Husqvarna 326R manual Forestry clearing using a saw blade, Working methods

WORKING TECHNIQUES

WARNING! Sometimes branches or grass

!get caught between the guard and cutting attachment. Always stop the engine before cleaning.

Working methods

WARNING! Machines fitted with saw blades

!or grass blades can be thrown violently to the side when the blade comes into contact with a fixed object. This is called blade thrust. A blade thrust can be violent enough to cause the machine and/or operator to be propelled in any direction, and possibly lose control of the machine. Blade thrust can occur without warning if the machine snags, stalls or binds. Blade thrust is more likely to occur in areas where it is difficult to see the material being cut.

Avoid cutting with the area of the blade between the 12 o’clock and 3 o’clock positions. Because of the speed of rotation of the blade, blade thrust can occur if you attempt to cut thick stems with this area of the blade.

•Before you start clearing, check the clearing area, the type of terrain, the slope of the ground, whether there are stones, hollows etc.

•Start at whichever end of the area is easiest, and clear an open space from which to work.

•Work systematically to and fro across the area, clearing a width of around 4-5 m on each pass. This exploits the full reach of the machine in both directions and gives the operator a convenient and varied working area to work in.

•Clear a strip around 75 m long. Move your fuel can as work progresses.

•On sloping ground you should work along the slope. It is much easier to work along a slope than it is to work up and down it.

•You should plan the strip so that you avoid going over ditches or other obstacles on the ground. You should also orient the strip to take advantage of wind conditions, so that cleared stems fall in the cleared area of the stand.

Forestry clearing using a saw blade

•The risk of blade thrust increases with increasing stem size. You should therefore avoid cutting with the area of the blade between 12 o’clock and 3 o’clock.

•To fell to the left, the bottom of the tree should be pushed to the right. Tilt the blade and bring it diagonally down to the right, exerting firm pressure. At the same time push the stem using the blade guard. Cut with the area of the blade between 3 o’clock and 5 o’clock. Apply full throttle before advancing the blade.

•To fell to the right, the bottom of the tree should be pushed to the left. Tilt the blade and bring it diagonally up to the right. Cut with the area of the blade between 3 o’clock and 5 o’clock so that the direction of rotation of the blade pushes the bottom of the tree to the left.

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