MS 311, MS 391
English
17
Reduced Kickback Bars
STIHL green labeled reduced kickback 
bars are designed to reduce the risk of 
kickback injury when used with STIHL 
green labeled low kickback saw chains.
WARNING
When used with other, more aggressive 
saw chains, these bars may be less 
effective in reducing kickback.
WARNING
For a properly balanced saw and in 
order to comply with the chain saw 
standard, use only bar lengths listed in 
the specifications chapter of the 
instruction manual for your chain saw.
To avoid kickback
The best protection from personal injury 
that may result from kickback is to avoid 
kickback situations:
1. Hold the chain saw firmly with both 
hands and maintain a secure grip. 
Don’t let go.
2. Be aware of the location of the guide 
bar nose at all times.
3. Never let the nose of the guide bar 
contact any object. Do not cut limbs 
with the nose of the guide bar. Be 
especially careful near wire fences 
and when cutting small, tough 
limbs, small size brush and saplings 
which may easily catch the saw 
chain.
4. Don't overreach.
5. Don't cut above shoulder height.
6. Begin cutting and continue at full 
throttle.
7. Cut only one log at a time.
8. Use extreme caution when 
reentering a previous cut.
9. Do not attempt to plunge cut if you 
are not experienced with these 
cutting techniques.
10. Be alert for shifting of the log or 
other forces that may cause the cut 
to close and pinch the saw chain.
11. Maintain saw chain properly. Cut 
with a correctly sharpened, properly 
tensioned saw chain at all times.
12. Stand to the side of the cutting path 
of the chain saw.
Bow Guides
WARNING
Do not mount a bow guide on any STIHL 
chain saw. Any chain saw equipped with 
a bow guide is potentially very 
dangerous. The risk of kickback is 
increased with a bow guide because of 
the increased kickback contact area. 
Low kickback saw chain will not 
significantly reduce the risk of kickback 
injury when used on a bow guide.
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.