Felling Large Trees - Craftsman 358.341240 Operator's Manual

• Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, higher than the horizontal notchingcut
nails, staples, and wire from the tree as illustrated. Keep the felling back cut
where cuts are to be made.
parallel to the horizontal notchingcut.
Plana clearretreatpath Make the felling back cut so enough
wood is left to act as a hinge...Thehinge
wood
helps the tree from twisUng and
falling in the wrong direction.Do not cut
.... _ ._"_" Direction of Fall
through the hinge.
As the fesl_g cut gets dsse ot the hinge
_p_'/ the tree shouldbe_n to falL If them is
any chance thst the ires may notfagin
A retreat path should be planned and
cleared as necessary before cuts are
staded. The retreat path should extend
back and diagonally to the rear of the
expectedlineof fall as illustrated above.
FELLING LARGE TREES
(6 inches in diameter or larger)
The notch method Is used to fell large
trees. A notch is cut on the side of the
tree in the desired directionof fall. After
a felling cut is made on the opposite
side of tree, the tree will tend to fall in
the direction of the notch.
NOTE: If tree has large buttress roots,
remove them before making the notch.
NOTCH CUT AND FELLING TREE
• Make notch cut by cutting the top of
the notchfirsL Cut through 1/3 of the
diameter of the tree. Next complete
the notch by cuttingthe bottom. See
illustration.Once notch is cut, remove
the dsslred d'_Dcliono[ it may rcokI_ck
andbind thesawchalh, stT0p cuit_ be-
fore
the feting back cut is cumpiste and
usewedgss ofwcod, p les_or¢uminum
toopen thecutanddrop thetreesiong
the dssiredrmeot falL
When the tree beginstc feE,remove the
chein saw from the cut, stopthe motor,
put the chainsaw down, then use the re-
beat pathplanned.Be alert for overhead
limbsfallingand watch your fooling.
Hinge holds tree on stump and helps
control fall.
Opening
of felling
Closing of
notch
• the wedge of wood from the tree.
After removingthe wood, make the NOTE: Before fellingcut is complete,
felling cut on the opposite side of the use wedges to open the cut when
notch. This is done.by making a cut necessary to control the d'.m_.'.'on o f fall.
about two inches higher than the can- To avoid Idckbaokand chain damage,
ter of the notch.This will leave use wood or plastic wedges, but never
enough uncut wood between the fell- steel or iron wedges.
ing cut and the notch to form a hinge. • Be alert to signs that the tm.e is reedy
This hinge will help prevent the tree to fall: crasldngsounds, widening of
frem fsilmg in the wrong direction, the felling cut, or movement in the up-
Rrstcut r
Finalcut hem
per branches.
/ • As tree starts to fall, stop saw, put it
Notch ""_',
_ down, and get away quicklyon your
Oirection"_ _! "-- ,.P'.t...=,. pisnnedretreetpath.
otfall )/_._, .._._. • Be extremolycautlous with partially
fallen trees that may be poody sup-
// _mnd_ , _ .. ported. When a tree doesn't fall com-
,cut,....j / \ X,_ge pletely, set the _...waside and pull
,v,,.,y._ <f__ .._---_ • down the tree with.a _ winch
Notching Undercut- Make the notch block and tackle, or ba_0r. Do not
1/3 the diameter of the tree, perpendic- use your eew to cut down a parUally
uler to the direction of fall as illustrated, fallen tree.
Make the lower horizontal notchingcut CUTTING A FALLEN TREE
fi.mLThis will help to avoid pinchingof (BUCKING)
either the sew chain or the guide bar Bucking is the term used for cutting a
when the second not_Hh = is being made. fallen tree to the desired log size.
Felling Bsck Cut Make the felling WARNING: Do not stand on the log
back cut at least 2 inches (50.8ram) being cut. Any portioncan roll causing