MS 241 C-M
English
15
Devices for Reducing the Risk of 
Kickback Injury
Stihl recommends the use of green 
labeled reduced kickback bars and low 
kickback saw chains on your chain saw 
equipped with a Stihl Quickstop chain 
brake.
WARNING
To reduce the risk of injury, never use a 
chain saw if the chain brake does not 
function properly. Take the chain saw to 
your local STIHL servicing dealer. Do 
not use the chain saw until the problem 
has been rectified.
STIHL Quickstop Chain Brake
STIHL has developed a saw chain 
stopping system designed to reduce the 
risk of injury in certain kickback 
situations. It is called a Quickstop chain 
brake.
There are two mechanisms for activating 
the chain brake if it is in a properly 
maintained condition:
– manual activation: If a kickback 
occurs, the chain saw moves 
upwards towards the user in a 
rotating motion around the front 
handle. The brake is designed to 
engage if the left hand contacts the 
front guard, which is the activation 
lever for the brake, and pushes it 
forward.
– inertia activation: All STIHL chain 
saws are equipped with an interia 
Quickstop chain brake. If the 
kickback impulse is strong enough, 
this alone is sufficient to engage the 
brake even without contacting the 
front hand guard.
WARNING
Never operate your chain saw 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 chain 
saw equipped with a Quickstop chain 
brake will disable the activation 
mechanism of 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 saw chain after activation, or may 
not activate at all.
WARNING
Never run the chain saw above idle 
speed for more than 3 seconds when the 
chain brake is engaged or when the saw