Poulan Pro PP400E - Manual (Page 9)

9
CUTTING METHODS
OPERATING TIPS
S
Check chain tension before first use
and after 1 minute of operation. See
CHECK CHAIN TENSION in the MAINTE-
NANCE section.
S
Cut wood only. Do not cut metal, plas-
tics, masonry, non-wood building mate-
rials, etc.
S Stop the saw if the chain strikes a for-
eign object. Inspect the saw and repair
parts as necessary.
S Keep 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 steps. This will help you get
the “feel” of using your saw before you
begin a major sawing operation.
S
Squeeze trigger switch and allow unit
to reach full speed before cutting.
S
Begin cutting with the saw frame
against the log.
S Keep the motor at full speed the en-
tire time you are cutting.
S Release the trigger switch as soon
as the cut is completed, allowing the
motor to stop.
S Keep the cord away from the cutting
area. Position cord so it will not be
caught on branches and the like dur-
ing cutting.
S To avoid losing control when cut is
complete, do not put pressure on
saw at end of cut.
S Stop motor before setting saw down.
TREE FELLING TECHNIQUES
WARNING: Check for broken or
dead branches which can fall while cut-
ting causing serious injury. Do not cut
near buildings or electrical wires if you
do not know the direction of tree fall, nor
cut at night since you will not be able to
see well, nor during bad weather such
as rain, snow, or strong winds, etc. If the
tree does make contact with any utility
line, the utility company should be noti-
fied immediately.
S
Carefully plan your sawing operation in
advance.
S Clear the work area. You need a clear
area all around the tree so you can have
secure footing.
S The chain saw operator should keep
on the uphill side of the terrain as the
tree is likely to roll or slide downhill af-
ter it is felled.
S Study the natural conditions that can
cause the tree to fall in a particular direc-
tion, such as:
S
The 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 determine the direction of tree lean.
S Weight and branches on one side.
S
Surrounding trees and obstacles.
S Look for decay and rot. If the trunk is
rotted, it can snap and fall toward the
operator.
S Make sure there is enough room for
the tree to fall. Maintain a distance of
2-1/2 tree lengths from the nearest per-
son or other objects. Noise can drown
out a warning call.
S Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, nails,
staples, and wire from the tree where
cuts are to be made.
Direction of Fall
45_
Plan a clear retreat path
FELLING LARGE TREES
(6 inches 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 desired direction of fall. After a felling
cut is made on the opposite side of tree,
the tree will tend to fall in the direction of
the notch.
NOTE: If tree has large buttress roots,
remove them before making the notch. If
using saw to remove buttress roots,
keep saw chain from contacting ground
to prevent dulling of the chain.
NOTCH CUT AND FELLING TREE
S
Make 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 cutting the bottom. See illustra-
tion. Once the notch is cut, remove the
wedge of wood from tree.
Notch
First cut
Second cut
Final cut here
Hinge