Makita Chain Saw User Manual

Chain Saw

Safety Instructions

Maintenance 

Information

Checking the safety chain brake

Checking the chain lubrication

6

M

Do not work with the saw without first checking the chain
brake!

- Start the engine as described (make sure you have a good
footing, and place the saw on the ground in such a way that
the blade is free of contact).

- Grasp the tubular handle
grip with the other.

- With the engine running at moderate speed, press the hand
guard (C/1) in the direction of the arrow
hand until the chain brake engages. The chain should stop
immediately.

- Immediately release the throttle and release the chain
brake.

IMPORTANT: If the chain does not stop immediately when
you test the chain brake, do NOT use the saw! Take the saw
to a MAKITA service center.

firmly with one hand and hold the

with the back of your

Adjusting the carburetor

CAUTION:
Optimum perfornance can only be achieved if the carbure-

tor is adjusted correctly. For this work, which should be
carried out by an expert, the engine must be warmed up for
a period of 3-5 min. and the air filter must be clean.

The carburetor has been adjusted by MAKITA on the basis of
atmosheric pressure conditions at sea level. Other atmospher­ic pressure conditions or the running-in process of a new
engine may require readjustment of the carburetor.

It is urgently recommended to use a revolution indicator (O/1)
(order number 950 233 210) in order to achieve a correct
adjustment of the carburetor. Adjust the carburetor using a 4
mm screwdriver.

The screwdriver shown (O/2) (order number 944 340 001) has
a molded-on lug to assist in adjustment.

For adjusting the carburetor correctly the following steps
must be carried out:

1. Warm up engine

2. Switch off engine

3. Basic adjustment

4. Start engine

5. Set idle speed

6. Adjust speed

7. Check idling speed

8. Check acceleration

9. Check max. speed or output

10. Repeat adjustment procedure starting with step 5, until

idling speed, max. speed and acceleration are reached
with the adjustment made.

2

1

STOP

N

Never work with the chain saw withoute sufficient chain lubrica­tion. Otherwise the service life of the chain and guide bar will be
reduced.
Before starting work check the oil level in the tank and the oil feed.
Check the oil feed rate as described below:

- Start the chain saw.

- Hold the running chain saw approx. 15 cm above a trunk or
the ground (use an appropriate base).

If the lubrication is sufficient, you will see a light oil trace because
oil will be flung off the sawing device.

3

2

O

Basic adjustment (step 3)

- First, carefully turn the 2 adjusting screws for the main jet
(O/3) and the idle jet (O/4) to the right (clockwise) until you
feel them stop.

- Now turn both screws one turn to the left (counter-clockwise).

Set idle speed (step 5)

- If the chain turns when the engine is idling, unscrew the
throttle-valve stop screw (O/speed) until the chain stops. If
the engine runs unevenly, screw the screw (O/speed) back
in.

- Idling speed should be 2,600 rpm.

Adjust speed (output) (step 6)

- Adjust the speed by adjusting the main jet screw (O/3) to
11,500 rpm (DCS 340, 341), 12,000 rpm (DCS 400, 401).

Check idle speed (item 7)

- After having adjusted the max. speed ensure the idle speed
is set to 2,600 1rpm. (the chain must not turn). Use the idle
jet screw (O/4) to regulate it. Turn in the screw (O/4) to speed
up, and turn out the screw (O/4) to speed down the engine.

Check acceleration (item 8)

- Now check the acceleration, i. e. the time necessary for
speeding up from idle speed to max. speed. To do this,
press the throttle lever hard.

- If the acceleration is too low, turn out the idle jet screw
(O/4) approx. 1/8 rotation.

Do not run the engine without load a high speed, open
throttle fully only, if you are sawing!

speed

1

4

STOP

2

1

23

Working in winter

normal operation

A

In order to prevent carburetor icing in conditions of low temper­ature combined with high humidity, and in order to get up to
operating temperature faster in subfreezing temperatures,
heated air can be taken from the cylinder (marking (circled) on
insert in "snowflake" position).

At temperatures above freezing the carburetor must NOT be
fed heated air (marking (circled) on insert in "sun" position).

Failure to follow these instructions can lead to damage
to the cylinder and piston!

subfreezing operation

MAINTENANCE

Sharpening the saw chain

2

1
3

B

- Remove the filter cover (B/1).

- Position the universal wrench (B/2) as shown above and
push the insert (B/3) out by tapping the wrench.

- Put the insert (B/3) back in in the appropriate position, i.e. with
the marking next to the sun symbol for normal operation or
the snowflake symbol for subfreezing operation.

- Replace filter cover (B/1).

STOP

CAUTION:
Before doing any work on the guide bar or chain,

switch off the engine and pull the plug cap off the
spark plug (see "Replacing the spark plug"). Always wear
protective gloves!

always

✓

✓

C

The chain needs sharpening when:

- The sawdust produced when sawing damp wood looks
like wood flour.

- The chain penetrates the wood only under great pressure.

- The cutting edge is visibly damaged.

- The saw is pulled to the left or right when sawing. This is
caused by uneven sharpening of the chain.

Important: Sharpen frequently, but without removing
too much metal!

Generally, 2 or 3 strokes of the file will be enough.
Have the chain resharpened at a service center when you

have already sharpened it yourself several times.

0.65 mm
(.025")

0.65 mm
(.025")

min.

3 mm (0.11”)

D

Proper sharpening:
CAUTION:
Use only chains and guide bars designed for this saw (see

the Extract from the spare-parts list)!

- All cutters must be of the same length (dimension a).
Cutters with different lengths result in rough running of the
chain and can cause cracks in the chain.

- Minimum cutter length is 0.11" (3 mm). Do not resharpen
the chain when the minimum cutter length has been
reached; at this point, the chain must be replaced (see the
Extract from the spare-parts list and "Replacing the chain").

- The depth of the cut is determined by the difference in
height between the depth limiter (round nose) and the
cutting edge.

- The best results are obtained with a depth-limiter depth
of 0.65 mm (.025").

CAUTION:
Excessive depth increases the risk of kickback!

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