Snapper XD Series Owner's Manual page 21

OPERATION
• felling Backcut. As the felling cut gets close to the hinge, the tree should begin to fall. If there
is any chance the tree may not fall in the desired direction or it may rock back and bind the
saw chain, stop cutting before the felling cut is complete and use wedges of wood, plastic or
aluminum to open the cut and drop the tree along its desired line of fall. Make the backcut
level and horizontal, and at a minimum of 2 in. (5 cm) above the horizontal cut of the notch.
• On large diameter trees, stop the back cut before it is deep enough for the tree to either fall or
settle back on the stump. Then insert soft wooden or plastic wedges into the cut so they do.
• As tree starts to fall, stop the chain saw and put it down immediately. Retreat along the
cleared path, but watch the action in case something falls your way.
Planned
Line of fall
Back cut
Path of
safe
retreat
Back cut 2 in. (51mm)
Hinge
Wedge
21
HINGE
2 in. (51mm ) OR 1/10 DI A
Notch-
Approx.
1/3
Diameter
of trunk