 and EN 61000‑6‑1.
23 EC Declaration of Conformity 0458-890-0121-B. VA0.A21.
0458-890-0121-B *04588900121B* www.stihl.
