Operating Tips; Tree Felling - Craftsman 358.350380 Instruction Manual

2.6 cu.in./42cc 2-cycle 18 in. bar gasoline chain saw
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the hand g uard w ithout releasing
your
grip around the front handle. The chain
should stop immediately.
Inertia activating
function
control
_WARNING:
When performing
the
following
procedure,
the engine must
be turned off.
Grip the rear handle with your right hand
and the front handle with your left hand.
Hold the chain saw approximately
14"
(35 cm) above a stump or other wooden
surface. Release your grip on the front
handle and let the tip of the guide bar
fall forward and contact the stump.
When the tip of the bar hits the stump,
the brake should activate.
OPERATING
TIPS
• Check chain tension
before first use
and after 1 minute of operation.
See
CHAIN TENSION in the MAINTENANCE
section.
• Cut wood only. Do not cut metal,
plastics, masonry, non-wood
building
materials,
etc.
• Stop the saw if the chain strikes a
foreign object. Inspect the saw and
repair parts as necessary.
• Keep the chain out of dirt and sand.
Even a small amount of dirt will
quickly dull a chain and increase the
possibility
of kickback.
• Practice cutting a few small logs us-
ing the following
steps. This will help
you get the "feel" of using your saw
before you begin a major sawing op-
eration.
• Squeeze
the throttle trigger and al-
low the engine to reach full speed
before cutting.
• Begin cutting with the saw frame
against the log.
• Keep the engine at full speed the
entire time you are cutting.
• Allow the chain to cut for you. Exert
only light downward
pressure.
• Release the throttle trigger as soon
as the cut is completed,
allowing
the engine to idle. If you run the
saw at full throttle without a cutting
load, unnecessary
wear can occur.
• To avoid losing control when cut is
complete,
do not put pressure on
saw at end of cut.
• Stop engine before setting saw down.
TREE FELLING
TECHNIQUES
,_
WARNING:
Check for broken or
dead branches which can fall while cut-
ting causing serious injury. Do not cut
near buildings or electrical wires if you
do not know the direction of tree fall, nor
cut at night since you will not be able to
see well, nor during bad weather such
as rain, snow, or strong winds, etc.
• Carefully
plan your sawing operation
in advance.
• Clear the work area. You need a
clear area all around the tree so you
can have secure footing.
• 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.
• Study the natural conditions
that can
cause the tree to fall in a particular
direction.
These conditions
include:
• The wind direction
and speed.
• The lean ofthe
tree. The lean of a
tree might not be apparent
due to
uneven or sloping terrain. Use a
plumb or level to determine
the di-
rection of tree lean.
• Weight and branches
on one side.
• Surrounding
trees and obstacles.
• Look for decay and rot. If the trunk is
rotted, it can snap and fall toward the
operator.
• Make sure there is enough
room for
the tree to fall. Maintain a distance
of
2-1/2 tree lengths from the nearest
person or other objects.
Engine
noise can drown out a warning
call.
• Remove dirt, stones,
loose bark,
nails, staples, and wire from the tree
where cuts are to be made.
_l_q_z '
Plan a clear retreat path
I'
__,_--_-
Direction of fall
45" /_
FELLING
LARGE TREES
(6 inches in diameter
or larger)
The notch method is used to fell large
trees. A notch is cut on the side of the
tree in the desired direction
of fall. After
a felling cut is made on the opposite
side of tree, the tree will tend to fall in
the direction
of the notch.
10

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