Ryobi P542 - Manual (Page 14)

14 - English
OPERATION
ers.Trees should not be felled in a manner that
would endanger any person, strike any utility
line or cause any property damage. If the tree
does make contact with any utility line, 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 high-
er is difficult to control against kickback forces.
 Do not fell trees near electrical wires or build-
ings. Leave this operation for professionals.
 Cut only when visibility and light are adequate
for you to see clearly.
TREE FELLING
See Figures 12 - 15.
Unusual Hazardous Tree Felling conditions
Do not fell trees during periods of high wind or
heavy precipitation. Wait to do your cutting until
the hazard has ended.
WARNING:
Do not cut down trees having an extreme lean or
trees that have rotten limbs, loose bark, or hol-
low trunks. Have these trees pushed or dragged
down with heavy equipment, then cut them up.
DANGER:
Electrocution hazard. Do not cut trees or
branches near power lines or electrical wires.
Contact with power lines or live electrical wires
will result in serious personal injury or possible
death.
PROPER cUTTING STANcE
See Figure 11.

Weight should be balanced with both feet on
solid ground.
 Keep left arm with elbow locked in a “straight
arm” position to withstand any kickback force.
 Your body should always be to the left of the
chain line.
 Thumb should be on underside of handlebar.
BASIc cUTTING PROcEDURE
Practice cutting a few small logs using the following
technique to get the “feel” of using the saw before
you begin a major sawing operation.

Take the proper stance in front of the wood with
the saw off.
 Squeeze the switch trigger and let the chain
accelerate to full speed before entering the
cut.
 Begin cutting with the saw against the log.
 Keep the unit running the entire 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, dam-
age to the bar, chain, or unit can result.
 Release the switch trigger as soon as the cut
is completed, allowing the chain to stop. If you
run the saw without a cutting load, unnecessary
wear can occur to the chain, bar, and unit.
 Do not put pressure on the saw at the end of cut.
WORK AREA PREcAUTIONS
 Cut only wood or materials made from wood,
no sheet metal, no plastics, no masonry, no
non-wood building materials.
 Never allow children to operate the saw. Allow
no person to use this chain saw who has not
read this Operator’s Manual or received ade-
quate instructions for the safe and proper use
of this chain saw.
 When felling a tree, keep everyone - helpers,
bystanders, children, and animals - a safe
distance from the cutting area. During felling
operations, the safe distance should be a least
twice the height of the largest trees in the fell-
ing area. During bucking operations, keep a
minimum distance of 15 feet between work-
Fig. 11
STRAIGHT ARM
POSITION
CHAIN LINE