HOMELITE EL12 AND EL16

ELECTRIC CHAINSAW

OPERATING CHAIN SAW

Continued

LIMBING A TREE

WARNING: Avoid kickback. Kickback can result in severe in- jury or death. See Kickback, page 3, to avoid risk of kickback.

WARNING: When cutting limb that is under tension, use extreme caution. Be alert for wood spring- ing back. When wood tension is released, limb could spring back and strike operator causing se- vere injury or death.

Limbing is removing branches from a fallen tree. Make sure your footing is firm. Keep feet apart. Divide your weight evenly on both feet. Do not remove larger limbs under tree that support log off ground. Remove each limb with one cut (see Figure 12). Clear cut limbs from work area often. This will help maintain a safe work area.

Make sure you start your cut where limb will not pinch saw during cutting. To avoid pinching, start cut on freely hanging limbs from above limb. Start cut on limbs under tension from under limb. If pinch occurs, turn saw off, lift limb, and remove saw.

BUCKING A LOG

WARNING: Avoid kickback. Kickback can result in severe in- jury or death. See Kickback, page 3, to avoid risk of kickback.

WARNING:

¥If on slope, make sure log will not roll down hill. Secure log by using wooden stakes. Drive wooden stakes into ground on downhill side of log. Stand on uphill side of log while cutting. Log may roll after cutting.

¥Never try cutting through two logs at same time. This could increase the risk of kickback.

¥While cutting log, never hold log with your hand, leg, or foot.

¥While cutting log, never allow another person to hold log.

¥Turn off and unplug saw be- fore moving from one place to another.

Bucking a log is cutting a log into sections. Make sure your footing is firm. Keep feet apart. Divide your weight evenly on both feet. When possible, raise log or section off ground. Do this by using limbs, logs, chocks, etc.

When cutting through log, maintain control by reducing cutting pressure near end of cut. Do not relax your grip on chain saw handles. Do not let moving chain touch ground. Ground will dull moving chain. After cut- ting through log, release trigger to turn saw off before moving saw.

Follow directions below to buck a log.

Entire Length Of Log On

Ground

Cut log from top (see Figure 13).

Figure 13 - Bucking Log With Entire Length On Ground

Log Supported On One End

1.Make first cut on underside of log (see Figure 14). Use top of guide bar to make this cut. Cut 1/3 through diam- eter of log. This cut will keep section from splintering when cut.

2.Make second cut directly above first cut. Cut down to meet first cut. This cut will keep log from pinching guide bar and chain.

2nd Cut

1st Cut

Figure 14 - Bucking Log When Log Is Supported On One End

Figure 12 - Limbing A Tree

10

099732

Page 10
Image 10
Homelite EL16, EL12 owner manual Limbing a Tree, Bucking a LOG, Entire Length Of Log On Ground, Log Supported On One End