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 proper 
precautions to avoid injury from falling 
limbs or branches. Position the chainsaw in such a way that 
your body is clear of the cutting 
attachment whenever the engine is 
running. Stand to the left of cut while 
bucking. 
Never put pressure on the saw when 
reaching the end of a cut. The pressure 
may cause the bar and rotating chain to 
pop out of the cut or kerf, go out of 
control and strike the operator or some 
other object. If the rotating chain strikes 
some other object, a reactive force may 
cause the moving chain to strike the 
operator.
Working conditions
Operate and start your power tool only 
outdoors in a well ventilated area. 
Operate it under good visibility and 
daylight conditions only. Work carefully.
!
Warning!
Your chainsaw is a one-person machine. 
Do not allow other persons in the 
general work area, even when starting. 
Stop the engine immediately if you are 
approached. 
!
Warning!
Even though bystanders should be kept 
away from the running saw, never work 
alone. Keep within calling distance of 
others in case help is needed.
!
Warning! As soon as the engine is 
running, this product 
generates toxic exhaust 
fumes containing 
chemicals, such as 
unburned hydrocarbons 
(including benzene) and carbon 
monoxide, that are known to cause 
respiratory problems, cancer, birth 
defects, or other reproductive harm. 
Some of the gases (e.g. carbon 
monoxide) may be colorless and 
odorless. To reduce the risk of serious or 
fatal injury/illness from inhaling toxic 
fumes, never run the machine indoors or 
in poorly ventilated locations. If exhaust 
fumes become concentrated due to 
insufficient ventilation, clear 
obstructions from work area to permit 
proper ventilation before proceeding 
and/or take frequent breaks to allow 
fumes to dissipate before they become 
concentrated.
001BA031 KN
001BA082 KN 
						

							
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 dust at the source 
where possible. Use good work 
practices, such as always cutting with a 
properly sharpened chain (which 
produces wood chips rather than fine 
dust) and operating the unit so that the 
wind or operating process directs any 
dust raised by the power tool away from 
the operator. Follow the 
recommendations of EPA/OSHA/
NIOSH and occupational and trade 
associations with respect to dust 
(“particulate matter”). When the 
inhalation of dust cannot be substantially 
controlled, i.e., kept at or near the 
ambient (background) level, the 
operator and any bystanders should 
wear a respirator approved by NIOSH/
MSHA for the type of dust encountered.
!
Warning!
Breathing asbestos dust is dangerous 
and can cause severe or fatal injury, 
respiratory illness or cancer. The use 
and disposal of asbestos-containing 
products have been strictly regulated by 
OSHA and the Environmental Protection 
Agency. If you have any reason to 
believe that you might be cutting 
asbestos, immediately contact your 
employer or a local OSHA 
representative.
Operating instructions
!
Warning!
Do not operate your power tool using the 
starting throttle lock, as you do not have 
control of the engine speed.
In the event of an emergency, switch off 
the engine immediately – move the slide 
control / stop switch to  0 or  STOP .
!
Warning!
Always stop the engine before putting a 
chainsaw down.
!
Warning!
The saw chain continues to move for a 
short period after the throttle trigger is 
released (flywheel effect).
Accelerating the engine while the saw 
chain is blocked increases the load and 
will cause the clutch to slip continuously. 
This may occur if the throttle is 
depressed for more than a few seconds 
when the chain is pinched in the cut or 
the chain brake is engaged. It can result 
in overheating and damage to important 
components (e.g. clutch, polymer 
housing components) – which can then 
increase the risk of injury, e.g., from the 
saw chain moving while the engine is 
idling.
!
 Warning!
Your chainsaw is equipped with a chain 
catcher. It is designed to reduce the risk 
of personal injury in the event of a 
thrown or broken chain. From time to 
time, the catcher may be damaged or 
removed. To reduce the risk of personal 
injury, do not operate a chainsaw with a 
damaged or missing chain catcher.  
						

							
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 
servicing dealer.
!
Warning!
Your saw is not designed for prying or 
shoveling away limbs, roots or other 
objects. Such use could damage the 
cutting attachment or AV system. 
!
Warning!
When sawing, make sure that the saw 
chain does not touch any foreign 
materials such as rocks, fences, nails 
and the like. Such objects may be flung 
off, damage the saw chain or cause the 
saw to kickback.
!
Warning!
The muffler and other parts of the engine 
(e.g. fins of the cylinder, spark plug) 
become hot during operation and remain 
hot for a while after stopping the engine. 
To reduce risk of burns do not touch the 
muffler and other parts while they are 
hot.
!
Warning!
To reduce the risk of fire and burn injury, 
keep the area around the muffler clean. 
Remove excess lubricant and all debris 
such as pine needles, branches or 
leaves. Let the engine cool down sitting 
on concrete, metal, bare ground or solid 
wood (e.g. the trunk of a felled tree) 
away from any combustible substances.
!
Warning!
Never modify your muffler. A modified or 
damaged muffler could cause an 
increase in heat radiation or sparks, 
thereby increasing the risk of fire and 
burn injury. You may also permanently 
damage the engine. Have your muffler 
serviced and repaired by your STIHL 
servicing dealer only.
Catalytic converter
!
Warning! Some STIHL power tools 
are equipped with a 
catalytic converter, which 
is designed to reduce the 
exhaust emissions of the 
engine by a chemical 
process in the muffler. Due to this 
process, the muffler does not cool down 
as rapidly as conventional mufflers when 
the engine returns to idle or is shut off. 
To reduce the risk of fire and burn 
injuries, the following specific safety 
precautions must be observed.
!
Warning!
Since a muffler with a catalytic converter 
cools down less rapidly than conven-
tional mufflers, always set your power 
tool down in the upright position and 
never locate it where the muffler is near 
dry brush, grass, wood chips or other 
combustible materials while it is still hot. 
!
Warning!
An improperly mounted or damaged 
shroud or a damaged/deformed muffler 
shell may interfere with the cooling 
process of the catalytic converter. To 
reduce the risk of fire or burn injury, do 
not continue work with a damaged or 
improperly mounted cylinder shroud or a 
damaged/deformed muffler shell. 
Your catalytic converter is furnished with 
screens designed to reduce the risk of 
fire from the emission of hot particles. 
Due to the heat from the catalytic 
reaction, these screens will normally 
stay clean and need no service or 
maintenance. If you experience loss of 
performance and you suspect a clogged 
screen, have your muffler maintained by 
a STIHL servicing dealer.
      
        
         
 
         
    
						

							
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, which, in turn, may cause 
serious or fatal injury. An understanding 
of the causes of these reactive forces 
may help you avoid the element of 
surprise and loss of control. Sudden 
surprise contributes to accidents.
The most common reactive forces are:
–kickback,
– pushback,
–pull-in. Kickback:
Kickback may occur when 
the moving saw chain 
near the upper quadrant 
of the bar nose contacts a 
solid object or is pinched.
The reaction of the cutting force of the 
chain causes a rotational force on the 
chainsaw in the direction opposite to the 
chain movement. This may fling the bar 
up and back in a ligtening fast reaction in 
an uncontrolled arc mainly in the plane 
of the bar. Under some cutting 
circumstances the bar moves towards 
the operator, who may suffer severe or 
fatal injury.  Kickback may occur, for example, 
when the chain near the upper quadrant 
of the bar nose contacts the wood or is 
pinched during limbing or when it is 
incorrectly used to begin a plunge or 
boring cut.
The greater the force of the kickback 
reaction, the more difficult it becomes for 
the operator to control the saw. Many 
factors influence the occurrence and 
force of the kickback reaction. These 
include chain speed, the speed at which 
the bar and chain contact the object, the 
angle of contact, the condition of the 
chain and other factors. 
The type of bar and saw chain you use 
is an important factor in the occurrence 
and force of the kickback reaction. Some 
STIHL bar and chain types are designed 
to reduce kickback forces. STIHL 
recommends the use of reduced 
kickback bars and low kickback chains.
ANSI B 175.1-2000 chainsaw 
kickback standard
Section 5.11 of ANSI standard 
B 175.1-2000, sets certain performance 
and design criteria related to chainsaw 
kickback. 
To comply with section 5.11 of ANSI 
B 175.1-2000:
001BA093 LÄ
001BA035 KN 
						

							
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 least one  device designed to reduce the risk 
of kickback injury, such as a chain 
brake, low kickback chain, reduced 
kickback bar, etc.
The computer derived angles for saws 
below 3.8 cubic inch (62 cm³) 
displacement are measured by applying 
a computer program to test results from 
a kickback test machine.!
Warning!
The computer derived angles of § 5.11 
of ANSI B 175.1-2000 may bear no 
relationship to actual kickback bar 
rotation angles that may occur in real life 
cutting situations. In addition, features designed to reduce 
kickback injuries may lose some of their 
effectiveness when they are no longer in 
their original condition, especially if they 
have been improperly maintained. 
Compliance with § 5.11 of ANSI B 175.1-
2000 does not automatically mean that 
in a real life kickback the bar and chain 
will rotate at most 45°.
!
Warning!
In order for powerheads below 3.8 cubic 
inch (62 cm³) displacement to comply 
with the computed kickback angle 
requirements of § 5.11 of ANSI B 175.1-
2000 use only the following cutting 
attachments:
– bar and chain combinations listed  as complying in the Specifications 
section of the instruction manual or
– other replacement bar and chain  combinations marked in 
accordance with the standard for 
use on the powerhead or
– replacement chain designated  low kickback saw chain.“
See the section on Low kickback saw 
chain and reduced kickback bars. Devices for reducing the risk of 
kickback injury
STIHL recommends the use of the 
STIHL Quickstop chain brake on your 
powerhead with green labeled reduced 
kickback bars and low kickback chains.
!
Warning!
To reduce the risk of injury, never use a 
saw if the chain brake does not function 
properly. Take the saw to your local 
STIHL servicing dealer. Do not use the 
saw until the problem has been rectified. 
STIHL Quickstop chain brake
STIHL has developed a chain stopping 
system designed to reduce the risk of 
injury in certain kickback situations. It is 
called a Quickstop chain brake. The 
Quickstop chain brake is standard 
equipment on your STIHL chainsaw. 
						

							
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 newer STIHL chainsaws can also be 
activated by inertia.  If the kickback 
forces are sufficiently high, the hand 
guard is accelerated towards the bar 
nose even without hand contact. See the 
chapter entitled Chain Brake of your 
instruction manual.
!
Warning!
Never operate your chainsaw without a 
front hand guard. In a kickback situation 
this guard helps protect your left hand 
and other parts of your body. In addition, 
removal of the hand guard on a saw 
equipped with a Quickstop chain brake 
will deactivate the chain brake.
!
Warning!
No Quickstop or other chain brake 
device prevents kickback. These 
devices are designed to reduce the risk 
of kickback injury, if activated, in certain 
kickback situations. In order for the 
Quickstop to reduce the risk of kickback 
injury, it must be properly maintained 
and in good working order. See the 
chapter of your instruction manual 
entitled Chain Brake and the section 
Maintenance, Repair and Storing at 
the end of these Safety Precautions. In 
addition, there must be enough distance 
between the bar and the operator to 
ensure that the Quickstop has sufficient 
time to activate and stop the chain 
before potential contact with the 
operator.
!
Warning!
An improperly maintained chain brake 
may increase the time needed to stop 
the chain after activation, or may not 
activate at all.
!
Warning!
Never run the chainsaw above idle 
speed for more than 3 seconds when the 
chain brake is engaged or when the 
chain is pinched or otherwise caught in 
the cut. Clutch slippage can cause 
excessive heat, leading to severe 
damage of the motor housing, clutch 
and oiler component and may interfere 
with the operation of the chain brake. If 
clutch slippage in excess of 3 seconds 
has occurred, allow the motor housing to 
cool before proceeding and check the 
operation of your chain brake as 
described in the chapter entitled Chain 
Brake of your instruction manual. Also 
make sure that the chain is not turning at 
idle speed (see above at Important 
Adjustments). 
001BA174 KN 
						

							
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 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. 
						

							
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 
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 chainsaw 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 Dont overreach. 
5. Dont 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 chainsaw. A = Pull-in
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.
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.
001BA037 KN
A 
						

							
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 
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.
Cutting TechniquesFelling
Felling is cutting down a tree. 
Before felling a tree, consider carefully 
all conditions which may affect the 
direction of fall.!
Warning!
There are a number of factors that may 
affect and change the intended direction 
of fall, e.g. wind direction and speed, 
lean of tree, surrounding trees and 
obstacles, sloping ground, one-sided 
limb structure, wood structure, decay, 
snow load, etc. To reduce the risk of 
severe or fatal injury to yourself or 
others, look for these conditions prior to 
beginning the cut, and be alert for a 
change in direction while the tree is 
falling.
!
Warning! 
Always observe the general condition of 
the tree. Inexperienced users should 
never attempt to cut trees that are 
decayed or rotted inside or that are 
leaning or otherwise under tension. 
There is an increased risk that such 
trees could snap or split while being cut 
and cause serious or fatal injury to the 
operator or bystanders.  Also look  for 
broken or dead branches which could 
vibrate loose and fall on the operator. 
When felling on a slope, the operator 
should stand on the uphill side if 
possible. Felling Instructions:
When felling, maintain a distance of at 
least 2  1/2 tree lengths from the nearest 
person.
When felling in the vicinity of roads, 
railways and power lines, etc., take extra 
precautions. Inform the police, utility 
company or railway authority before 
beginning to cut.
!
Warning!
The noise of your engine may drown any 
warning call.
001BA038 KN
B
001BA088 LÄ
2/1 2
1
1
/12 
						

							
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 buttress roots, cut 
into the largest buttress vertically first 
(horizontally next) and remove the 
resulting piece.
Gunning sight
When making the felling notch, use the 
gunning sight on the shroud and housing 
to check the desired direction of fall:
Position the saw so that the gunning 
sight points exactly in the direction you 
want the tree to fall.
Conventional cut
C =
felling notch - determines the 
direction of the fall
For a conventional cut:
: Properly place felling notch 
perpendicular to the line of  fall, 
close to the ground.
: Cut down at approx. 45-degree 
angle to a depth of about 1/5 to 1/4 
of the trunk diameter.
: Make second cut horizontal.
: Remove resulting 45-degree piece.
B
001BA040 KN
A
45°45°B
001BA146 KN001BA153 KN
001BA143 KN
C
C