When you’re looking for a chainsaw, you might see the letters “C” on it. What do they mean? Stihl has chosen to put these letters on their saws to indicate that they have a safety chain brake installed. This brake helps prevent injury by stopping the rotation of the chain if a kickback occurs. Kickback is when the saw gets pulled back towards your body as it cuts into something that doesn’t want to be cut and is essentially trying to pull itself out of your hands as well as out from under whatever branch/log/tree trunk etc. you are attempting to remove with it! The C designation doesn’t mean that there is no risk of injury whatsoever; however, it does indicate that some thought has been put into preventing injuries should you encounter an instance where kickback could occur during use
The C designation on Stihl chainsaws means the saw has a safety chain brake, which stops the rotation of the chain in the event of kickback.
The C designation on Stihl chainsaws means the saw has a safety chain brake, which stops the rotation of the chain in the event of kickback. The kickback zone is an area almost directly above the chainsaw nose (where you would be cutting), and it is where most accidents occur because they are unexpected and dangerous.
Safety chain brakes are standard equipment on many Stihl saws, including all MS170 models, MS180/181, MS201/202/203 models with a low-kickback bar installed from factory; some MS250E models with low-kickback bars installed from the factory, and some MS260E models with low-kickback bars installed from the factory.
The kickback zone is an area almost directly above the chainsaw nose where there is an increased risk of injury.
The kickback zone is an area almost directly above the chainsaw nose where there is an increased risk of injury. It’s important to know that some injuries can occur in other areas as well, so always be aware of your surroundings when operating a chainsaw.
When operating a chainsaw, pay close attention to what you’re doing at all times. If you take your eyes off your saw, even for a split second, it could be very dangerous — especially if something hard like metal or stone gets into the blade and causes kickback.
The C designation on Stihl chainsaws indicates a safety brake.
The C designation on Stihl chainsaws indicates a safety chain brake. All Stihl chainsaws with the C designation come equipped with a chain brake, which is designed to stop the rotation of the chain in the event of kickback. In other words, if your saw’s chain gets stuck while you’re cutting and kicks back, it will shut down quickly before it can cause any damage to you or bystanders. The safety chain brake should be your first line of defense against kickbacks, but keep in mind that it’s not foolproof—there are some things you can do to prevent injuries related to kickbacks even without one!
Conclusion
The C designation on Stihl chainsaws means the saw has a safety chain brake, which stops the rotation of the chain in the event of kickback. The kickback zone is an area almost directly above the chainsaw nose where there is an increased risk of injury.