McCulloch MAC 316 XT instruction manual Cutting Methods, Important Points, Felling Large Trees

Opening of felling cut

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, non-wood building materials, etc.

SThe bumper spike may be used as a pivot when making a cut.

SStop the saw if the chain strikes a foreign object. Inspect the saw and repair parts as necessary.

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.

S Practice 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-

and wire from the tree where cuts are to be made.

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.

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

First cut

Notch

Second cut

Final cut here. 5 cm above center of notch.

5 cm

5 cm

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 2-1/2tree lengths from the nearest person or other objects. En- gine noise can drown out a warning call. Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, nails, staples,

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 be- tween 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.

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