Homelite UT43103 User Manual - Page 17

OPERATION by a distance of at least twice the height of the tree being felled. Trees should not be felled in a manner that would endanger any person, strike any utility line or cause any property damage. If the tree does make contact with any utility line, the utility company should be notified immediately. n Operator should keep on the uphill side of terrain as the tree is likely to roll or slide after it is felled. n Pick your escape route (or routes in case the intended route is blocked). Clear the immediate area around the tree and make sure there are no obstructions in your planned path of retreat. Clear the path of safe retreat approximately 135° from the planned line of fall. n Consider the force and direction of the wind, the lean and balance of the tree, and the location of large limbs. These things influence the direction in which the tree will fall. Do not try to fell a tree along a line different from its natural line of fall. n Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, nails, staples, and wire from the tree where felling cuts are to be made. n Notched Undercut. Cut a notch about 1/3 the diameter of the trunk in the side of the tree. Make the notch cuts 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. n Felling Backcut. As the felling cut gets close to the hinge the tree should begin to fall. If there is any chance the tree may not fall in the desired direction or it may rock back and bind the saw chain, stop cutting before the felling cut is complete and use wedges of wood, plastic or aluminum to open the cut and drop the tree along its desired line of fall. Make the backcut level and horizontal, and at a minimum of 2 in. above the horizontal cut of the notch. NOTE: Never cut through to the notch. Always leave a band of wood between the notch and back cut (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 slipping or twisting or shootback of the tree off the stump. PLANNED LINE OF FALL 135° FROM PLANNED LINE OF FALL PLANNED LINE OF 135° FALL 135° 90° PATH OF SAFE RETREAT PATH OF SAFE 45° ­RETREAT 90° 45° Fig. 13 HINGE 2 in. OR 1/10 DIA BACK CUT 2 in. NOTCH ­APPROX. 1/3 DIAMETER OF TRUNK Fig. 14 n 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. Drive wedges in, little by little, to help jack the tree over. Page 17 - English