English / USA

Low kickback saw chain and reduced kickback bars

STIHL offers a variety of bars and chains. STIHL reduced kickback bars and low kickback chains are designed to reduce the risk of kickback injury. Other chains are designed to obtain higher cutting efficiency or sharpening ease but may result in higher kickback tendency.

STIHL has developed a color code system to help you identify the STIHL reduced kickback bars and low kickback chains. Cutting attachments with green warning decals or green labels on the packaging are designed to reduce the risk of kickback injury. The matching of green decaled powerheads under 3.8 cubic inch (62 cm³) displacement with green labeled bars and green labeled chains gives compliance with the computed kickback angle requirements of ANSI B 175.1-2000 when the products are in their original condition. Products with yellow decals or labels are for users with extraordinary cutting needs and experience and specialized training for dealing with kickback.

STIHL recommends the use of its green labeled reduced kickback bars, green labeled low kickback chains and a STIHL Quickstop chain brake for both experienced and inexperienced chainsaw users.

Please ask your STIHL dealer to properly match your powerhead with the appropriate bar/chain combination to reduce the risk of kickback injury. Green labeled bars and chains are recommended for all powerheads.

Warning!

Use of other, non-listed bar/chain combinations may increase kickback forces and the risk of kickback injury. New bar/chain combinations may be developed after publication of this literature, which will, in combination with certain powerheads, comply with

§5.11 of ANSI B 175.1-2000. Check with your STIHL dealer for such combinations.

!Warning!

Reduced kickback bars and low kickback chains do not prevent kickback, but they are designed to reduce the risk of kickback injury. They are available from your STIHL dealer.

!Warning!

Even if your saw is equipped with a Quickstop, a reduced kickback bar and/ or low kickback chain, this does not eliminate the risk of injury by kickback. Therefore, always observe all safety precautions to avoid kickback situations.

Low kickback chain

Some types of saw chain have specially designed components to reduce the force of nose contact kickback. STIHL has developed low kickback chain for your powerhead.

"Low kickback saw chain" is a chain which has met the kickback performance requirements of § 5.11.2.4 of ANSI B 175.1-2000 (Gasoline- Powered Chain Saws–Safety Requirements) when tested in its original condition on a selected representative sample of chainsaws below 3.8 cubic inch (62 cm³) displacement specified in

ANSI B 175.1-2000.

!Warning!

There are potential powerhead and bar combinations with which low kickback saw chains can be used which have not been specifically certified to comply with the 45° computer derived kickback angle of § 5.11 of ANSI B 175.1-2000. Some low kickback chains have not been tested with all powerhead and bar combinations.

!Warning!

A dull or improperly sharpened chain may reduce or negate the effects of the design features intended to reduce kickback energy. Improper lowering or sharpening of the depth gauges or shaping of the cutters may increase the chance and the potential energy of a kickback. Always cut with a properly sharpened chain.

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MS 270, MS 270 C, MS 280, MS 280 C