STIHL E20 Chainsaw Owners Manual

Important Safety Precautions for Chain Saw Users A. Kickback Safety Precautions !Warning! Kickback may occur when the nose or tip of the guide bar touches an object, or when the wood closes in and pinches the saw chain in the cut. Tip contact in some cases may cause a lightning fast reverse reaction, kicking the guide bar up and back towards the operator. Pinching the saw chain along the top of the guide bar may push the guide bar rapidly back towards the operator. Either of these reactions may cause you to lose control of the saw which could result in serious personal injury.

Section 5.12 of ANSI B 175.1-2000 sets certain performance and design criteria related to chainsaw kickback. STIHL has developed a color code system using green and yellow to help you select a powerhead, bar and chain combination that complies with the kickback requirements of the ANSI Standard. See the sections entitled “Safety Precautions ” and “Specifications ” of this manual. Do not rely exclusively upon the safety devices built into your saw. As a chainsaw user, you should take several steps to keep your cutting jobs free from accident or injury. 1. With a basic understanding of kickback, you can reduce or eliminate the element of surprise. Sudden surprise contributes to accidents. Keep a good firm grip on the saw with both hands, the right hand on the rear handle, and the left hand on the front handle, when the engine is running. Use a firm grip with thumbs and fingers encircling the chainsaw handles. A firm grip will help you reduce kickback and maintain control of the saw. Don’t let go. Make sure the area in which you are cutting is free from obstructions. Do not let the nose of the guide bar contact a log, branch, or any other obstruction while you are operating the saw. Cut at high engine speeds. Do not overreach or cut above shoulder height. 6. Follow manufacturer’s sharpening and maintenance instructions for the saw chain. Only use replacement bars and chains specified by the manufacturer or the equivalent. 7. B. Other Safety Precautions 1. Do not operate a chainsaw with one hand! Serious injury to the operator, helpers, bystanders, or any combination of these persons may result from one-handed operation. A chainsaw is intended to be used with two hands. Do not operate a chainsaw when you are fatigued. Use safety footwear; snug-fitting clothing; protective gloves; and eye, hearing, and head protection devices. Do not allow other persons to be near the chainsaw when starting or cutting with the chainsaw. Keep bystanders and animals out of the work area. continued on the back inside cover Contents Main Parts and Controls Definitions Safety Precautions Mounting the Bar and Chain Tensioning the Saw Chain Checking Chain Tension Chain Oil Filling Chain Oil Tank Chain Brake Connecting Saw to Power Supply Switching On Switching Off Overload Circuit Breaker Checking Chain Lubrication During Operation After Finishing Work Taking Care of Guide Bar Checking and Replacing the Chain Sprocket Motor Cooling Storing the Machine Maintaining and Sharpening the Saw Chain Maintenance Chart Specifications Ordering Spare Parts Adresses 31 34 35 36 36 This manual contains operating and safety instructions for all STIHL E 220 series chainsaws. Pay special attention to the safety precautions outlined on pages 4 to 20. Allow only persons who understand this Manual to operate your chainsaw. To receive maximum performance and satisfaction from your STIHL chainsaw, it is important that you read and understand the maintenance and safety precautions before using your saw. Contact your STIHL dealer or the STIHL distributor for your area if you do not understand any of the instructions in this Manual. Warning! Because a chainsaw is a high-speed wood-cutting tool, some special safety precautions must be observed as with any other power saw to reduce the risk of personal injury. Careless or improper use may cause serious or even fatal injury. STIHL’s philosophy is to continually improve all of its products. As a result, engineering changes and improvements are made from time-to-time. If the operating characteristics or the appearance of your saw differ from those described in this Manual, please contact your STIHL dealer for information and assistance. Printed on chlorine-free paper Printing inks contain vegetable oils, paper is recyclable 2002 Andreas Stihl AG & Co., Waiblingen 0458 107 3021. M0,75. B2. Rei. Printed in Germany E 220 1 0DLQ 3DUWV DQG &RQWUROV