Stihl MS 500i, Instruction Manual

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a fire in an easily combustible location. This
can result in serious or fatal injuries and dam‐
age to property.
► Do not work in an easily combustible loca‐
tion.
■ Note that the saw chain continues to rotate for
a short period after you release the trigger.
The rotating saw chain can cut the user. This
can result in serious injuries.
► Wait for the chain to come to a standstill.
0000-GXX-1245-A0
1
2
1
2
WARNING
■ The guide bar can be pinched when cutting
wood that is under tension. The user can lose
control of the saw and be seriously injured.
► Make a relieving cut in the compression side
(1) first, then perform bucking cut at the ten‐
sion side (2).
4.8.2 Limbing
WARNING
■ If the underside of the felled tree is limbed
first, it will no longer be supported on the
ground by branches. The tree can move dur‐
ing cutting work. This can result in serious or
fatal injuries.
► Cut through large limbs on the underside of
the tree only after it has been bucked.
► Do not stand on the log while limbing it.
■ A branch may fall to the ground during limbing.
The user may trip, fall or be seriously injured.
► Limb from the base to the crown of the tree.
4.8.3 Felling
WARNING
■ Inexperienced users cannot assess the dan‐
gers of felling a tree. This can result in serious
or fatal injuries and damage to property.
► If you have any queries: Do not fell the tree
yourself.
■ A tree and branches can fall on bystanders or
objects during the felling operation. This can
result in serious or fatal injuries and damage
to property.
► Determine direction of fall so that the area in
which the tree falls is clear.
► Do not allow bystanders, children or animals
within 2.5 tree lengths of the felling site.
► Remove broken or dead branches from the
tree crown before felling.
► If broken or dead branches cannot be
removed from the crown: Do not fell the tree.
► Observe tree crown and crowns of neighbor‐
ing trees and keep clear of falling branches.
■ When the tree falls the trunk can break or
spring back in the direction of the user. This
can result in serious or fatal injuries.
► Plan an escape path sideways behind the
tree.
► Walk backwards along the escape path and
observe the falling tree.
► Do not walk backwards down slopes.
■ Obstacles in the work area and on the escape
path can hinder the user. The user may trip
and fall. This can result in serious or fatal inju‐
ries.
► Remove all obstacles from the work area
and escape path.
■ If you cut into or through the hinge, stabilizing
strap or holding strap too soon, the intended
direction of fall cannot be controlled or the tree
can fall prematurely. This can result in serious
or fatal injuries and damage to property.
► Do not cut into or through the hinge.
► Cut through the stabilizing strap or holding
strap last.
► If the tree begins to fall too soon: Abandon
the felling cut and retreat along the escape.
■ Kickback can occur if the rotating chain in the
upper quadrant of the bar nose makes contact
with a hard felling wedge and is suddenly
braked. This can result in serious or fatal inju‐
ries.
► Use aluminum or plastic felling wedges.
■ If the tree does not fall all the way to the
ground or gets caught on another tree, the
operator cannot finish the operation in a con‐
trolled manner.
► Stop the felling operation and use a cable
winch or suitable vehicle to pull the tree to
the ground.
English 4 Safety Precautions
8 0458-809-0121-B. VA0.A21.