Operating chain saw, Continued, Limbing a tree – Homelite UT13136 User Manual
Page 12: Felling procedure a) felling notch, B) felling cut
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WARNING: When cutting limb that
is under tension, use extreme caution.
Be alert for wood springing back. When
wood tension is released, limb could
spring back and strike operator causing
severe 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
15). 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.
LIMBING A TREE
WARNING: Avoid kickback. Kickback
can result in severe injury or death. See
Kickback, pages 4 and 5, to avoid risk
of kickback.
WARNING: Be alert for falling over-
head limbs. Watch your footing while
exiting area.
3. As felling cut nears hinge, tree should begin to fall.
Note: If needed, drive wedges into felling cut to
control direction of fall. If tree settles back and
pinches chain, drive wedges into felling cut to re-
move saw. Only use wedges made of wood, plastic,
or aluminum. Never use wedge made of steel. This
could cause kickback and damage to chain.
4. When tree begins to fall, quickly
• remove saw from felling cut
• release trigger to turn saw off
• put saw down
• exit area using retreat path
Figure 15 - Limbing A Tree
OPERATING CHAIN SAW
Continued
Figure 14 - Felling A Tree
Direction
of Fall
Hinge
"
(5 cm)
"(5 cm)
nd Cut -
Upper Notch Cut
1st Cut -
Lower Notch Cut
3rd Cut -
Felling Cut
4. Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, nails, staples, and
wire from tree where you will make felling cuts.
5. Stay on uphill side when felling tree. Tree could
roll or slide downhill after falling.
Felling Procedure
A) Felling Notch
A properly placed felling notch will determine direc-
tion tree will fall. Place felling notch on side of tree in
direction you want tree to fall (see Figure 14). Follow
directions below to create a felling notch.
1. Make lower notch cut as close to ground as pos-
sible. Hold saw so guide bar is horizontal. Cut
1/3 the diameter of tree trunk (see Figure 14).
Note: Always make this horizontal lower notch
cut first. If you make this cut second, tree can
pinch chain or guide bar.
2. Start upper notch cut the same distance above
first cut as first cut is deep.
Example: If lower notch cut is eight inches deep,
start upper notch cut eight inches above it. Cut
downward at 45° angle. The upper notch cut should
meet end of lower notch cut (see Figure 14).
3. Remove tree trunk wedge created by notching cuts.
B) Felling Cut
1. Make felling cut two inches higher than lower
notch cut and on opposite side of tree (see Figure
14). Keep felling cut parallel to lower notch cut.
2. Cut towards notch.
WARNING: Do not cut all the way
through tree. Leave about two inches
of tree diameter uncut directly behind
felling notch (see Figure 14). This uncut
portion acts as a hinge. The hinge helps
keep tree from twisting and falling in
wrong direction.