Husqvarna Z 254 Manual

							254XP/257/262XP
Operator«s manual
101 88 43-26
Please read these instructions carefully and make
sure you understand them before using the saw.    
						

							2 Ð English
Symbols on the chain saw:
CAUTION! Chain saws can be dangerous!
Careless or incorrect use can result in
serious or fatal injury to the operator or
others.
Please read the instructions carefully and
make sure you understand them before
using the saw.
Always wear:
¥ Approved protective helmet
¥ Approved hearing protection
¥ Protective glasses or visor
Switch off the engine by moving the stop
switch to the STOP position before carrying
out any checks or maintenance.
Always wear approved protective gloves.
Regular cleaning is required.
Visual check.
Protective glasses or a visor must be worn.
KEY TO SYMBOLS
Symbols in the operatorÕs manual: 
						

							English Ð 3
!
Before using a new saw
¥ Read the instructions carefully.
¥ Check cutting equipment is correctly fitted and adjusted. See
page 25.
¥ Refuel and start the saw. Check the carburettor settings.
See pages 26-29.
¥ Do not use the saw until sufficient chain oil has reached the
chain, see page 14.
IMPORTANT! If the carburettor mixture is too lean it greatly
increases the risk of engine failure.
Poor maintenance of the air filter will cause carbon build-up on
the spark plug and lead to difficult starting.
If the chain is badly adjusted it will cause increased wear or
damage to the bar, drive sprocket and chain.
Under no circumstances should you modify
the original design of the chain saw without
approval from the manufacturer. Always use
genuine spare parts. Unauthorized
modifications or accessories may lead to
serious injury or death.
CONTENTS
Contents
Key to symbols.......................................... 2
Safety instructions
Personal protective equipment ........................ 4
Chain saw safety equipment ........................... 4
Inspecting, maintaining and servicing chain saw safety
equipment ............................................................................ 8
Cutting equipment .......................................... 10
How to avoid kickback .................................... 16
General safety precautions ............................. 18
General working instructions ......................... 19
What is what?
What is what? .................................................................... 24
Assembly
Mounting guide bar and chain ........................................... 25
Fuel handling
Fuelmix .............................................................................. 26
Fuelling .............................................................................. 27
Start and stop
Start and stop .................................................................... 28
Maintenance
Carburettor ........................................................................ 29
Starter device .................................................................... 30
Air filter .............................................................................. 31
Spark plug ......................................................................... 31
Muffler ................................................................................ 31
Adjustment of the oil pump ................................................ 31
Needle bearing maintenance ............................................ 31
Cooling system .................................................................. 32
Centrifugal cleaning ÓAir InjectionÓ .................................... 32
Heated handles ................................................................. 32
Winter use ......................................................................... 32
Daily maintenance ............................................................. 33
Weekly maintenance ......................................................... 33
Monthly maintenance ........................................................ 33
Technical data
254XP ................................................................................ 34
257 .................................................................................... 34
262XP ................................................................................ 35
!
A chain saw is a dangerous tool if used
carelessly or  incorrectly and can cause
serious, even fatal injuries. It is very important
that you read and understand these
instructions. 
						

							4 Ð English
!
CHAIN SAW SAFETY EQUIPMENT
This section explains the various safety features of the saw,
how they work, and basic inspection and maintenance you
should carry out to ensure safe operation. (See the 
ÓWhat is
what?Ó section to find out where these components are on Your
saw).
NEVER USE A CHAIN SAW THAT HAS
FAULTY SAFETY EQUIPMENT! Carry out the
inspection, maintenance and service routines
listed in this section.
1 Chain brake and front
hand guard
2 Throttle lock
3 Chain catcher
4 Right hand guard
5 Vibration damping system
6 Stop switch
7 Muffler
8 Cutting equipment (see
ÓCutting equipmentÓsection).
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
!
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
MOST CHAIN SAW ACCIDENTS HAPPEN
WHEN THE CHAIN TOUCHES THE OPERA-
TOR. You must wear approved protective
equipment whenever you use a chain saw.
Personal protective equipment cannot
eliminate the risk of injury but it will reduce
the degree of injury if an accident does
happen. Ask your chain saw dealer for help
in choosing the right equipment.
¥ PROTECTIVE HELMET
¥ HEARING PROTECTION
¥ PROTECTIVE GLASSES
OR VISOR
¥ GLOVES WITH
SAW PROTECTION
¥ PROTECTIVE TROUSERS
WITH SAW PROTECTION
¥ BOOTS WITH SAW
PROTECTION, STEEL
TOE-CAP AND NON-SLIP
SOLE
Generally clothes should be
close-fitting without restricting
your freedom of movement.
¥ ALWAYS HAVE A FIRST
AID KIT NEARBY
!
Long or continuous exposure to high noise
levels may cause permanent hearing
impairment. Always wear approved hearing
protection when operating a chain saw. 
						

							English Ð 5
1 Chain brake and front hand guard
YOUR chain saw is equipped with a chain brake that is desig-
ned to stop the chain immediately if you get a kickback.
The chain brake reduces the risk of accidents, but only You can
prevent them.
Take care when using your
saw and make sure the
kickback zone of the bar
never touches any object.
1 The chain brake (A) can
either be activated
manually (by your left
hand) or automatically by
the inertia release
mechanism (a free-
swinging pendulum). On
most of our models  the
front hand guard acts as a
counterweight in case of
kickback.
The brake is applied
when the front hand
guard (B) is pushed
forwards.
This movement activates
a spring-loaded
mechanism that tightens
the Brake Band (C)
around the engine drive
system (D) (Clutch Drum).
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
2 The front hand guard is
not designed solely to
activate the chain brake.
Another important safety
feature is that it prevents
the chain from hitting your
left hand if you lose your
grip on the front handle.
3 You can also use the
chain brake as a
temporary brake when you
change position or if you
put the saw down for a
short time. You should
also apply the chain brake
manually if there is a risk
of the chain accidentally
hitting anyone or anything
close by.
4 To release the chain brake
pull the front hand guard
backwards, towards the
front handle.
5 As mentioned in section A,
kickback can be very
sudden and violent.
Most kickbacks are
minor and do not always
activate the chain brake.
If this happens you
should hold the chain
saw firmly and not let
go.
AB
B
D
B
C 
						

							6 Ð English
6 The way the chain brake is triggered, either manually or
automatically, depends on the force of the kickback and the
position of the chain saw in relation to the object that the
kickback zone of the bar strikes.
If you get a violent
kickback while the
kickback zone of the bar
is farthest away from you
the chain brake will be
activated by the
movement of the
counterweight (INERTIA
ACTIVATED).
If the kickback is less
violent or the kickback
zone of the bar is closer
to you the chain brake will
be activated manually by
the movement of your left
hand.
7 During felling your left
hand grasps the front
handle in such a way that
it cannot activate the front
hand guard. In this
position the chain brake
can only be activated by
the inertia action of the
counterweight.
The inertia activated
chain brake increases
your safety but there are
certain factors to
remember (see point 6
above).2 Throttle lock
The throttle lock is designed
to prevent accidental opera-
tion of the throttle control.
When you press the lock (A)
(i.e. when you grasp the
handle) it releases the throttle
trigger (B).
When you release the handle
the throttle trigger and the
throttle lock both move back
to their original positions. This
movement is controlled by two
independent return springs.
This arrangement means that
the throttle control is
automatically locked at the
idle setting when you release
the handle.
3 Chain catcher
The chain catcher is designed
to catch the chain if it snaps or
jumps off. This should not
happen if the chain is properly
tensioned (see section on
ÓAssemblyÓ) and if the bar and
chain are properly serviced
and maintained.
(See section on 
ÓGeneral
working instructionsÓ).
4 Right hand guard
Apart from protecting your
hand if the chain jumps or
snaps, the right hand guard
stops branches and twigs
from interfering with your grip
on the rear handle.
A
B
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 
						

							English Ð 7
!
5 Vibration damping system
Your chain saw is equipped
with a vibration damping
system that is designed to
minimise vibrations and make
operation easier.
When you use a chain saw
vibrations are generated by
the uneven contact between
the chain and the wood you
are cutting.
Cutting hardwoods (most
broadleaf trees) creates more
vibration than cutting
softwoods (most conifers).
Cutting with a chain that is
blunt or faulty (wrong type or
badly sharpened, see section
D) will increase the vibration
level.
The vibration damping system
reduces the vibrations
transmitted from the engine
and chain to the handles of
the chain saw. The body of
the saw, including the cutting
equipment, is insulated from
the handles by vibration
damping units.
Overexposure to vibration can lead to
circulatory damage or nerve damage in people
who have impaired circulation.
Contact your doctor if you experience
symptoms of overexposure to vibration.
These symptoms include numbness, loss of
feeling, tingling, pricking, pain, loss of
strength, changes in skin colour or condition.
These symptoms normally appear in the
fingers, hands or wrists.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
!
The exhaust fumes from the engine are hot
and may contain sparks which can start a fire.
Never start the saw indoors or near
combustible material!
!
The muffler gets very hot in use and remains
so for a short time afterwards. DO NOT
TOUCH THE MUFFLER IF IT IS HOT!
6 Stop switch
Use the stop switch to switch
off the engine.
7 Muffler
The muffler is designed to keep noise levels to a minimum and
to direct exhaust fumes away from the user.
In countries with a hot climate
there is a high risk of forest
fires. Our chain saws are
therefore fitted with a SPARK
ARRESTOR MESH.
Check whether your saw is
fitted with such a mesh.
With this type of muffler it is
very important that you follow
the instructions on checking,
maintaining and servicing your
saw (see the section on
ÓInspecting, maintaining and
servicing chain saw safety
equipmentÓ
). 
						

							8 Ð English
!
3 Checking the automatic brake
Hold the chain saw over a
stump or other firm object.
Let go of the front handle
so that the bar falls onto
the stump.
When the bar hits the
stump the brake should
be applied.
Inspecting, maintaining and servicing
chain saw safety equipment
SPECIAL TRAINING IS REQUIRED to service
and repair chain saws. This is especially true
of chain saw safety equipment. If your chain
saw fails any of the checks described below
take it to your SERVICE AGENT.
When you buy any of our products we
guarantee the availability of professional
repairs and service. If the retailer who sells
your saw is not a SERVICING DEALER, ask
him for the address of your nearest SERVICE
AGENT.
1 Chain brake and front hand guard
1 Checking brake band wear
Brush off any sawdust,
resin and dirt from the
chain brake and clutch
drum. Dirt and wear can
impair operation of the
brake.
Regularly check that the
brake band is at least 0.6
mm thick at its thinnest
point.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
4  Checking the brake trigger
Start the chain saw and
place it on firm ground.
Make sure the chain does
not touch the ground or
any other object.
Grasp the saw firmly,
wrapping your fingers and
thumbs around the
handles.
Apply full throttle and
activate the chain brake
by tilting your wrist
forward onto the front
hand guard. Do not let go
of the front handle.
The chain should stop
immediately.
2 Checking the front hand guard
A Make sure the
FRONT HAND GUARD
is not damaged and
that there are no visible
defects such as cracks.
B Move the front hand
guard forwards and
back to make sure it
runs freely and that it is
securely anchored to
the clutch cover. 
						

							English Ð 9
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
4 Right hand guard
Check that the right hand
guard is not damaged and
that there are no visible
defects, such as cracks.
5 Vibration damping system
Regularly check the
vibration damping units
for cracks or deformation
Make sure the vibration
damping units are
securely attached to the
engine unit and handles.
6 Stop switch
Start the engine and
make sure the engine
stops when you move the
stop switch to the stop
setting.
2 Throttle lock
1 Make sure the throttle
control is locked at the
idle setting when you
release the throttle lock.
2 Press the throttle lock and
make sure it returns to its
original position when you
release it.
3 Check that the throttle
control and throttle lock
move freely and that the
return springs work
properly.
4 Start the saw and apply
full throttle. Release the
throttle control and check
that the chain stops and
remains  stationary. If the
chain rotates when the
throttle is on idle setting
you should check the
carburettor idle
adjustment. See the
section on 
ÓMaintenanceÓ.
3 Chain catcher
Check that the CHAIN
CATCHER is not
damaged and is firmly
attached to the body of
the saw. 
						

							10 Ð English
!
7 Muffler
Never use a chain saw
that has a faulty muffler.
Regularly check that the
muffler is securely
attached to the chain saw.
If the muffler on your saw
is fitted with a spark
arrestor mesh this must
be cleaned regularly. A
blocked mesh will cause
the engine to overheat
and may lead to serious
damage.
Never use a muffler if
the spark arrestor mesh
is missing or defective.
NEVER USE A CHAIN SAW WITH FAULTY
SAFETY EQUIPMENT. CARRY OUT THE
CHECKS AND MAINTENANCE MEASURES
DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION. IF YOUR
CHAIN SAW FAILS ANY OF THESE CHECKS
CONTACT YOUR SERVICE AGENT TO GET IT
REPAIRED.
CUTTING EQUIPMENT
This section describes how to choose and maintain your cutting
equipment in order to:
¥Reduce the risk of kickback.
¥Reduce the risk of the chain breaking or jumping.
¥Obtain maximum cutting performance.
¥Extend the life of cutting equipment.
The 5 basic rules
1Only use cutting
equipment
recommended by us!
See the 
ÓTechnical dataÓ
section.
2Keep the chain cutting
teeth properly
sharpened! Follow our
instructions and use the
recommended file
gauge. A damaged or
badly sharpened chain
increases the risk of
accidents.
3Maintain the correct
raker clearance! Follow
our instructions and
use the recommended
raker gauge. Too large a
clearance increases the
risk of kickback.
4Keep the chain properly
tesioned! If the chain is
slack it is more likely to
jump off and lead to
increased wear on the
bar, chain and drive
sprocket.
5Keep cutting equipment
well lubricated and
properly maintained!
A poorly lubricated chain
is more likely to break and
lead to increased wear on
the bar, chain and drive
sprocket.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS