11
SKeep the chain out of dirt and sand. Even a
small amount of dirt will quickly dull a c hain
andthus increase the possibility of k ickback.
SPractice cutting a few small logs us ing the
followingtechniques to get the “feel” of us-
ing your saw before you begin a major
sawing operation.
SSqueeze the throttle trigger and allow
the engine to reach full speed before
cutting.
SBegin cutting with the saw frame
against the log.
SKeepthe engine at full speed the entir e
timey ou are cutting.
SAllowthe chain to cut for you. Exert only
light downward pressure. If you forc e
thecut, damage to the bar, chain, or en-
ginec an result.
SRelease the throttle trigger as soon as
the cut is completed, allowing the en-
gine to idle. If you run the saw at full
throttlewithout a cutting load, unneces -
sary wear can occur to the chain, bar,
and engine. It is recommended that
the engine not be operatedfor lon-
ger than 30 seconds at full throttle.
SToavoidlosing control w hen cut is com-
plete,do not put pressure on saw at end
of cut.
SStop the engine before setting the saw
down after cutting.
TREE FELLINGTECHNIQUES
WARNING: Chec k for broken or
dead branches which can fall while c utting
causingserious injury. D o notc ut nearbuild-
ingsor elec trical wires if you do not know the
directionof tree fall, nor cut at night since you
will not be ale to see well, nor during bad
weathersuch as rain, s now,or strong winds,
etc. If the tr ee makes contact with any utility
line, the utility company should be notified
immediately.
SCarefullyplan your sawing operation in ad-
vance.
SClearthe work area. Youneeda clear area
allaround the tree so you can hav e secure
footing.
SThe chain saw operator should keep on
the uphill side of the terrain as the tree is
likelyto roll or slide downhill after it is felled.
SStudy the naturalc onditionsthat c an cause
the tree to fall in a particular direction.
Natural conditions that can cause a tree to
fall in a particular direction include:
SThew ind direction and speed.
SThe lean of the tree. The lean of a tree
might not be apparent due to uneven or
slopingterrain. Usea plumb or level to de-
termine the direction of tree lean.
SWeightand branc hes on one side.
SSurrounding trees and obstacles.
Look for decay and rot. If the trunk is rotted,
it can snap and fall toward the operator.
Check for broken or dead branches which
can fall on you while cutting.
Make sure there is enough room for the tree to
fall. Maintain a distance of 2-1/2 tree lengths
from the nearest person or other objec ts. En-
gine noise can drown out a warning call.
Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, nails, s ta-
ples,and wire from the tree where cuts are to
bemade.
Plana clear r etreat path to the rear and diag-
onalt o the line of fall.
Direction of Fall
45_
Plana clear retreat path
FELLINGLARGE TREES
(6 inches (15 cm) in diameter or larger)
Thenotc hmethod is us ed to fell large trees.
Anotch is c ut 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.
NOTE: Ifthe tr ee has large buttress roots,
removethem before making the notc h. If us-
ingsaw to remov e buttress roots, keep saw
chainfrom contact ing ground to prevent dull-
ingof thec hain.
NOTCH CUT AND FELLING THE
TREE
SMake notch cut by cutting the top of the
notchfi rst. Cut through 1/3 of the diameter
ofthe tree. Next complete the notch by c ut-
ting the bottom of the notch. See illustra-
tion. Once the notch is cut remove the
notch of wood from the tree.
Notch
Firstcut
Second cut
Final (felling) cut here, 2 inches
(5 cm) above center of notch.
Hinge
SAfter removing the wood from the notch,
make the felling cut on the opposite side of
thenotch. This is done by mak ing a cut about
two inches (5 cm) higher than the center of
thenotch. This will leave enough uncut wood
between the felling cut and the notch to form
ahinge. This hinge will help prevent the tree
from falling in the wrong direction.