
MS 170, MS 170 C, MS 180, MS 180 C
English
5
In the event of impending danger or in 
an emergency, switch off the engine 
immediately by moving the Master 
Control lever / stop switch to STOP or 0.
Your power tool is designed to be 
operated by one person only. Do not 
allow other persons in the work area.
Never leave a running machine 
unattended.
When the engine is running: Note that 
the chain continues to rotate for a short 
period after you let go of the throttle 
trigger (flywheel effect).
Take special care in slippery conditions 
– damp, snow, ice, on slopes, uneven 
ground and freshly debarked logs.
Watch out for obstacles such as tree 
stumps, roots and ditches which could 
cause you to trip or stumble.
Do not work alone – keep within calling 
distance of others in case help is 
needed.
Be particularly alert and cautious when 
wearing hearing protection because 
your ability to hear warnings (shouts, 
alarms, etc.) is restricted.
To reduce the risk of accidents, take a 
break in good time to avoid tiredness or 
exhaustion.
To reduce risk of fire, keep hot exhaust 
gases and hot muffler away from easily 
combustible materials (e.g. wood chips, 
bark, dry grass, fuel). Mufflers with a 
catalytic converter can become 
particularly hot.
To reduce the risk of serious or fatal 
injury from breathing toxic fumes, 
ensure proper ventilation when working 
in trenches, hollows or other confined 
locations. 
To reduce the risk of accidents, stop 
work immediately in the event of 
nausea, headache, visual disturbances 
(e.g. reduced field of vision), problems 
with hearing, dizziness, deterioration in 
ability to concentrate. Apart from other 
possibilities, these symptoms may be 
caused by an excessively high 
concentration of exhaust gases in the 
work area.
The dusts (e.g. sawdust), vapor and 
smoke produced during operation may 
be dangerous to health. If dust levels are 
very high, wear a suitable respirator.
Check the saw chain at regular short 
intervals during operation or 
immediately if there is a noticeable 
change in cutting behavior:
–Shut off the engine and wait until the 
chain comes to a complete stanstill.
–Check condition 
–Check sharpness.
Do not touch the chain while the engine 
is running. If the chain becomes jammed 
by an obstruction, switch off the engine 
immediately before attempting to 
remove the obstruction.
To reduce the risk of injury, shut off 
the engine before changing the saw 
chain.
To reduce the risk of fire, do not 
smoke while operating or standing near 
your power tool. Note that combustible 
fuel vapor may escape from the fuel 
system.
If your power tool is subjected to 
unusually high loads for which it was not 
designed (e.g. heavy impact or a fall), 
always check that it is in good condition 
before continuing work – see also 
"Before Starting". Check the fuel system 
in particular for leaks and make sure the 
safety devices are working properly. Do 
not continue operating your power tool if 
it is damaged. In case of doubt, have the 
machine checked by your servicing 
dealer.
Make sure the idle speed setting is 
correct. The chain must not run when 
the engine is idling with the throttle 
trigger released. Check and correct the 
idle speed setting at regular intervals. If 
the saw chain still moves, have your 
dealer check your machine and make 
proper adjustments or repairs.
Reactive Forces
The most common reactive forces that 
occur during cutting are: kickback, 
pushback and pull-in.
Your power tool produces 
toxic exhaust fumes as 
soon as the engine is 
running. These fumes 
may be colorless and 
odorless and contain 
unburned hydrocarbons 
and benzol. Never run 
the engine indoors or in 
poorly ventilated loca-
tions, even if your model 
is equipped with a cata-
lytic converter.