Husqvarna Z 254 Manual

							English Ð 11
!
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
C Some terms that describe the bar and chain
When the cutting equipment supplied with your saw becomes
worn or damaged you will need to replace it. Use only the type
of bar and chain recommended by us. See the
 ÓTechnical dataÓsection to find out which equipment is recommended for your
saw.
Bar
¥ LENGTH (inches/cm)
¥ NUMBER OF TEETH ON
BAR TIP SPROCKET (T).
Small number = small tip
radius = low-kickback
¥ CHAIN PITCH (inches)
The spacing between the
drive links of the chain must
match the spacing of the
teeth on the bar tip sprocket
and drive sprocket.
¥ NUMBER OF DRIVE LINKS
The number of drive links is
determined by the length of
the bar, the chain pitch and
the number of teeth on the
bar tip sprocket.
¥ BAR GROOVE WIDTH
(inches/mm)
The groove in the bar must
match the width of the chain
drive links.
¥ SAW CHAIN OIL HOLE
AND HOLE FOR CHAIN
TENSIONER
The bar must be matched to
the chain saw design.
Saw chain
¥ SAW CHAIN PITCH
(inches)
Spacing between drive
links.
¥ DRIVE LINK WIDTH (mm/
inches)
¥ NUMBER OF DRIVE LINKS
¥ LEVEL OF KICKBACK
REDUCTION
The level of kickback
reduction offered by a chain
is indicated by its model
number.
See the
 ÓTechnical dataÓsection to find the model
numbers of chains that are
recommended for use with
your saw.
1 Cutting equipment designed to minimise
kickback
Faulty cutting equipment or the wrong
combination of bar and chain increases the
risk of kickback. Use only the bar and chain
combinations recommended in the 
ÓTechnical
dataÓ section.
The only way to avoid kickback is to make sure that the kick-
back zone of the bar never touches anything.
By using cutting equipment with Òbuilt-inÓ kickback protection
and keeping the chain sharp and well-maintained you can
reduce the effects of kickback.
A Bar
The smaller the tip radius the
smaller the kickback zone and
the lower the chance of
kickback.
B Saw chain
A saw chain is made up of a number of links, which are
available in standard and low-kickback versions.
None Standard Low-kickback
CUTTING LINK
DRIVE LINK
SIDE LINK
Combining these links in different ways gives different degrees
of kickback reduction. In terms of kickback reduction alone, four
different types of link are available.
Kickback reduction Cutting link Drive link Side link
LOW
STANDARD
HIGH
EXTRA HIGH 
						

							12 Ð English
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
!
2 Sharpening your chain and adjusting
raker clearance
The risk of kickback is increased with a badly
sharpened chain!
A General information on sharpening cutting teeth
¥ Never use a blunt chain. When the chain is blunt you have to
exert more pressure to force the bar through the wood and
the cuttings will be very small. If the chain is very blunt it will
not produce any cuttings at all, just wood powder.
¥ A sharp chain eats its way
through the wood and
produces long, thick
cuttings.
¥ The cutting part of the chain
is called the CUTTING LINK
and this consists of a
CUTTING TOOTH (A) and
the RAKER LIP (B). The
cutting depth is determined
by the difference in height
between the two.
¥ When you sharpen a cutting tooth there are five important
factors to remember.
FILING ANGLE
CUTTING ANGLE
FILE POSITION
ROUND FILE DIAMETER
FILE DEPTH
See the
 ÓTechnical dataÓ section for information about
sharpening your saw chain.
!
It is very difficult to sharpen a
chain correctly without the
right equipment. We
recommend you use a file
gauge. This  will help you
obtain the maximum kickback
reduction and cutting
performance from your chain.
The following faults will increase the risk of
kickback considerably.
¥ FILE ANGLE TOO
LARGE
¥ CUTTING ANGLE
TOO SMALL
¥ FILE DIAMETER
TOO SMALL
B Sharpening cutting
teeth
To sharpen cutting teeth you
will need a ROUND FILE and
a FILE GAUGE. See the
ÓTechnical dataÓ  section for
information on the size of file
and gauge that are
recommended for your saw
chain.
1 Check that the chain is
correctly tensioned. A
slack chain is difficult to
sharpen correctly.
2 Always file cutting teeth
from the inside face,
reducing the pressure on
the return stroke.
File all the teeth on one
side first, then turn the
saw over and file the
teeth on the other side.
3 File all the teeth to the
same length. When the
length of the cutting teeth
is reduced to 4 mm
(0,16) the chain is worn
out and should be
replaced.
B A
1
5
min 4 mm
       (0,16) 
						

							English Ð 13
!
C General advice on setting raker clearance
¥ When you sharpen the
cutting teeth you reduce the
RAKER CLEARANCE
(cutting depth). To maintain
cutting performance you
must file back the raker
teeth to the recommended
height.
See the 
ÓTechnical dataÓ
section to find the raker
clearance for your saw
chain.
¥ On a low-kickback cutting
link the front edge of the
raker lip is rounded. It is
very important that you
maintain this radius or bevel
when you adjust the raker
clearance.
¥ We recommend the use of a
raker gauge to achieve the
correct clearance and bevel
on the raker lip.
The risk of kickback is increased if the raker
clearance is too large!
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
 D Setting the raker clearance
¥ Before setting the raker clearance the cutting teeth should be
newly sharpened.
We recommend that you adjust the raker clearance every
third time you sharpen the chain. NOTE! This
recommendation assumes that the length of the cutting teeth
is not reduced excessively.
¥ To adjust the raker
clearance you will need a
FLAT FILE and a RAKER
GAUGE.
¥ Place the gauge over the
raker lip.
¥ Place the file over the part
of the lip that protrudes
through the gauge and file
off the excess. The
clearance is correct when
you no longer feel any
resistance as you draw the
file over the gauge.
3 Tensioning the chain
!
¥ The more you use a chain the longer it becomes. It is
therefore important to adjust the chain regularly to take up the
slack.
¥ Check the chain tension every time you refuel.
NOTE! A new saw chain has a running-in period during which
you should check the tension more frequently.
¥ Tension the chain as tightly
as possible, but not so tight
that you cannot pull it round
freely by hand.A slack chain may jump off and cause serious
or even fatal injury. 
						

							14 Ð English
1 Undo the bar nuts that
hold the clutch cover and
chain brake, using the
combination spanner.
Then tighten the nuts by
hand as tight as you can.
2 Raise the tip of the bar
and stretch the chain by
tightening the chain
tensioning screw using
the combination spanner.
Tighten the chain until it
hangs slack on the
underside of the bar.
3 Use the combination
spanner to tighten the bar
nuts while lifting the tip of
the bar at the same time.
Check that you can pull
the chain round freely by
hand and that it is not
slack on the bottom of the
bar.
The position of the chain tensioning screw varies from
model to model. See the
Ó What is whatÓ section to find out
where it is on your saw.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
4 Lubricating cutting equipment
Poor lubrication of cutting equipment may
cause the chain to snap and lead to serious,
even fatal injuries.
Prolonged inhalation of exhaust gases from
the engine, chain lubrication oil mist and/or
saw dust can be unhealthy.
A Chain oil
¥ Chainsaw chain oil must demonstrate good adhesion to the
chain and also maintain its flow caracteristics regardless of
whether it is warm summer or cold winter weather.
¥ As a chainsaw manufacturer we have developed an optimal
chain oil which, with its vegetable oil base, is also
biodegradable. We recommend the use of our own oil for
both maximum chain life and to minimise environmental
damage.
¥ If our own chain oil is not available, standard chain oil is
recommended.
¥ In areas where oil specifically for lubrication of saw chains is
unavailable, ordinary EP 90 transmission oil may be used.
¥Never use waste oil!
This is dangerous for yourself, the saw and the environment.
B Filling with chain oil
¥ All our chain saws have an
automatic chain lubrication
system. On some models
the oil flow is also
adjustable.
¥ The sizes of the chain oil
tank and fuel tank have
been chosen so that the
saw will run out of fuel
before running out of oil.
This means that you should
never run with a dry chain.
However, this safety feature
requires that you use the
right sort of chain oil (if the
oil is too thin it will run out
before the fuel), and that
you adjust the carburettor
as recommended (a weak
mixture may mean that the
fuel lasts longer than the
oil). You should also use the
recommended cutting
equipment (a bar that is too
long will use more chain oil).
The above conditions also
apply to models with an
adjustable oil pump.
!
! 
						

							English Ð 15
C Checking chain lubrication
¥ Check the chain lubrication
each time you refuel.
Aim the tip of the saw at a
light coloured surface about
20 cm away. After 1 minute
running at 3/4 throttle you
should see a distinct line of
oil on the light surface.
If the chain lubrication is not working:
1 Check that the oil channel
in the bar is not
obstructed. Clean if
necessary.
2 Check that the groove in
the edge of the bar is
clean. Clean if necessary.
3 Check that the bar tip
sprocket turns freely and
that the lubricating hole in
the tip is not blocked.
Clean and lubricate if
necessary.
If the chain lubrication
system is still not working
after carrying out the
above measures you
should contact your
service agent.
D Lubricating the bar tip sprocket
¥ Lubricate the bar tip
sprocket each time you
refuel. Use the special
grease gun and a good
quality bearing grease.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
E Lubricating the clutch drum bearing
¥ Between the engine drive
shaft and the clutch drum is
a needle bearing that must
be lubricated daily. Use the
specially designed grease
gun and a good quality
bearing grease.
F Checking wear on cutting equipment
Saw chain
Check the saw chain daily for:
¥ Visible cracks in rivets and
links.
¥ Whether the chain is stiff.
¥ Whether rivets and links are
badly worn.
We recommend you
compare the existing chain
with a new chain to decide
how badly it is worn.
When the length of the
cutting teeth has worn down
to only 4 mm the chain must
be replaced.
G Chain drive sprocket
The clutch drum is fitted with one of the following drive
sprockets:
A SPUR (integral drive
sprocket)
B RING (replaceable)
Regularly check the
degree of wear on the
drive sprocket. Replace if
wear is excessive.
Replace the drive
sprocket whenever you
replace the chain.
A
B
min 4 mm
       (0,16) 
						

							16 Ð English
H Bar
Check regularly:
¥ Whether there are burrs on
the edges of the bar.
Remove these with a file if
necessary.
¥ Whether the groove in the
bar has become badly worn.
Replace the bar if
necessary.
¥ Whether the tip of the bar is
uneven or badly worn. If a
hollow forms on one side of
the bar tip this is due to a
slack chain.
¥ To prolong the life of the bar
you should turn it over daily.
MOST CHAIN SAW ACCIDENTS HAPPEN
WHEN THE CHAIN TOUCHES THE OPERA-
TOR.
¥ WEAR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
(see the section on 
ÓChain saw safety
equipmentÓ).
¥ DO NOT TACKLE ANY JOB YOU ARE UNSURE OF
(see the section on 
ÓPersonal protective
equipmentÓ
,ÓHow to avoid kickbackÓ, ÓGeneral
working instructionsÓ and ÓCutting equipmentÓ).
¥ AVOID SITUATIONS WHERE THERE IS A RISK OF
KICKBACK (see the section on 
ÓPersonal
protective equipmentÓ).
¥ USE THE RECOMMENDED PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT AND CHECK ITS CONDITION (see
section on 
ÓGeneral working instructionsÓ).
¥ CHECK THAT ALL SAFETY FUNCTIONS ARE
WORKING (see section on 
ÓGeneral working
instructionsÓ and ÓGeneral safety precautionsÓ).
!
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
HOW TO AVOID KICKBACK
Kickback can happen very suddenly and
violently; kicking the saw, bar and chain back
at the user. If this happens when the chain is
moving it can cause very serious, even fatal
injuries. It is vital you understand what causes
kickback and that you can avoid it by taking
care and using the right working technique.
What is kickback?
The word kickback is used to
describe the sudden reaction
that happens when the upper
quadrant of the tip of the bar
(known as the Òkickback zoneÓ)
touches an object and the
saw is kicked backwards.
Kickback always occurs in
the cutting plane of the saw.
Normally the saw and bar are
thrown backwards and
upwards towards the user.
However the saw may move
in a different direction
depending on the way it was
being used when the kickback
zone of the bar touched the
object.
Kickback only occurs if the
kickback zone of the bar
touches an object.
! 
						

							English Ð 17
!
6 Take great care when you
cut with the top edge of
the bar, i.e. when cutting
from the underside of the
object. This is known as
cutting on the push
stroke. The chain tries to
push the saw back
towards the user.
Unless the user resists
this pushing force there is
a risk that the saw will
move so far backwards
that only the kickback
zone of the bar is in
contact with the tree. This
will cause kickback.
Cutting with the bottom
edge of the bar, i.e. from
the top of the object
downwards, is known as
cutting on the pull stroke.
In this case the saw pulls
itself towards the tree and
the front edge of the saw
provides a natural rest
when cutting. Cutting on
the pull stroke gives you
better control over the
saw and the position of
the kickback zone.
7 Follow the instructions on sharpening and maintaining your
bar and chain. When you replace the bar and chain use
only combinations that are recommended by us. See the
sections on 
ÓCutting equipmentÓ and ÓTechnical dataÓ.
The risk of kickback is increased if you use
the wrong cutting equipment or a chain that is
not sharpened correctly. The wrong
combination of bar and chain can increase the
risk of kickback!
General rules
1 If you understand what kickback is and how it happens then
you can reduce or eliminate the element of surprise. By
being prepared you reduce the risk. Kickback is usually
quite mild, but it can sometimes be very sudden and
violent.
2 Always hold the saw
firmly with your right hand
on the rear handle and
your left hand on the front
handle.
Wrap your fingers and
thumb around the hand-
les. You should use this
grip whether you are
right-handed or left-
handed. This grip
minimises the effect of
kickback and lets you
keep the saw under
control.
Do not let go of the
handles!
3 Most kickback accidents
happen during limbing.
Make sure you are
standing firmly and that
there is nothing in the way
that might make you trip
or lose your balance.
Lack of concentration can
lead to kickback if the
kickback zone of the bar
accidentally touches a
branch, nearby tree or
some other object.
4 Never use the saw above
shoulder height and try
not to cut with the tip of
the bar.
Never use the saw one-
handed!
5 Always use a fast cutting speed, i.e. full throttle.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 
						

							18 Ð English
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
1 Chain saws are designed solely for cutting wood. The only
cutting equipment that can be used with this chain saw are
the combinations of bars and chains recommended in the
ÓTechnical dataÓ section.
2 Never use a chain saw if
you are tired, if you have
drunk alcohol, or if you
are taking medication that
affects your vision, your
judgement or your co-
ordination.
3 Always wear suitable protective clothing. See the section
on 
ÓPersonal protective equipmentÓ.
4 Never use a chain saw that has been modified in any way
from its original specification.
5 Never use a chain saw
that is faulty. Carry out
the regular checks,
maintenance and service
routines described in this
manual. Some
maintenance and service
measures must be carried
out by trained specialists.
See the section on
ÓMaintenanceÓ.
7 FUEL SAFETY
(Refuelling, fuel mixture, storage.)
Fuel and fuel vapour are highly inflammable.
Take care when handling fuel and chain oil.
Keep away from naked flames and do not
breathe in fuel vapour.
¥ Never try to refuel the saw
while it is running.
¥ Make sure there is plenty of
ventilation when refuelling
or mixing fuel (2-stroke
mixture).
¥ Move the saw at least 3 m
from the refuelling point
before starting it.
¥ Never start the chainsaw:
a) If you have spilt fuel or
chain oil on the saw.
Wipe off the spill and
allow remaining fuel to
evaporate.
b) If you spill fuel or chain
oil on yourself or your
clothes. Change your
clothes.
c) If there is a fuel leak.
Check regularly for
leaks from the
FUEL CAP and FUEL
LINES.
¥ Always store the chain saw and fuel away from any
sources of sparks or naked flames, e.g. machines, electric
motors, relays, switches, boilers, etc.
¥ Always store fuel in an approved container designed for
 that purpose.
¥ For longer periods of storage or for transport of the saw,
the fuel and chain oil tanks should be emptied. Ask where
you can dispose of waste fuel and chain oil at your local
petrol station.
8 Never use any accessories other than those recommended
in this manual. See the sections on 
ÓCutting equipmentÓand ÓTechnical dataÓ.
The risk of accident is increased if you use the
wrong cutting equipment or a chain that is not
sharpened correctly. Using the wrong combi-
nation of bar and chain can increase the risk
of accidents!
!
Min. 3 m
(10 ft)
!
6 STARTING
¥ Never start a chain saw
unless the bar, chain and
clutch cover are fitted
correctly. (See section on
ÓAssemblyÓ).
¥ Never start a chain saw
indoors. Exhaust fumes can
be dangerous.
¥ Before starting the saw
make sure there are no
people or animals nearby
who might be put at risk.
¥ Place the saw on the
ground and hold the rear
handle down with your right
foot. Grasp the front handle
firmly using your left hand.
Make sure the chain saw is
steady and the chain is not
touching the ground. Then
grasp the starter handle
with your right hand and pull
the starter cord.
Prolonged inhalation of exhaust gases from
the engine, chain lubrication oil mist and/or
saw dust can be unhealthy.
! 
						

							English Ð 19
!
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
GENERAL WORKING INSTRUCTIONS
This section describes basic safety rules for
using a chain saw. This information is no
substitute for professional skills and
experience. If you get into a situation where
you feel unsafe, stop and seek expert advice
(look under FORESTRY SERVICES in the
telephone directory).
DO NOT ATTEMPT ANY TASK THAT YOU
FEEL UNSURE OF!
Important
1 Before using a chain saw you must understand the effects of
kickback and what causes it. (See the section on 
ÓHow to
avoid kickbackÓ.)
2 Before using a saw you must understand the difference
between sawing with the top and bottom edges of the bar.
(See the section on 
ÓHow to avoid kickbackÓ.)
1 Basic safety rules
1 Look around you:
¥ to make sure there are no
people, animals or other
objects nearby that might
affect your work.
¥ to make sure that none of
the above might come within
reach of your saw or be
injured by falling trees.
Follow the instructions above, but do not use a chain saw in a
situation where you cannot call for help in case of an accident.
2 Do not use the saw in bad weather, such as dense fog,
heavy rain, strong wind, intense cold, etc. Working in cold
weather is tiring and often brings added risks, such as icy
ground, unpredictable felling direction, etc.
3 Take great care when removing small branches and avoid
cutting bushes (i.e. cutting many small branches at the
same time). Small branches can be grabbed by the chain
and thrown back at you, causing serious injury.4 Check the area around
you for possible obstacles
such as roots, rocks,
branches, ditches, etc., in
case you have to move
suddenly. Take great care
when working on sloping
ground.
5 Take the utmost care
when cutting through
branches or logs that are
in tension. A log or branch
that is in tension can
suddenly spring back into
its natural position before
or after you cut it. If you
stand on the wrong side
or start cutting in the
wrong place it may strike
you or your chain saw.
This could make you lose
control and cause a
serious accident.
6 Before moving your chain
saw switch off the engine
and lock the chain using
the chain brake. Carry the
saw with the bar and
chain pointing backwards.
Fit a guard to the bar
before carrying the saw
any distance.
7 Never put a chain saw
down while the engine is
running unless you have it
in clear view and the
chain brake is on. Switch
the engine off before
leaving your chain saw for
any length of time. 
						

							20 Ð English
!
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Two factors decide whether the chain will jam or the log will
split. The first is how the log is supported and the second is
whether it is in tension.
In most cases you can avoid these problems by cutting in two
stages; from the top and from the bottom of the log. You need
to support the log so that it will not trap the chain or split during
cutting.
If the chain jams in the cut:
STOP THE ENGINE! DonÕt try to pull the saw
free. If you do you may damage the chain
when the saw suddenly breaks free. Use a
lever to open up the cut and free the bar.
The following instructions describe how to handle most types of
situation that you will be faced with when using a chain saw.
Cutting
1 The log is lying on the
ground. There is little risk
of the chain jamming or
the log splitting. However
there is a risk that the
chain will touch the
ground when you finish
the cut.
Cut all the way through
the log from above. Try
not to touch the ground as
you finish the cut.
Maintain full throttle but
be prepared in case the
chain snatches.
A If it is possible to turn
the log you should stop
cutting about 2/3 of the
way through.
B Turn the log and finish
the cut from the
opposite side.
2 Basic cutting technique
General
¥Always use full throttle when cutting!
¥Reduce the speed to idle after every cut (running the
engine for too long at full throttle without any load can lead to
serious engine damage).
¥ Cutting from above = Cutting on the pull stroke.
¥ Cutting from below = Cutting on the push stroke.
See the section on 
ÓHow to avoid kickbackÓ to find out why
cutting on the push stroke increases the risk of kickback.
Terms:
Cutting = General term for cutting through wood.
Limbing = Cutting limbs off a felled tree.
Splitting = When the object you are cutting breaks off
before the cut is complete.
There are five important factors you should consider
before making a cut:
1 Make sure the bar will not
jam in the cut.
2 Make sure the log will not
split.
3 Make sure the chain will
not strike the ground or
any other object during or
after cutting.
4 Is there a risk of kick-
back?
5 Do the conditions and
surrounding terrain affect
your safety when
working?