McCulloch CS 42S Operator's Manual page 12

NOTE: Before felling cut is complete, use wedges to
open the cut if necessary to control the direction of
fall. To avoid kickback and chain damage, use wood
or plastic wedges, but never steel or iron wedges.
Be alert to signs that the tree is ready to fall: cracking
sounds, widening of the felling cut, or movement in the
upper branches.
As tree starts to fall, stop saw, put it down, and get
DO NOT cut down a partially fallen tree with your saw.
Be extremely cautious with partially fallen trees that
may be poorly supported. When a tree doesn't fall
completely, set the saw aside and pull down the tree
with a cable winch, block and tackle, or tractor.
CUTTING A FALLEN TREE
(BUCKING)
Bucking is the term used for cutting a fallen tree to the
desired log size.
a WARNING! Do not stand on the log being
cut. Any portion can roll causing loss of
footing and control. Do not stand downhill of
the log being cut.
IMPORTANT POINTS:
Cut only one log at a time.
Cut shattered wood very carefully; sharp pieces of
Use a sawhorse to cut small logs. Never allow
another person to hold the log while cutting and
never hold the log with your leg or foot.
Do not cut in an area where logs, limbs, and roots
are tangled such as in a blown down area. Drag
the logs into a clear area before cutting by pulling
Make sure the chain will not strike the ground or
any other object during or after cutting.
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a WARNING! If saw becomes pinched or hung
in a log, don't try to force it out. You can lose
control of the saw resulting in injury and/
or damage to the saw. Stop the saw, drive a
wedge of plastic or wood into the cut until
the saw can be removed easily. Restart the
saw and carefully reenter the cut. To avoid
kickback and chain damage, do not use a
metal wedge. Do not attempt to restart your
saw when it is pinched or hung in a log.
TYPES OF BUCKING CUTS
Overcutting begins on the top side of the log with the
bottom of the saw against the log. When overcutting
use light downward pressure.
Undercutting involves cutting on the underside of the
log with top of saw against the log. When undercutting
maintain control. The saw will tend to push back
toward you.
a WARNING! Never turn saw upside down to
undercut. The saw cannot be controlled in
this position.
the log. The compression side of the log is where the
pressure of the log's weight is concentrated.