14
English / USA
MS 192 T
Reactive forces including kickback
!Warning!
Reactive forces may occur any time the 
chain is rotating. Reactive forces can be 
dangerous! In any chainsaw, 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 like a log or branch or is 
pinched, the reactive forces may occur 
instantly. 
These reactive forces may result in loss 
of control which may, in turn, cause 
serious or fatal injury. An understanding 
of the causes of these reactive forces 
may help you avoid loss of control.
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 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:
a) saws with a displacement of less 
than 3.8 cubic inches
– 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 
chainbrake, low kickback chain, 
reduced kickback bar, etc.
001BA035 KN