Craftsman 138.98946 Operator's Manual

TREE FELLINGSee figure 12-16.Unusual Hazardous Tree Felling ConditionsDo not fell trees during periods of high wind orheavy precipitation. Wait to do your cutting untilthe hazard has ended.AAAAAAWARNING: Do not cut down trees hav-ing an extreme lean or large trees that haverotten limbs, loose bark, or hollow trunks.Have these trees pushed or dragged downwith heavy equipment, then cut them up.DANGER: Electrocution hazard. Do not cuttrees or branches near power lines or elec=trical wires. Contact with power lines or liveelectrical wires will result in serious personalinjury or possible death.WARNING: Do not cut trees or branchesnear buildings, which may result in seriousinjuries or property damage.WARNING: Check the tree for damagedor dead branches that could fall and hit youduring felling.WARNING: Periodically glance at the topof the tree during the backcut to assure thetree is going to fall in the desired direction.WARNING: If the tree starts to fall in thewrong direction, or if the saw gets caught orhung up during the fall, leave the saw andsave yourself![][][][]tree and make sure there are no obstructionsin your planned path of retreat. Clear pathof safe retreat approximately 135 ° fromplanned line of fall. The retreat path shouldextend back and diagonally to the rear of theexpected line of fall.Before felling is started, consider the force anddirection of the wind, the lean and balance ofthe tree, and the location of large limbs. Thesethings influence the direction in which the treewill fall. Do not try to fell a tree along a linedifferent from its natural line of fall.The chain saw operator should keep on theuphill side of the terrain as the tree is likely toroll or slide downhill after it is felled.Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, nails,staples, and wire from the tree where fellingcuts are to be made.Notched Undercut. Cut a notch about 1/3the diameter of the tree, perpendicular to thedirection of fall. Make the cuts of the notch sothey intersect at a right angle to the line of fall.[] Felling a tree - When bucking and fellingoperations are being performed by two or morepersons, at the same time, the felling operationshould be separated from the buckingoperation by a distance of at least twice theheight of the tree being felled. Trees shouldnot be felled in a manner that would endangerany person, strike any utility line or cause anyproperty damage. If the tree does make contactwith any utility line, the utility company shouldbe notified immediately.[] Before any cuts are started, pick your escaperoute (or routes in case the intended route isblocked); clear the immediate area around the15 - English