Cutting Procedure Basics; Felling: Safety; Felling: Procedure - Champion 100641 Operator's Manual

100641 - ChAiNSAw

Cutting Procedure basics

1. Start the chainsaw. Refer to Starting Instructions in the
Starting and Stopping section.
2. Keep your fingers off the throttle control until you are ready to
make a cut.
3. Accelerate the chainsaw to full speed before cutting.
4. Press the chainsaw against the wood and maintain a firm,
steady pressure through most of the cut. Do not put pressure
on the chainsaw at the end of the cut.
5. Maintain a steady speed throughout the cut. Keep the
chainsaw running through the entire cut.
6. Do not try to force the saw through the wood. Allow the saw
chain to do the cutting. Exert only light pressure. Forcing the
cut could result in damage to the chainsaw or personal injury.
7. Release the throttle control as soon as the cut is completed.
Allow the saw chain to come to a complete stop. The saw
chain, guide bar and engine may experience unnecessary
wear if the chainsaw is run without a cutting load.

felling: Safety

Felling is the process of cutting down a tree. Follow these safety
precautions to reduce the risk of serious injury, property damage
and damage to electrical lines:
– Do not fell trees with an extreme lean. Do not fell trees with
rotten limbs, loose bark or hollow trunks. Have these trees
pushed or dragged down with heavy equipment.
– Do not cut trees near buildings or electrical lines. Leave these
operations for professionals. If a felled tree does contact an
electrical line, notify the utility company immediately.
– Check the tree for damaged or dead branches that could fall
and cause serious injury.
– Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, nails, wire and other
obstructions from the portion of the tree that will be cut.
– When bucking and felling operations are performed by two
or more persons in the same general area, they should be
separated from each other by a distance of at least twice the
height of the tree to be felled.
– Consider the force and direction of the wind. Consider the
lean and balance of the tree. Consider the location of large
branches. All of these factors influence the direction that the
tree will fall. Do not try to fell a tree in a direction other than its
natural fall line.
– Do not fell trees during periods of precipitation or high winds.
– Determine a safe and expedient escape route. Clear the area
around the tree and make sure there are no obstructions
blocking the escape route. Establish a 90º corridor of escape,
approximately 135º from the line of fall (Fig. 9).
– Stay uphill from the tree; it will most likely roll or slide after it
falls.
Path of
90°
safe retreat

felling: Procedure

Small trees, up to 6 - 7 inches (15 - 18 cm) in diameter, are
usually felled in a single cut. Larger trees require a sequence of
two cutting operations: a notched undercut followed by a felling
back cut. It may also be necessary to remove buttress roots.
Step 1: Removing Buttress Roots
Buttress roots are large roots that extend above the ground and
help support the tree. If the tree has large buttress roots that
might impede the felling process, follow these steps to remove
them:
1. Make a horizontal cut into the buttress root (Fig. 10). To
prevent the guide bar from being pinched by the weight of the
wood, always make this cut first.
2. Make a vertical cut into the buttress root (Fig. 10).
3. Remove the loose section from the work area.
Step 2: making the Notched Undercut
Never walk in front of a tree with a notched undercut.
This cut determines which direction the tree will fall. Always make
this cut on the side of the tree facing the direction where the tree
should fall. Make the cut at 90º to the line of fall.
18
OPERATiON
135° from planned
line of fall
Planned line
135° from planned
line of fall
Figure 9
Second cut
Buttress root
First cut
Figure 10
wARNiNG

of fall