Owner’s manual – Homelite EL14 User Manual

Page 9

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OWNER’S MANUAL

Figure 13 - Felling A Tree

Direction
of Fall

1st Cut -
Lower
Notch Cut

2nd Cut -
Upper
Notch Cut

Hinge

Inches

3rd Cut -
Felling Cut

WARNING: Do not cut all the

way through tree. Leave about
two inches of tree diameter uncut
directly behind felling notch (see
Figure 13). This uncut portion acts
as a hinge. The hinge helps keep
tree from twisting and falling in
wrong direction.

WARNING: Be alert for falling

overhead limbs. Watch your
footing while exiting area.

Felling is the process of cutting down a tree.
Make sure your footing is firm. Keep feet
apart. Divide your weight evenly on both
feet. Follow directions below to fell a tree.

Before Felling a Tree

1. Before felling, inspect tree. Make sure

there are no dead limbs or branches that
may fall on you. Study natural lean of
tree, location of larger branches, and
wind direction. This will help you judge
which way tree will fall.

2. Clear work area around tree.

3. Plan and clear a retreat path before

felling. Make retreat path opposite to
planned direction of fall of tree and at
45

angle (see Figure 12).

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.

WARNING:

• Avoid kickback. Kickback can

result in severe injury or death.
See

Kickback, page 2 to avoid

risk of kickback.

• Do not fell a tree without ample

skill or expert help.

• Keep children, animals, and

bystanders away from area
when felling a tree.

• If two or more persons perform

bucking and felling operations

WARNING: When felling a tree,

be aware of your surroundings.
Do not endanger any person,
strike utility lines, or cause
property damage. If tree strikes
utility lines, contact utility
company at once.

Figure 12 - Retreat Path From Tree

Direction
of Fall

Retreat
Path

Tree

FELLING A TREE

(Cutting Down a Tree)

Felling Procedure
A) Felling Notch

A properly placed felling notch will deter-
mine direction tree will fall. Place felling
notch on side of tree in direction you want
tree to fall (see Figure 13). Follow direc-
tions below to create a felling notch.

1. Make lower notch cut as close to ground

as possible. Hold saw so guide bar is
horizontal. Cut 1/3 the diameter of tree
trunk (see Figure 13).

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 13).

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 13). Keep felling cut
parallel to lower notch cut.

2. Cut towards notch.

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 remove 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