CUTTING METHODS
IMPORTANT POINTS
SCheck chain tension before first use and af- ter 1 minute of operation. See CHAIN TEN- SION in the ASSEMBLY section.
SCut wood only. Do not cut metal, plastics, masonry,
SStop the saw if the chain strikes a foreign ob- ject. Inspect the saw and repair parts as nec-
essary.
SKeep the chain out of dirt and sand. Even a small amount of dirt will quickly dull a chain
and increase the possibility of kickback.
SPractice cutting a few small logs using the following techniques to get the “feel” of us- ing your saw before you begin a major sawing operation.
S Squeeze the throttle trigger and allow the engine to reach full speed before cutting.
S Begin cutting with the saw frame against the log.
S Keep the engine at full speed the entire time you are cutting.
S Allow the chain to cut for you. Exert only light downward pressure.
S Release the throttle trigger as soon as the cut is completed, allowing the en- gine to idle. If you run the saw at full throttle without a cutting load, unneces- sary wear can occur.
S To avoid losing control when cut is com- plete, do not put pressure on saw at end
of cut.
SStop the engine before setting the saw down.
TREE FELLING TECHNIQUES
WARNING: Do not cut near buildings or electrical wires if you do not know the di- rection of tree fall, at night since you will not be able to see well, or during bad weather such as rain, snow, or strong winds. as fall is unpredictable.
Carefully plan your sawing operation in ad- vance. You need a clear area all around the tree so you can have secure footing. Check for broken or dead branches which can fall on you causing serious injury.
Natural conditions that can cause a tree to fall in a particular direction include:
SThe wind direction and speed.
S The lean of the tree. The lean of a tree might not be apparent due to uneven or sloping terrain. Use a plumb or level to de- termine the direction of tree lean.
SWeight and branches on one side. S Surrounding trees and obstacles.
Look for decay and rot. If the trunk is rotted, it can snap and fall toward the operator. Make sure there is enough room for the tree to fall. Maintain a distance of
Plan a clear retreat path
Direction of Fall
45_
FELLING LARGE TREES
(15 cm in diameter or larger)
The notch method is used to fell large trees. A notch is cut on the side of the tree in the de- sired direction of fall. After a felling cut is made on the opposite side of tree, the tree will tend to fall into the notch.
NOTCH CUT AND FELLING THE TREE
SMake notch cut by cutting the top of the notch first. Cut through 1/3 of the diameter of the tree. Next complete the notch by cut- ting the bottom of the notch. See illustra- tion. Once the notch is cut remove the notch of wood from the tree.
| Final cut here. 5 cm above |
First cut | center of notch. |
5 cm | |
Notch | 5 cm |
|
Second cut
S After removing the wood from the notch, make the felling cut on the opposite side of the notch. This is done by making a cut about two inches higher than the center of the notch. This will leave enough uncut wood
between the felling cut and the notch to form a hinge. This hinge will help prevent the tree from falling in the wrong direction.
Hinge holds tree on stump and helps control fall
Closing 
of notch
NOTE: Before felling cut is complete, use wedges to open the cut when necessary to control the direction of fall. To avoid kickback or chain damage, use wood or plastic wedges, but never steel or iron wedges.
SBe alert to signs that the tree is ready to fall: cracking sounds, widening of the felling cut, or movement in the upper branches.
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