MS 241 C-M
English
16
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 saw chain is not 
turning at idle speed (see above at 
"Important Adjustments").
Low Kickback Saw Chain and Reduced 
Kickback Bars
STIHL offers a variety of bars and saw 
chains. STIHL reduced kickback bars 
and low kickback saw chains are 
designed to reduce the risk of kickback 
injury. Other saw chains are designed to 
achieve higher cutting performance or 
sharpening ease, but in turn are more 
prone to kickback. 
STIHL has developed a color code 
system to help you identify the STIHL 
reduced kickback bars and low kickback 
saw chains. Cutting attachments with 
green warning labels on the packaging 
are designed to reduce the risk of 
kickback injury. The matching of green 
marked or labeled chain saws under 
3.8 cubic inches (62 cm³) displacement 
with green labeled bars and green 
labeled saw chains gives compliance 
with the computed kickback angle 
requirements of the chain saw standard 
when the products are in their original 
condition. Products with yellow labels 
are for users with extraordinary cutting 
needs, having experience and 
specialized training for dealing with 
kickback.
STIHL recommends the use of its green 
labeled reduced kickback bars, green 
labeled low kickback saw chains and a 
chain saw equipped with a STIHL 
Quickstop chain brake for both 
experienced and inexperienced chain 
saw users.
Please ask your STIHL dealer to 
properly match your chain saw with the 
appropriate bar / saw chain combination 
to reduce the risk of kickback injury. 
Green labeled bars and saw chains are 
recommended for all chain saws.
WARNING
Use of other, non-listed bar / saw chain 
combinations may increase kickback 
forces and the risk of kickback injury. 
New bar / saw chain combinations may 
be developed after publication of this 
literature, which will, in combination with 
certain chain saws, comply with the 
chain saw standard as well. Check with 
your STIHL dealer for such 
combinations.
WARNING
Reduced kickback bars and low 
kickback saw 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 saw chain, this does not 
eliminate the risk of injury by kickback. 
Therefore, always observe all safety 
precautions to avoid kickback situations.
Low Kickback Saw Chain
Some types of saw chains have 
specially designed components to 
reduce the force of nose contact 
kickback. STIHL has developed low 
kickback saw chain for your chain saw.
A "low kickback saw chain" is a saw 
chain that has met the kickback 
performance requirements of 
ANSI/OPEI B175.1
-
2012 when tested 
according to the provisions specified in 
ANSI/OPEI B175.1
-
2012.
WARNING
There are potential chain saw 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 the chain saw standard. Some 
low kickback saw chains have not been 
tested with all chain saw and bar 
combinations.
WARNING
A blunt or incorrectly sharpened saw 
chain may reduce or negate the effects 
of the design features intended to 
reduce kickback energy. Improper 
lowering or sharpening of the depth 
gauges as well as changing the shape of 
the cutters may increase the risk and the 
energy of kickback. Always cut with a 
properly sharpened saw chain.