Ryobi PCN 4040 Owner's Operation Manual page 16

OPERATION
Do not cut trees near electrical wires or buildings (D).
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Consider the direction in which the tree leans (E).
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Check the tree for damaged or dead branches which
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could fall and hit you during felling (F).
Periodically glance at the top of the tree during the
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back-cut to assure the tree is going to fall in the
desired direction.
Keep all bystanders at a safe distance (G) (at least
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twice the height of the tree).
Prepare a path of safe retreat (H).
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If the tree starts to fall in the wrong direction, or if the
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saw gets caught or hung up during the fall, leave the
saw and save yourself!
Consider the wind direction before felling a tree.
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Do not fell trees near power lines or near buildings
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which could be struck by falling limbs or the tree itself.
The chainsaw operator should keep on the uphill side
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of the terrain as the tree is likely to roll or slide
downhill after it is felled.
Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, nails, staples, and
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wire from the tree where felling cuts are to be made.
WARNING
Do NOT fell trees near power lines or near
buildings which could be struck by falling limbs or
the tree itself.
PROPER PROCEDURE FOR TREE FELLING
(Fig. 28 - 31)
1. 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 the path of safe retreat
approximately 135° from the planned line of fall (A).
2. 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
different from its natural line of fall (B).
3. Cut a notch about 1/3 the diameter of the trunk in the
side of the tree (C). Make the notch cuts so they
intersect at right angles to the line of fall. This notch
should be cleaned out to leave a straight line. To keep
the weight of the wood off the saw, always make the
lower cut of the notch before the upper cut.
4. Make the back-cut (D) level and horizontal, and at a
minimum of 2 inches (5 cm) above the horizontal cut
of the notch.
English
NOTE: Never cut through to the notch. Always leave a
band of wood between the notch and back cut
(approximately 2 inches (5 cm) or 1/10 the diameter of
the tree). This is called a "hinge" or "hingewood" (E).
It controls the fall of the tree and prevents slipping or
twisting or shoot-back of the tree off the stump.
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 (F)
into the cut so they do not touch the chain. Drive wedges
in, little by little, to help jack the tree over.
When bucking or felling with a wedge, it may be
necessary to remove the SAFE-T-TIP® anti-kick-back
device to allow the bar to be drawn through the cut.
After you complete the cut, reinstall the tip immediately.
5. As tree starts to fall, stop the chainsaw and put it
down immediately. Retreat along the cleared path,
but watch the action in case something falls your way.
WARNING
Never cut through to the notch when making a back
cut. The hinge controls the fall of the tree: this is the
section of wood between the notch and back-cut.
REMOVING BUTTRESS ROOTS (Fig. 32)
A buttress root is a large root extending from the trunk of
the tree above the ground. Remove large buttress roots
prior to felling. Make the horizontal cut (A) into the
buttress first, followed by the vertical cut (B). Remove the
resulting loose section (C) from the work area. Follow the
correct tree felling procedure after you have removed the
large buttress roots. Refer to "Operation – Proper
Procedure for Tree Felling" earlier in this manual.
BUCKING (Fig. 33)
Bucking is the term used for cutting a fallen tree to the
desired log length.
Cut only one log at a time.
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Support small logs on a sawing stand or another log
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while bucking.
Keep a clear cutting area. Make sure that no objects
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can contact the guide bar nose and chain during
cutting: this can cause kick-back (A). To avoid the
danger, keep the SAFE-T-TIP® anti-kick-back device
attached while cutting. Refer to "Safety – Kick-back"
earlier in this manual.
During bucking operations, stand on the uphill side so
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that the cut-off section of the log cannot roll over you.
Sometimes it is impossible to avoid pinching (with just
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standard cutting techniques) or difficult to predict
which way a log will settle when cut.
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