Operation Manual

2
English / USA
MS 361 C
This STIHL chainsaw is equipped with a
chain brake system that can be
activated in three different ways. As
before, the chain brake can be activated
by the inertia of the front hand guard in
certain kickback situations or manually
by pushing the front hand guard toward
the bar nose. In both of these cases the
brake, once activated, is designed to
bring the chain to a standstill within
fractions of a second. In addition, there
is a secondary system that is designed
to stop chain rotation within a second of
you letting go of the rear handle. The
locked chain is not released again until
you press down the throttle trigger
interlock lever to operate the throttle.
The chain brake can be activated in
three ways:
1 By inertia in certain kickback
situations
2 Manually via the front hand guard
3 Manually by releasing the rear
handle
The activating mechanism for the
secondary chain braking system is
integrated in the throttle trigger interlock
lever (rear handle). One of the big
advantages of this system is that the
saw chain is automatically locked in
position for engine starts and when
carrying the running saw by the front
handle (with the rear handle released).
To reduce the risk of personal injury
or property damage during cutting,
observe the characteristics that
make this saw different from saws
not equipped with a secondary
chain braking system. Before
operating the chainsaw for the first
time, make sure you are familiar
with how the rear-handle activation
works. Pay special attention to the
chapters "Chain Brake" and
"Starting/Stopping the Engine".
Secondary Chain
Braking System
2
1
150BA000 KN