To Avoid Pushback; Cutting Techniques; Felling; Pull-In - Stihl 015 Instruction Manual / Owners Manual

To avoid pushback
1.
Be alert to forces or situations that may cause material
to pinch the top of the chain.
2. Do not cut more than one log at a time.
3. Do not twist the saw when withdrawing ·the bar from a
plunge cut or under buck cut (figures 26 to 28 and 34,
pages 16, 17 and 19), because the chain can pinch.
Pull-in:
Pull-in occurs when the chain on the bottom of the bar is
suddenly stopped. The chain on the bottom of the bar stops
when it is pinched, caught or encounters a foreign object
in the wood (see ill. 16). The reaction of the chain pulls
the saw forward, causing the operator to lose control.
Pull-in frequently occurs when the bumper spike of the saw
is not held securely against the tree or limb and when the
chain is not rotating at full speed before it contacts the
wood.
Warning!
Use extreme caution when cutting small size brush and
saplings which may easily catch the chain and pull you off
balance.
To avoid pull-in
1. Always start a cut with the chain rotating at full speed
and the bumper spike in contact with the wood.
2. Pull-in may also be prevented by using wedges to open
the kerf or cut.
Cutting Techniques
Felling
Felling is cutting down a tree.
Before felling a tree, consider carefully all conditions which
may affect the direction of fall, including:
The intended direction of the fall.
The natural lean of the tree.
Any unusually heavy limb structure.
Surrounding trees and obstacles.
The wind direction and speed.
Warning!
Always observe the general conditions of the tree. Look for
decay and rot in the trunk. If it is rotted inside, it could snap
and fall toward the operator while being cut.
Also look for broken or dead branches which could vibrate
loose and fall on the operator. When felling on a slope, the
operator should stand on the up-hill side if possible.
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