Stihl MS 180 C-BE Product Instruction Manual - Page 18

English Bow Guides Warning! Do not mount a bow guide on any STIHL chain saw. Any chain saw equipped 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. Low kickback chain will not significantly reduce the risk of kickback injury when used on a bow guide. To avoid Kickback The best protection from personal injury that may result from kickback is to avoid kickback situations: 1. Hold the chain saw firmly with both hands and maintain a secure grip. Don't let go. 2. Be aware of the location of the guide bar nose at all times. 3. Never let the nose of the guide bar contact any object. Do not cut limbs with the nose of the guide bar. Be especially careful near wire fences and when cutting small, tough limbs, small size brush and saplings which may easily catch the chain. 4. Don't overreach. 5. Don't cut above shoulder height. 6. Begin cutting and continue at full throttle. 7. Cut only one log at a time. 8. Use extreme caution when reentering a previous cut. 9. Do not attempt to plunge cut if you are not experienced with these cutting techniques. 10. Be alert for shifting of the log or other forces that may cause the cut to close and pinch the chain. 11. Maintain saw chain properly. Cut with a correctly sharpened, properly tensioned chain at all times. 12. Stand to the side of the cutting path of the chain saw. A = Pull-in A Pull-in occurs when the chain on the bottom of the bar is suddenly stopped when it is pinched, caught or encounters a foreign object in the wood. The reaction of the chain pulls the saw forward and may cause the operator to lose control. Pull-in frequently occurs when the bumper spike of the saw is not held securely against the tree or limb and when the chain is not rotating at full speed before it contacts the wood. Warning! Use extreme caution when cutting small size brush and saplings which may easily catch the chain, be whipped towards you or pull you off balance. 001BA037 KN 001BA038 KN To avoid Pull-in 1. Always start a cut with the chain rotating at full speed and the bumper spike in contact with the wood. 2. The risk of pull-in may also be reduced by using wedges to open the kerf or cut. B = Pushback B Pushback occurs when the chain on the top of the bar is suddenly stopped when it is pinched, caught or encounters a foreign object in the wood. The reaction of the chain may drive the saw rapidly straight back toward the operator and may cause loss of saw control. Pushback frequently occurs when the top of the bar is used for cutting. To avoid Pushback 1. Be alert to forces or situations that may cause material to pinch the top of the chain. 2. Do not cut more than one log at a time. 3. Do not twist the saw when withdrawing the bar from a plunge cut or underbuck cut because the chain can pinch. 16 MS 170, MS 170 C, MS 180, MS 180 C