Stihl 044 Chain Saw (Notes)

BOOK: Blue Book II SECTION: Stihl 044 Chain Saw(SERGEANT NOTES) Page 1 of 2

Stihl 044 Chain Saw
(Updated through 8/7/04)

Chain saws with displacements of 3.8 cubic inches or more must have at least 1 device to reduce kickback (ANSI standard).
The 3/8" carbide chain and 20" hard tipped bar of OCFD chain saws does not meet reduced kickback standards, but is recommended for fire service use.
The Stihl 044 Chain Saw has 2 brakes, manual and inertia.
Chain saws have been used for ventilation for 20-30 years.
Fire Service chain saws should have a displacement of at least 4 cubic inches.
Replacement of carbide chains should occur when 3 cutters in a row OR 6 in the whole chain are missing.
A chain saw with carbide chain provides better feel for penetration through a roof, cuts faster, does not bind, and does not require standing directly over it, like a K12.

KICKBACK, PUSHBACK, & PULL-IN
Type / When it Occurs / Reaction / Situations
Kickback / Upper quadrant of bar NOSE contacts solid object or is pinched / UP & BACK motion of bar toward operator / When incorrectly beginning a plunge cut
Pushback / Chain on top of bar is suddenly stopped when pinched, caught, or encounters a foreign object in roof / Drives saw straight BACKWARD toward operator / When top of bar is used for cutting.
Pull-In / Chain on bottom of bar is suddenly stopped when pinched, caught, or encounters a foreign object in roof / Pulls saw FORWARD / When bottom of bar is used to cut and not at full speed before contacting material

Forces involved in a kickback include: chain speed, speed at which bar contacts object, angle of contact, condition of chain, and other factors.
The inertia brake can either be activated manually by hand or by inertia (if left hand is not behind front hand guard) during a severe kickback.
Activation of the inertia brake results in brake latch being unlatched and brake band clamping around the clutch drum to stop and lock the chain saw.
The hand guard must be moved toward the nose of the bar to activate.
The chain brake can only be engaged while idling. To release the brake, the hand guard is pulled back toward handlebar.
The hexagonal nut for the sprocket cover should be tightened securely after tensioning of the chain. Never start with sprocket cover loose.
If using a leg lock device while using a chain saw, 2 firefighters must be employed.
NEVER plunge the nose of the chain saw bar into a roof to avoid kickback.
NEVER drop start a chain saw.
The Stihl 044 Chain Saw operates at about 13,000 rpm.
Shut off chain saw engine before putting on ground, floor, or roof.
Do not operate the Stihl 044 chain saw with the starting throttle lock engaged.
Always cut at full throttle.

Stihl 044 Chain Saw Master Control Lever Positions
A position / uppermost position / STOP / Engages a spring that cuts the ignition system, selected only from B position
B position / next to top position / RUN / run position
C position / next to bottom position / WARM START / Returns to "RUN" position upon squeezing the throttle after starting
D position / bottom position / COLD START / Choke shutter is closed and throttle trigger is set to the starting throttle position

The Stihl 044 Chain Saw should be started by engaging chain brake (push towards bar nose), set master control lever to "cold start" if cold or "warm start" if warm, place left hand on front handle, place right foot into rear handle (flat roofs only), pull rope until starter is felt, give a brisk pull.
Warm start should be used if the engine has been running but is still cold.
When using cold start, move the control to warm start when engine begins to fire and continue to crank until started.
When in warm start, blip the throttle trigger so the master throttle lever moves to "RUN" and engine moves to idle speed.
If engine is not returned to idle speed after starting, the clutch can be damaged.
Chain tension, in cold condition, is correct when chain fits snugly against the underside of the chain saw bar.
When warm, the saw chain expands and sags noticeably.
Saw chains must be re-tensioned when drive links come out of groove on underside of bar.
To re-tension the saw chain, back off hexagon nuts, pull bar guide by the nose until chain is a close fit, tighten hexagon nuts.

Stihl 044 Chain Saw Carburetor Settings
High Speed / Screw H / Back off 1 turn
Low Speed / Screw L / Back off 1 turn
Fine tune engine / Clockwise=LEAN, Counterclockwise=RICH

A certain amount of oil is left in the oil tank when fuel is empty.
The Stihl 044 Chain Saw oil pump is controlled by chain speed.
Oil tank should be refilled when refueling.

Stihl 044 Chain Saw Specs
Engine Type / 1 cylinder - 2 stroke
Displacement / 4.31 cubic inches
Ignition / Breakerless
Fuel Tank Capacity / 1.69 pints
Fuel Mixture / Stihl Oil 50:1 (1 gallon gasoline to 2.56 ounces oil)
Chain Lubrication / Fully automatic
Oil Tank Capacity / 0.7 pints
Oil Type / 14oF-50oF use SAE 20 50oF-104oF use SAE 30
Weight / 12.8 lbs.

The choke is activated by the Master Control Lever.
The bar should be turned over, every time the chain is replaced, for even wear.
If wear marks on sprockets are deeper than 0.02 inches deep, they should be replaced.
The brake should be applied manually when starting the chain saw.
The engine speed should not be revved with brake engaged.
The manual brake should not be applied while the chain is moving, except in an emergency.

DEFINITIONS

FRONT HANDLE - Handle bar for the left hand at front of saw.
SPARK PLUG TERMINAL - Connects the spark plug with ignition wire.
TWIST LOCK - Lock for carburetor box cover.
CARBURETOR ADJUSTING SCREWS - For tuning carburetor.
HANDLE HEATING SWITCH - For switching the electric handle heating on or off.
REAR HANDLE - The support handle for the right hand, located at or toward the rear of the saw.
REAR HAND GUARD - Give's added protection to the operators right hand.
FRONT HAND GUARD - Provides protection against projecting branches and helps prevent the left hand from touching the chain if it slips off handle bar.
CHAIN BRAKE - A device to stop the rotation of the chain if activated in a kick back situation by the operator's hand or by inertia.
BUMPER SPIKE - Toothed stop for holding saw steady against wood.
GUIDE BAR NOSE - The exposed end of the chain saw.
OILOMATIC SAW CHAIN - A loop of chain having cutters, tie straps, and drive links.
CHAIN TENSIONER - Permits precise adjustment of chain tension.
CHAIN CATCHER - Helps to reduce the risk of operator contact by a chain when it breaks or comes off the bar.
CHAIN SPROCKET - The toothed wheel that drives the saw chain.
CHAIN SPROCKET COVER - Covers the clutch and the sprocket.
OIL QUANTITY CONTROL - Adjusting screw for matching chain oil feed to cutting conditions.
CHAIN GUARD (Scabbard) - Covers the bar and chain when saw is not in use.
MUFFLER - Reduces engine exhaust noise and directs exhaust gases.
OIL FILLER CAP - For closing the oil tank.
STARTER GRIP - The grip of the starter for starting the engine.
SAFETY THROTTLE LOCK - Must be depressed before throttle trigger can be activated.
THROTTLE TRIGGER - Controls the speed of the engine.
MASTER CONTROL LEVER - Lever for choke control, starting throttle, and stop switch.
FUEL FILLER CAP- For closing the fuel tank.
CLUTCH - Couples engine to chain sprocket when engine is accelerated beyond idle speed.