Operator`s manual

I
OPERATING
CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS
Proper Cutting Stance
Weight Should be balanced with both feel on solid ground.
Keep lell arm with elbow loelced in a "straight arm" position to
withstand any kickback force.
Your body should always be to the left of the chain line.
Basic Cutting Procedure
Small trees up to 6-7inches in diameter are usually cut In a single
cut Large trees require notch cuts. Notch cuts determine the
direction the tree will fall.
WARNING: If the tree starts to fall in the wrong direction, or if the
saw gets caught or hung up during the fall, leave the
saw and
save yourself.
WARNING: PeriodiCally glance
at the top of the tree during the
back-cut to assure the tree is going to fall in
lIle desired direction.
Practice culling a few small logs using the following technique
to
Ihe "feel" of using the saw before you begin a major sawing
Take the proper stance in front of !he wood with the saw
oft
the trigger and let the chain accelerate to full speed
entering the
cut
Hold the saw finnly with both hands. keep your left hand
on the tronl handle and your right hand
rear hand~e so that
your body is to the left of the chain line.
Keep the unit running the
entine time you are cutting, maintain a
steady speed.
Allow the chain to
cut for you; exert only light downward pressure.
If you force the cut, damage
to the bar, Chain, or unit can result.
Do not put pressure on the saw at the end of the cut.
When felling a Iree, keep everyone a safe diSlance from the
cutting area. During felling operations, the safe distance should
be
at least twice the height of the largest trees in the felling area.
If the tree makes contact with any utility Ii ne, the utility company
should be notified immediately.
Always cut with both feet on solid ground to prevent being pulled
off balance.
Do not cut above chest height,
as a saw held higher is difficult to
control against kickback forces.
WARNING: Check the tree for damaged
or dead branches that
could fall and
M you during felling.
WARNI
NG: Do not cut trees near electrical wires or buildings.
FELLING A TREE
When
buc~;ng and felling operations are being perfonmed by two
or more persons, at the same lime, \he felling operaton should be
separated
from the bucking operation by a distance of at least
twice the height
of the tree being felled. Trees should not be felled
in a manner thal would endanger any person, striKe any utility line
or cause any property damage. ~ the tree does mak~ contact with
any utility line. the utility company should be
notifted immediately.
Before any cuts are started, pick your escape route (or routes
in
case the intended route is blocked); clear the immediate area
around the tree and
make sure there are no obstructions in your
planned path of retreat. A clear path of
safe retreat is approxi-
mately 135 planned
line offall. The retreat path
should diagonally to the rear of the expected line
of fall.
r
Before felling is started. consider the force and direction of the
wind,
the lean and balance of the tree, and the locanon of large
limbs. These things influence the direction in which the tree will
fall.
Do not try to fell a tree along a line different from its natural
line of fall.
The chain saw operator should keep on the uphill side of the
terrain
as the tree is likely to roll or slide downhill after it is felled.
Remove
dirl loose bark, nails, staples, and wire from the
tree where felling are to be made.
NOTCHED UNDERCUT
-Cut a notch about 113 diameter of the
tree, perpendicular to the
direction
of the fall. Make the cuts of
the notch
so tney intersect at a right angle to the line of fall. This
notch should be cleaned out
to leave a straight line. To keep the
weight
of the wood off the saw, a~vays make the lower cut of the
notch before the upper cut.
WARNING: Do not fell trees during periods of high wind or
precipitation. Wait to do your cutting until the hazard has
WARNING: Do not cut down trees hallirg
an extreme lean or large
trees that have rotten limbs, loose bark, or hollow trunks. Have
these trees pushed or dragged down with heavy eqUipment, then
cut them
up.
FELLI NG BACK-CUT
The back-cut is always made level and horizontal, and
at a
minimum of 2 inches (5cm) above the horizontal cut of the notch.
Never cut through to the notch. Always leave a band
of wood
between the notch end
back",ut (approximately 2 inches (5cm)
or 1/10 the diameter of the tree). This is called "hinge" or "hinge
wood." It controls the fall of the tree and prevents slipping or
twisting or shoal-back
Of the tree off the stump.
On large diameter trees, stop the back cut before a is deep
enough
for the tree to either fall or settle back on !he stump.
Then inser! soft wooden
or plastic wedges into the cut so they do
not touch tl'le chain. The wedges can be driven in, little
by little, to
help jack the tree over.