Work Area Precautions; Felling Trees - Ryobi OCS1825 Original Instructions Manual

PROPER CUTTING STANCE
See Fig.11.
WARNING
Always use the proper cutting stance described in this
section. Never kneel when using the chainsaw except
when felling a tree as shown in fi gure 15. Kneeling could
result in loss of stability and control of the saw resulting
in serious personal injury.
■ Weight should be balanced with both feet on solid
ground.
■ Keep left arm with elbow locked in a "straight arm"
position to withstand any kickback force.
■ Your body should always be to the left of the chain line.
■ Thumb should be on underside of handlebar.
BASIC CUTTING PROCEDURE
Practice cutting a few small logs using the following
technique to get the "feel" of using the saw before you
begin a major sawing operation.
■ Support log on a saw horse or cradle.
■ Take the proper stance in front of the wood with the
saw off.
■ Squeeze the switch trigger and let the chain accelerate
to full speed before entering the cut.
■ Begin cutting with the saw against the log.
■ Keep the unit running the entire time you are cutting,
maintain a steady speed.
■ Allow the chain to cut for you; exert only light downward
pressure. If you force the cut, damage to the bar, chain,
or unit can result.
■ Release the switch trigger as soon as the cut is
completed, allowing the chain to stop. If you run the
saw without a cutting load, unnecessary wear can
occur to the chain, bar, and unit.
■ Do not put pressure on the saw at the end of cut.

WORK AREA PRECAUTIONS

■ Cut only wood or materials made from wood, no sheet
metal, no plastics, no masonry, no non-wood building
materials.
■ Never allow children to operate the saw. Do not allow
any person who has not read this Operator's Manual or
received adequate instructions on the safe and proper
use of the product to operate the product.
■ Keep everyone - helpers, bystanders, children, and
animals - a safe distance from the cutting area. During
felling operations, the safe distance should be a least
twice the height of the largest trees in the felling area.
During bucking operations, keep a minimum distance of
15 m between workers.
■ Always cut with both feet on solid ground to prevent
being pulled off balance.
■ Do not cut above chest height, as a saw held higher is
difficult to control against kickback forces.
■ Do not fell trees near electrical wires or buildings.
Leave this operation for professionals.
■ Cut only when visibility and light are adequate for you
to see clearly.

FELLING TREES

See Fig.12-15.
Do not fell trees during periods of high wind or heavy
precipitation. Wait until the hazardous weather has
ended.
Closely check for broken or dead branches that could
fall while cutting and do not cut near buildings or
electrical wires if you do not know the direction of tree
fall. Do not cut at night or during bad weather conditions,
such as rain, snow, or strong winds, which can reduce
visibility and control of the chainsaw. If the tree you are
felling makes contact with any utility line, you should
discontinue use of the chainsaw and immediately notify
the utility company. Failure to follow these instructions
could result in death or serious personal injury.
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
Fig 11
saw gets caught or hung up during the fall, leave the
saw and save yourself!
■ Felling a tree - When bucking and felling operations are
being performed by two or more persons, 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,
WARNING
WARNING
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