Homelite UT43102 Operator's Manual page 18

When felling a tree, it is important that you follow
these warnings and instructions to prevent possible
serious injury.
 Do not cut down trees having an extreme lean
or large trees with rotten limbs, loose bark,
or hollow trunks. Have these trees pushed or
dragged down with heavy equipment, then cut
them up.
 Do not cut trees near electrical wires or
buildings.
 Check the tree for damaged or dead branches
that could fall and hit you during felling.
 Periodically glance at the top of the tree during
the backcut to assure the tree is going to fall in
the desired direction.
 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!
 Felling a tree - When bucking and felling opera-
tions are being performed by two or more per-
sons, at the same time, the felling operation
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 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.
 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. Clear paths of safe
retreat should extend back and diagonally (45°)
to the rear of the planned line of fall. When the
tree begins to fall, you should retreat away from
the direction of fall along a retreat path and at
least 20 feet away from the trunk in case it kicks
back over the stump. See Figure 13.
 Before felling is started, consider the force and
direction of the wind, the lean and balance of
the tree, and the location of large limbs. These
things influence the direction in which the tree
will fall. Do not try to fell a tree along a line dif-
ferent 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.
OPERATION
PLANNED
LINE OF FALL
BACK CUT
2 in.
BACK CUT
Page 18 — English
HINGE
2 in. OR 1/10 DIAMETER
45°
45°
Fig. 13
NOTCH -
APPROX. 1/3
DIAMETER
OF TRUNK
Fig. 14
HINGE
Fig. 15