Stihl Ms 270 C Owners Manual

10 English / USAMS 270, MS 270 C, MS 280, MS 280 C!
Warning!
To reduce the risk of injury from loss of 
control, never work on a ladder or any 
other insecure support. Never hold the 
machine above shoulder height. Do not 
overreach.
!
Warning!
Never work in a tree unless you have 
received specific, professional training 
for such work, are properly secured 
(such as tackle and harness system or a 
lift bucket), have both hands free for 
operating the chainsaw in a cramped 
environment and have taken...

11
MS 270, MS 270 C, MS 280, MS 280 C English / USA
!
Warning!
Inhalation of certain dusts, especially 
organic dusts such as mold or pollen, 
can cause susceptible persons to have 
an allergic or asthmatic reaction. 
Substantial or repeated inhalation of 
dust and other airborne contaminants, in 
particular those with a smaller particle 
size, may cause respiratory or other 
illnesses. This includes wood dust, 
especially from hardwoods, but also 
from some softwoods such as Western 
Red Cedar. Control...

12 English / USAMS 270, MS 270 C, MS 280, MS 280 C!
 Warning!
Inspect buffers periodically. Replace 
damaged, broken or excessively worn 
buffers immediately, since they may 
result in loss of control of the saw. A 
sponginess in the feel of the saw, 
increased vibration or increased 
bottoming during normal operation 
may indicate damage, breakage or 
excessive wear. Buffers should always 
be replaced in sets. If you have any 
questions as to whether the buffers 
should be replaced, consult your STIHL...

13
MS 270, MS 270 C, MS 280, MS 280 C English / USA
Reactive forces including kickback
!
Warning!
Reactive forces may occur any time the 
chain is rotating. Reactive forces can 
cause serious personal injury.
The powerful force used to cut wood can 
be reversed and work against the 
operator. If the rotating chain is suddenly 
stopped by contact with any solid object 
such as a log or branch or is pinched, the 
reactive forces may occur instantly. 
These reactive forces may result in loss 
of control,...

14 English / USAMS 270, MS 270 C, MS 280, MS 280 C
a) Saws with a displacement of less 
than 3.8 cubic inches (62 cm³)
– must, in their original condition,  meet a 45° computer derived 
kickback angle when equipped with 
certain cutting attachments,
– and must be equipped with at least  two devices to reduce the risk of 
kickback injury, such as a chain 
brake, low kickback chain, reduced 
kickback bar, etc.
b) Saws with a displacement of  3.8 cubic inches (62 cm³) and above
– must be equipped with at...

15
MS 270, MS 270 C, MS 280, MS 280 C English / USA
When a kickback occurs, the guide bar 
may rotate around the front handle. If the 
cutting position is such that the 
operators left hand is gripping the front 
handle behind the hand guard, and if the 
left hand rotates around the front handle 
and makes a sufficiently forceful contact 
with the front hand guard, which is the 
Quickstop activating lever, this contact 
will activate a properly maintained 
Quickstop chain brake. The chain brake 
on...

16 English / USAMS 270, MS 270 C, MS 280, MS 280 C
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...

17
MS 270, MS 270 C, MS 280, MS 280 C English / USA
Reduced kickback bars 
STIHL green labeled reduced kickback 
bars are designed to reduce the risk of 
kickback injury when used with STIHL 
green labeled low kickback chains.
!
Warning! 
When used with other, more aggressive 
chains, these bars may be less effective 
in reducing kickback.
Bow Guides!
Warning!
Do not mount a bow guide on any STIHL 
chainsaw. Any chainsaw equipped with 
a bow guide is potentially very 
dangerous. The risk of kickback is...

18 English / USAMS 270, MS 270 C, MS 280, MS 280 C
B = Pushback
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 rapidely 
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...

19
MS 270, MS 270 C, MS 280, MS 280 C English / USA
Escape path
First clear the tree base and work area 
from interfering limbs and brush and 
clean its lower portion with an ax. 
Then, establish two paths of escape (B) 
and remove all obstacles. These paths 
should be generally opposite to the 
planned direction of the fall of the tree 
(A) and about at a 45° angle. Place all 
tools and equipment a safe distance 
away from the tree, but not on the 
escape paths. Buttress roots
If the tree has large...