and rotating chain to pop out of the cut or
kerf, go out of control and strike some
other object.
If the bar becomes pinched and caught
in the branch so that the chain can no
longer move, shut off the pole pruner
and carefully move the branch to open
the pinch and release the bar.
WARNING
If a rotating saw chain strikes a rock or
other hard object, sparks may be
created, which can ignite flammable
materials under certain circumstances.
Flammable materials can include dry
vegetation and brush, particularly when
weather conditions are hot and dry.
When there is a risk of fire or wildfire, do
not use a power tool around flammable
materials or around dry vegetation or
brush. Contact your local fire authorities
or the U.S. Forestry Service if you have
any question about whether vegetation
and weather conditions are suitable for
the use of a pole pruner.
WARNING
Never modify your muffler. Any
modification could cause an increase in
heat radiation, sparks or sound level,
thereby increasing the risk of fire, burn
injury or hearing loss. You may also
permanently damage the engine. Have
your muffler serviced and repaired by
your STIHL servicing dealer only.
WARNING
The muffler and other parts of the engine
(e.g. fins of the cylinder, spark plug)
become hot during operation and remain
hot for a while after stopping the engine.
HT 100, HT 101, HT 130, HT 131
To reduce risk of burns, do not touch the
muffler and other parts while they are
hot. Keep the area around the muffler
clean. Remove excess lubricant and all
debris such as pine needles, branches
or leaves. Let the engine cool down
sitting on concrete, metal, bare ground
or solid wood (e.g. the trunk of a felled
tree) away from any combustible
substances.
WARNING
An improperly mounted or damaged
cylinder housing or a
damaged/deformed muffler shell may
interfere with the cooling process of the
muffler. To reduce the risk of fire or burn
injury, do not continue work with a
damaged or improperly mounted
cylinder housing or a
damaged/deformed muffler shell.
Your muffler is furnished with a spark
arresting screen designed to reduce the
risk of fire from the emission of hot
particles. Never operate your unit with a
missing or damaged spark arresting
screen. If your gas/oil mix ratio is correct
(i.e., not too rich), this screen will
normally stay clean as a result of the
heat from the muffler and need no
service or maintenance. If you
experience loss of performance and you
suspect a clogged screen, have your
muffler maintained by a STIHL servicing
dealer. Some state or federal laws or
regulations may require a properly
maintained spark arrestor for certain
uses. See the "Maintenance, Repair and
Storing" section of these Safety
Precautions. Remember that the risk of
a brush or forest fire is greater in hot or
dry conditions.
WARNING
Some STIHL power tools
are equipped with a cata-
lytic converter, which is
designed to reduce the
exhaust emissions of the
engine by a chemical
process in the muffler.
Due to this process, the
muffler does not cool
down as rapidly as con-
ventional mufflers when
the engine returns to idle
or is shut off. To reduce
the risk of fire and burn
injuries when using a cat-
alytic converter, always
set your power tool down
in the upright position and
never locate it where the
muffler is near dry brush,
grass, wood chips or
other combustible materi-
als while it is still hot.
Reactive Forces
WARNING
Reactive forces may occur any time the
chain is rotating.The 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 such as a branch or is
pinched, the reactive forces may occur
instantly. These reactive forces may
result in loss of control, which, in turn,
may cause personal injury. An
understanding of the causes of these
reactive forces may help you avoid the
element of surprise and loss of control.
English
11