SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Basic working techniques
•Always slow the engine to idle speed after each working operation. Long periods at full throttle without any load on the engine can lead to serious engine damage.
Terms
•Forestry clearing is a general term for cutting small trees, during which each stem is cut individually. A saw blade is used.
•Brush cutting is a general term for clearing grass. Grass blades and grass cutters are used for this purpose.
•Grass trimming is a general term for light clearing, e.g. around edges or around trees. A trimmer head or plastic blades are used.
WARNING! Sometimes branches or grass
!get caught between the guard and cutting attachment. Always stop the engine before cleaning.
The ABC of clearing
•Always use the correct equipment.
•Make sure the equipment is well adjusted.
•Follow the safety precautions.
•Organise your work carefully.
•Always use full throttle when starting to cut with the blade.
•Always use sharp blades.
•Avoid stones.
•Control the felling direction (take advantage of the wind).
WARNING! 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 kickback can occur if you attempt to cut thick stems with this area of the blade.
Working methods
•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
•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 kickback 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.
12 – English
