MS 461 R
English
19
A=Pull-in
Pull-in occurs when the saw chain on the 
bottom of the bar is suddenly stopped 
when it is pinched, caught or encounters 
a foreign object in the wood. The 
reaction of the saw chain pulls the chain 
saw forward and may cause the 
operator to lose control.
Pull-in frequently occurs when the 
bumper spike of the chain saw is not 
held securely against the tree or limb 
and when the saw chain is not rotating at 
full speed before it contacts the wood.
WARNING
Use extreme caution when cutting small 
size brush and saplings which may 
easily catch the saw chain, be whipped 
towards you or pull you off balance.
To avoid pull-in
1. Always start a cut with the saw 
chain rotating at full speed and the 
bumper spike in contact with the 
wood.
2. The risk of pull-in may also be 
reduced by using wedges to open 
the kerf or cut.
B = Pushback
Pushback occurs when the saw chain on 
the top of the bar is suddenly stopped 
when it is pinched, caught or encounters 
a foreign object in the wood. The 
reaction of the saw chain may drive the 
chain saw rapidly straight back toward 
the operator and may cause loss of 
chain saw control, which, in turn, may 
cause serious or fatal injury. Pushback 
frequently occurs when the top of the bar 
is used for cutting.
To avoid pushback
1. Be alert to forces or situations that 
may cause material to pinch the top 
of the saw chain.
2. Do not cut more than one log at a 
time.
3. Do not twist the chain saw when 
withdrawing the bar from a plunge 
cut or underbuck cut because the 
saw chain can pinch.
Limbing
Limbing is removing the branches from a 
fallen tree.
WARNING
There is an extreme danger of kickback 
during the limbing operation. Do not 
work with the nose of the bar. Be 
extremely cautious and avoid contacting 
the log or other limbs with the nose of the 
guide bar.
Do not stand on a log while limbing it – 
you may slip or the log may roll.
Start limbing by leaving the lower limbs 
to support the log off the ground. When 
underbucking freely hanging limbs, a 
pinch may result or the limb may fall, 
causing loss of control. If a pinch occurs, 
stop the engine and remove the saw by 
lifting the limb.
WARNING
Be extremely cautious when cutting 
limbs or logs under tension (spring 
poles). The limbs or logs could spring 
back toward the operator and cause loss 
of control of the saw and severe or fatal 
injury to the operator.