EINHELL GC-EC 2040 Operating Instructions Manual page 16

in the system or if the oil drops below the "min"
mark (Fig. 12/See arrow). On average, a single
fi lling will last around 15 minutes depending on
the number of pauses in cutting and the loads
involved.
Saw chain
Tension of the chain, condition of the cutting
elements: The sharper the chain, the easier and
more controllable it is to operate the chain saw.
The same also applies to the chain tension.
Again, while working also check the chain tension
every 10 minutes in order to increase your safety.
New chains in particular tend to expand more.
Chain brake
Check the operation of the chain brake as
described in the chapter "Safety devices" and
then release it.
Safety clothing
Always wear appropriate tight-fi tting safety
clothing such as special trousers which protect
against cuts, protective gloves and safety shoes.
Hearing protection and protective goggles
When felling trees or performing forest work,
always wear a protective helmet with integral face
and hearing protection. This will off er protection
against falling branches and recoiling branches.
7.2 Description of the correct procedures for
basic use of the chain saw
Felling a tree (Figs. 16-19)
If two or more persons are working at the
same time on felling and cutting back, then the
minimum distance between the tree being felled
and the tree being cut back should be at least
twice the height of the tree being felled (Fig.
16). When felling trees, care must be taken to
ensure that no other persons are endangered,
no power lines are hit and no material damage
is caused to equipment or property. In the event
that a tree comes into contact with a power line,
the responsible power source company should be
informed immediately. When working with the saw
on a slope, the operator of the chain saw must
be standing at a higher point on the slope than
the tree being felled, as the tree will roll or slip
downhill once it has been felled (Fig. 17).
Before felling the tree you must fi rst plan and if
necessary clear an escape route. This escape
route must lead away diagonally in the opposite
direction to the expected fall direction – this can
be seen in Fig. 18 (A= danger zone, B= direction
Anl_GC_EC_2040_SPK7_NA.indb 16 Anl_GC_EC_2040_SPK7_NA.indb 16
EN
of fall, C= escape zone).
Before felling the tree you must take into account
the natural inclination of the tree, the location of
larger branches and the wind direction, as this will
help you to correctly determine the direction in
which the tree will fall.
Dirt, stones, loose bark, nails, staples and wire
must be removed from the tree.
Making the felling notch (Fig. 19)
Cut a notch (A) at right angles to the fall direction
to a depth of 1/3 of the tree diameter as shown
in Fig. 19. First make the lower horizontal felling
notch (1). This prevents the saw chain or the
guide bar from becoming trapped when the
second felling notch is made.
Making the felling cut (Fig. 19)
The felling cut should be positioned at least 2"
(50 mm) above the horizontal felling notch. Make
the felling cut (B) parallel to the horizontal felling
notch. The felling cut should be cut to a depth
which leaves a thin strip (felling hinge strip) (D)
which can act as a hinge. This strip prevents
the tree from rotating and falling in the wrong
direction. Do not cut through the strip. When the
felling cut gets close to the strip the tree should
start to fall. If it becomes clear that the tree may
well fall in a diff erent direction to the desired fall
direction (C) or it starts to lean back and traps
the saw chain, interrupt the felling cut and insert
wedges made of wood, plastic or aluminum to
open out the cut and control the lean of the tree
until it leans in the required direction.
When the tree starts to fall, remove the chain saw
from the cut, switch it off , place it on the ground
and exit the danger zone via the planned escape
route. Watch out for falling branches and take
care not to trip.
Removing branches
Here we are talking about removing branches
from the felled tree. When removing branches,
leave any downward facing branches which are
supporting the tree until the trunk of the tree
has been cut up. Smaller branches should be
removed as shown in Fig. 20 (A= cutting direction
when removing branches, B= keep away from
the ground! Supporting branches should be left
until the trunk is cut up) in a single cut from the
bottom to the top. Any branches which are under
tension should be cut from the bottom to the top
to prevent the saw from becoming trapped.
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