Ryobi RY5018 Operator's Manual page 21

 The chain saw operator should keep on the
uphill side 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 wire from the tree where felling cuts are to
be made.
NOTE: Before every cut, make sure the felling sights
on the saw housing are aligned with the direction
path for the tree to fall. Figure 23a shows how the
felling direction sights are used when making the
back cut.
 Notched Undercut. Cut a notch about 1/3 the
diameter of the tree as shown in figure 21. Make
the cuts of the notch so they intersect at a right
angle 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.
See Figure 21.
 Felling Backcut. The backcut is always made
level and horizontal, and at a minimum of 2 in.
above the horizontal cut of the notch. See Fig-
ures 21 - 22.
 Never cut through to the notch. Always leave a
band of wood between the notch and backcut
(approximately 2 in. or 1/10 the diameter of the
tree). This is called "hinge" or "hingewood." It
controls the fall of the tree and prevents slip-
ping or twisting or shoot-back of the tree off the
stump. See Figures 21 - 22.
 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 into the cut so
they do not touch the chain. The wedges can
be driven in, little by little, to help jack the tree
over. See Figure 23b.
NOTE: When bucking or felling with a wedge, it
may be necessary to remove the SAFE-T-TIP™
anti-kickback nose guard to allow the bar to be
drawn through the cut. After the cut is complete,
the tip should be reinstalled immediately.
 As tree starts to fall, stop the chain saw and put
it down immediately. Retreat along the cleared
path, but watch the action in case something
falls your way. Be alert for overhead limbs or
branches that may fall and watch your footing.
OPERATION
WARNING:
Never cut through to the notch when making a
backcut. The hinge controls the fall of the tree,
this is the section of wood between the notch
and backcut.
BUCKING
See Figure 24.
Bucking is the term used for cutting a fallen tree
to the desired log length.
 Cut only one log at a time.
 Support small logs on a saw horse or another
log while bucking.
 Keep a clear cutting area. Make sure that no
objects can contact the guide bar nose and
chain during cutting, this can cause kickback.
To avoid the danger, keep the SAFE-T-TIP™
anti-kickback device attached while cutting.
Refer to Kickback in the Specific Safety Rules
section of this manual for more information.
 When bucking on a slope, always stand on the
uphill side of the log. To maintain complete
control of the chain saw when cutting through
the log, release the cutting pressure near the
end of the cut without relaxing your grip on the
chain saw handles. Do not let the chain contact
the ground. After completing the cut, wait for the
saw chain to stop before you move the chain
saw. Always stop the motor before moving from
tree to tree.
Page 21 — English
KICKBACK
Fig. 24