Homelite EL14 Cutting Down a Tree, Before Felling a Tree, Felling Procedure Felling Notch

OWNER’S MANUAL

FELLING A TREE

(Cutting Down a Tree)

WARNING:

•Avoid kickback. Kickback can result in severe injury or death. See Kickback, page 2 to avoid risk of kickback.

•Do not fell a tree without ample skill or expert help.

•Keep children, animals, and bystanders away from area when felling a tree.

•If two or more persons perform bucking and felling operations

WARNING: When felling a tree, be aware of your surroundings. Do not endanger any person, strike utility lines, or cause property damage. If tree strikes utility lines, contact utility company at once.

Felling is the process of cutting down a tree. Make sure your footing is firm. Keep feet apart. Divide your weight evenly on both feet. Follow directions below to fell a tree.

Before Felling a Tree

1.Before felling, inspect tree. Make sure there are no dead limbs or branches that may fall on you. Study natural lean of tree, location of larger branches, and wind direction. This will help you judge which way tree will fall.

2.Clear work area around tree.

3.Plan and clear a retreat path before felling. Make retreat path opposite to

planned direction of fall of tree and at 45° angle (see Figure 12).

4.Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, nails, staples, and wire from tree where you will make felling cuts.

5.Stay on uphill side when felling tree. Tree could roll or slide downhill after falling.

Retreat

Path

Direction

of Fall

45°

Retreat	Tree
Path

Figure 12 - Retreat Path From Tree

Felling Procedure

A) Felling Notch

A properly placed felling notch will deter- mine direction tree will fall. Place felling notch on side of tree in direction you want tree to fall (see Figure 13). Follow direc- tions below to create a felling notch.

1.Make lower notch cut as close to ground as possible. Hold saw so guide bar is horizontal. Cut 1/3 the diameter of tree trunk (see Figure 13). Note: Always make this horizontal lower notch cut first. If you make this cut second, tree can pinch chain or guide bar.

2.Start upper notch cut the same distance above first cut as first cut is deep.

Example: If lower notch cut is eight

inches deep, start upper notch cut eight inches above it. Cut downward at 45° angle. The upper notch cut should meet end of lower notch cut (see Figure 13).

3.Remove tree trunk wedge created by notching cuts.

B) Felling Cut

1.Make felling cut two inches higher than lower notch cut and on opposite side of tree (see Figure 13). Keep felling cut parallel to lower notch cut.

2.Cut towards notch.

WARNING: Do not cut all the way through tree. Leave about two inches of tree diameter uncut directly behind felling notch (see Figure 13). This uncut portion acts as a hinge. The hinge helps keep tree from twisting and falling in wrong direction.

		Direction
		of Fall
3rd Cut -		Hinge
Felling Cut		2nd Cut -
	2	Upper
		Notch Cut
	Inches
2"		1st Cut -
		Lower
		Notch Cut

Figure 13 - Felling A Tree

3.As felling cut nears hinge, tree should begin to fall. Note: If needed, drive wedges into felling cut to control direction of fall. If tree settles back and pinches chain, drive wedges into felling cut to remove saw. Only use wedges made of wood, plastic, or aluminum. Never use wedge made of steel. This could cause kickback and damage to chain.

4.When tree begins to fall, quickly

•remove saw from felling cut

•release trigger to turn saw off

•put saw down

•exit area using retreat path

WARNING: Be alert for falling overhead limbs. Watch your footing while exiting area.

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