Craftsman 358341143 Owner’s Manual
Instruction Manual
ICRRFTSMRN°I
2.5 HP Motor
ELECTRIC CHAIN SAW
Model No.
358.341143 - 14 in. Bar
• Safety
• Assembly
• Operation
• Maintenance
• Espa_ol
®
WARNING:
&
Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179 U.S.A.
530086979 10/1/01
Read and follow all Safety Rules and Operating
Instructions before first use of this product.
For answers to your questions about this product:
Call 7 am-7 pm, Mon-Sat; Sun, 10 am-7 pm
1-800-235-5878 (Hours listed are Central Time)
Warranty 2 Service and Adjustments 13
Safety Rules 2 Storage 14
Assembly 6 Troubleshooting Table 15
Operation 7 Spanish 16
Maintenance 11 Parts Ordering Back Cover
FULL ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN ELECTRIC CHAIN SAW
Ifthis Craftsman Electric Chain Saw fails to perform properly due to a defect in mate-
rial or workmanship within (1) year from the date of purchase, Sears will replace it
free of charge.
This warranty excludes the bar and chain, which are expendable parts and be-
come worn during normal use.
WARRANTY SERVICE IS AVAILABLE BY RETURNING THE CRAFTSMAN ELECTRIC
CHAIN SAW TO THE NEAREST SEARS STORE OR SERVICE CENTER IN THE UNITED
STATES.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights
which vary from state to state.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., Inc., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179
_WARNIN_I: When using electric
gardening appliances, basic safety •
precautions must always be followed
to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock,
and serious injury. Read and follow all
instructions.
WARNING: Always disconnect
unit from power source when making
repairs, adjustments, and when chang-
ing accessories and attachments such
as saw bar, chain or guards.
Because a chain saw is a high-speed
woodcutting tool, special precautions
must be observed to reduce risk of acci-
dents. Careless or improper use of this
tool can cause serious injury.
PLAN AHEAD •
• Restrict the use of your saw to adult
users who understand and can fol- •
low the safety rules, precautions,
and operating instructions found in
this manual.
• Dress properly. Wear protective gear. •
Always use steel-toed safety foot-
wear with non-slip soles; snug-fitting
clothing; heavy-duty, non-slip gloves;
eye protection such as non-fogging,
vented goggles or face screen; an
approved safety hard hat; and sound
barriers (ear plugs or mufflers) to pro-
tect your hearing. Regular users
should have hearing checked regu-
lady as chain saw noise can damage
hearing.
Secure hair above shoulder length. Do
not wear loose clothing or jewelry; they
can get caught in moving parts.
Hearing _ Safety Hat
Protection ''_ igq. _--- Eye
Snug
Fitting _ Heavy Duty
Clothing Gloves
Safety Safety Chaps
Shoes
a4_
Protection
Keep all parts of your body away
from the chain when saw is running.
Keep children away. Do not let visitors
contact chain saw or extension cord.
All visitors should be kept at least 30
feet (10 meters) away from work area.
Do not handle or operate a chain
saw when you are fatigued, ill, upset,
or if you have taken alcohol, drugs,
or medication. You must be in good
physical condition and mentally alert.
If you have any condition that might
be aggravated by strenuous work,
check with doctor before operating.
Watch what you are doing. Use com-
mon sense.
•Donotstartcuttinguntilyouhavea
clearworkarea,securefooting,and
especiallyifyouarefellingatree,a
retreatpath.Keepworkareaclean.
OPERATEYOURSAWSAFELY
•Donotoperatewithonehand.Seri-
ousinjurytotheoperator,helpers,or
bystandersmayresultfromone-
handedoperation.Achainsawisin-
tendedfortwo-handeduse.
•Donotoperatesawfromaladderor
inatree.
•Makesurethechainwillnotmake
contactwithanyobjectwhilestarting
thesaw.Neverstartthesawwhen
theguidebarisinacut.
•Don'tforcechainsaw.Itwilldothe
jobbetterandsaferattheratefor
whichitwasintended.
•Donotputpressureonthesaw,es-
peciallyattheendofthecut.Doing
socancauseyoutolosecontrol
whenthecutiscompleted.
•Stopthesawbeforesettingitdown.
•Handcarrysawonlywhenmotoris
stopped.Carrythechainsawbythe
fronthandlewiththesawstopped,fin-
gerofftheswitch,theguidebarand
sawchaintotherear.
•Usetherighttool,cutwoodonly.
Don'tusechainsawforpurposenot
intended;forexample,don'tuse
chainsawforcuttingplastic,mason-
ry,non-woodbuildingmaterials.
•Donotoperateachainsawthatis
damaged,improperlyadjusted,or
notcompletelyandsecurelyas-
sembled.Alwaysreplacebar,chain,
handguard,orotherpartsimmedi-
atelyiftheybecomedamaged,bro-
ken,orareotherwiseremoved.
•Inspectchainsawcordsperiodically
andifdamaged,haverepairedbya
SearsServiceCenter.
MAINTAINYOURSAWIN GOOD
WORKINGORDER
•Haveallchainsawserviceper-
formedbyaSearsServiceCenter
excepttheitemslistedintheMAINTE-
NANCEsectionofthismanual.
•Makecertainsawchainstopsmov-
ingwhentriggerswitchisreleased.
•Keepthehandlesdryandcleanand
freefromoilandgrease.
•Keepoilcapandfastenerssecurely
tightened.
•Nonconformingreplacementcompo-
nentsortheremovalofsafetydevices
maycausedamagetotheunitand
possibleinjurytotheoperatororby-
standers.UseonlyCraftsmanacces-
soriesandreplacementpartsasrec-
ommended.Nevermodifyyoursaw.
• Maintainchainsawwithcare.
• Keepunitsharpandcleanforbetter
andsaferperformance.
• Followinstructionsforlubricatingand
changingaccessories.
• Unplugthechainsawfromthepower
sourcewhennotinuse,beforeservic-
ing,andwhenchangingaccessories
andattachments,suchassawchain
andguard.
• Checkfordamagedparts.Beforefur-
theruseofthechainsaw,aguardor
otherpartthatisdamagedshouldbe
carefullycheckedtodeterminethatit
willoperateproperlyandperformits
intendedfunction.Checkforalignment
ofmovingparts,bindingofmoving
parts,breakageofparts,mountingand
anyotherconditionsthatmayaffectits
operation.Aguardorotherpartthatis
damagedshouldbeproperlyrepaired
orreplacedbyaSearsServiceCenter
unlessotherwiseindicatedelsewhere
intheinstructionmanual.
•Whennotinuse,chainsawsshould
bestoredinadry,highorlocked-up
placeoutofthereachofchildren.
•Whenstoringsaw,unplugandusea
barsheathorcarryingcase.
ELECTRICALSAFETY
_ILWARNING: Avoid a dangerous
environment. To reduce the risk of
electrical shock, do not use in rain, in
damp or wet locations, or around
swimming pools, hot tubs, etc. Do not
expose to snow, rain, or water to avoid
the possibility of electrical shock. Do
not handle extension cord or plug with
wet hands.
• Use a voltage supply as shown on the
nameplate of the unit.
• Avoid dangerous situations. Do not
use in the presence of flammable liq-
uids or gases to avoid creating a fire
or explosion and/or causing damage
to unit.
• To reduce the risk of electrical shock,
this appliance has a polarized plug
(one blade is wider than the other) and
will require the use of a polarized ex-
tension cord. The appliance plug will fit
into a polarized extension cord only
one way. Ifthe plug does not fit fully
into the extension cord, reverse the
plug.Iftheplugstilldoesnotfit,obtain
acorrectpolarizedextensioncord.A
polarizedextensioncordwillrequire
theuseofapolarizedwalloutlet.This
plugwillfitintothepolarizedwalloutlet
onlyoneway.Ifplugdoesnotfitfully
intothewalloutlet,reversetheplug.If
theplugstilldoesnotfit,contacta
qualifiedelectriciantoinstalltheproper
walloutlet.Donotchangetheequip-
mentplug,extensioncordreceptacle,
orextensioncordpluginanyway.
•Toreduceriskofelectricalshock,use
extensioncordsspecificallymarkedas
suitableforoutdoorappliances.The
electricalratingofthecordmustnotbe
lessthantheratingoftheunit.The
cordmustbemarkedwithsuffix"W-A"
(inCanada,'M,t').Useapolarized
cord.Makesureyourextensioncord
isingoodcondition.Inspectextension
cordbeforeuseandreplaceifdam-
aged.Donotuseadamagedcord.
Cordinsulationmustbeintactwithno
cracksordeterioration.Plugconnec-
torsmustbeundamaged.Anunder-
sizedextensioncordwillcauseadrop
inlinevoltageresultinginlossofpow-
erandoverheating.Ifindoubt,usethe
nextheaviergauge.Thelowerthe
gaugenumber,theheavierthecord
(seeSELECTANEXTENSIONCORDin
theOPERATIONsection).Donotuse
multiplecords.
• Donotabusecord.Nevercarrythe
unitbytheextensioncordoryank
extensioncordtodisconnectunit.
•Secureextensioncordtopowercord
topreventdisconnectionfromunit.
• Donotusetheunitiftheswitchdoes
notturntheunitonandoffproperly,
orifthelock-outdoesnotwork.Re-
pairstotheswitchmustbemadeby
aSearsServiceCenter.
• Keepextensioncordclearofopera-
torandobstaclesatalltimes.Posi-
tioncordsothatitwillnotbecaught
onbranches.Donotexposecordsto
heat,oil,water,orsharpedges.
• Toavoidthepossibilityofelectric
shock,avoidbodycontactwithany
groundedconductor,suchasmetal
fencesorpipes.
• GroundFaultCircuitInterrupter
(GFCI)protectionshouldbeprovided
oncircuitoroutlettobeused.Re-
ceptaclesareavailablehavingbuilt-
inGFClprotectionandmaybeused
forthismeasureofsafety.Inspect
chainsawcordsperiodicallyandif
damaged,haverepairedbyaSears
ServiceCenter.
GUARDAGAINST KICKBACK
Follow all safety rules to help avoid kick-
back and other forces which can result
in serious injury.
Clear The Working Area
_WARNING: Avoid kickback which
can result in serious injury. Kickback
is the backward, upward or sudden for-
ward motion of the guide bar occurring
when the saw chain near the upper tip
of the guide bar contacts any object
such as a log or branch, or when the
wood closes in and pinches the saw
chain in the cut. Contacting a foreign
object in the wood can also result in
loss of chain saw control.
• Rotational Kickback can occur
when the moving chain contacts an
object at the upper tip of the guide
bar. This contact can cause the
chain to dig into the object, which
stops the chain for an instant. The
result is a lightning fast, reverse
reaction which kicks the guide bar up
and back toward the operator.
• Pinch-Kickback can occur when the
the wood closes in and pinches the
moving saw chain in the cut along
the top of the guide bar and the saw
chain is suddenly stopped. This sud-
den stopping of the chain results in a
reversal of the chain force used to
cut wood and causes the saw to
move in the opposite direction of the
chain rotation. The saw is driven
straight back toward the operator.
• Pull-In can occur when the moving
chain contacts a foreign object in the
wood in the cut along the bottom of
the guide bar and the saw chain is
suddenly stopped. This sudden stop-
ping pulls the saw forward and away
from the operator and could easily
cause the operator to lose control of
the saw.
Kickback Path
Avoid Obstructions
REDUCETHECHANCEOF
MAINTAIN CONTROL
KICKBACK
•Recognizethatkickbackcanhappen.
Withabasicunderstandingofkick-
Stand to the left ofthe s_._
back,youcanreducetheelementof
surprisewhichcontributestoacci-
dents.
•Neverletthemovingchaincontact
anyobjectatthetipoftheguidebar.
•Keepworkingareafreefromobstruc-
tionssuchasothertrees,branches,
rocks,fences,stumps,etc.Eliminate
oravoidanyobstructionthatyour
sawchaincouldhitwhilecutting.
•Whencuttingabranch,donotletthe
guidebarcontactanotherbranchor
otherobjectsaroundit.
•Keepsawchainsharpandproperly
tensioned.Alooseordullchaincan
increasethechanceofkickback.
Followmanufacturer'schainsharp-
eningandmaintenanceinstructions.
Checktensionatregularintervals,
butneverwithenginerunning.Make
surebarmountingnutsaresecurely
tightened.
• A good, firm grip on the saw with
control. Don't let go. Grip the rear
you are right or left handed. Wrap the
fingers of your left hand over and
around the front handlebar, and your
•Beginandcontinuecuttingatfull
speed.Ifthechainismovingata
slowerspeed,thereisgreater
chanceofkickbackoccurring.
•Useextremecautionwhenre-enter-
ingacut.
•Donotattemptcutsstartingwiththe
tipofthebar(plungecuts).
•Watchforshiftinglogsorotherob-
jectsthatcouldcloseacutandpinch
orfallontochain.
•UsethespecifiedReduced-Kickback
GuideBarandLowKickbackChain.
AvoidPinch-Kickback:
•Beextremelyawareofsituationsor
obstructionsthatcancausematerial
topinchthetopoforotherwisestop
thechain.
• Position your left hand on the front
with your right hand on the rear han-
dle when making bucking cuts.
saw to keep your body from being in
a direct line with the cutting chain.
• Stand with your weight evenly bal-
anced on both feet.
• Do not overreach. You could be drawn
or thrown off balance and lose control.
• Do not cut above shoulder height. It
above shoulder height.
KICKBACK SAFETY FEATURES
•Donotcutmorethanonelogata
time.
•Donottwistthesawasthebaris
withdrawnfromanundercutwhen
bucking.
Avoid Pull-In:
• Always begin cutting with the saw at
full speed and the saw housing
against wood.
• Use wedges made of plastic or
wood. Never use metal to hold the
cut open.
tures are included on your saw to help
reduce hazard of kickback; however,
such features will not totally eliminate
this danger. Do not rely only on safety
devices.
• Hand Guard: designed to reduce the
chance of your left hand contacting
the chain if your hand slips off the
front handlebar.
• Position of front and rear handlebars:
designed with distance between
The spread and "in-line" position of
the hands provided by this design
Thumb on Y'_h_/_;_
underside / _'_
of handlebar _ \
hand positions
Never reverse _,
7!',. ooked
both hands will help you maintain
handle with your right hand whether
left thumb under the front handlebar.
Keep your left arm straight with the
elbow locked.
handlebar so it is in a straight line
Stand slightly to the left side of the
is difficult to maintain control of saw
WARNING: The following fea-
handles and "in-line" with each other.
Elbow
worktogethertogivebalanceand
resistanceincontrollingthepivotof
thesawbacktowardtheoperatorif
kickbackoccurs.
• Reduced-KickbackGuideBar:de-
signedwithasmallradiustipwhich
reducesthesizeofthekickback
dangerzoneonthebartip.Thistype
barhasbeendemonstratedtosignif-
icantlyreducethenumberandseri-
ousnessofkickbackswhentestedin
accordancewithANSIB175.1.
_-_ Tip Guide Bar
• Low Kickback Chain has met kick-
back performance requirements
when tested on the representative
sample of these chain saws speci-
fied in ANSI B175.1.
Low Kickback Chain
SAFETY NOTICE: Exposure to vibra-
tions through prolonged use of hand
tools could cause blood vessel or
nerve damage in the fingers, hands,
and joints of people prone to
circulation disorders or abnormal
swelling. Prolonged use in cold weath-
er has been linked to blood vessel
damage in otherwise healthy people. If
symptoms occur such as numbness,
pain, loss of strength, change in skin
color or texture, or loss of feeling in the
fingers, hands, or joints, discontinue
the use of this tool and seek medical
attention. An anti-vibration system
._& Small Radius
Large Radius '_'
Tip Guide Bar
........ Contoured Depth Gauge
_J
Deflects Kickback Force
Elongated Guard Link
And Allows Wood To
Gradually Ride Into Cutter
does not guarantee the avoidance of
these problems. Users who operate
power tools on a continual and regular
basis must closely monitor their physi-
cal condition and the condition of this
tool.
DOUBLE INSULATION
CONSTRUCTION
This unit is double insulated to help pro-
tect against electric shock. Double in-
sulation construction consists of two
separate "layers" of electrical insulation
instead of grounding.
Tools built with this insulation system are
not intended to be grounded. No
grounding means is provided on this
unit, nor should a means of grounding
be added to this unit. As a result, the ex-
tension cord used with this unit can be
plugged into any polarized 120 volt elec-
trical outlet.
Safety precautions must be observed
when operating any electrical tool. The
double insulation system only provides
added protection against injury resulting
from an internal electrical insulation
failure.
,_ WARNING: All electrical repairs
to this unit, including housing, switch,
motor, etc., must be diagnosed and re-
paired by qualified service personnel.
Replacement parts for a double insu-
lated appliance must be identical to the
parts they replace. A double insulated
appliance is marked with the words
"double insulation" or "double insu-
lated". The symbol [] (square within a
square) may also be marked on the
appliance. Failure to have the unit re-
paired by Sears service personnel can
cause the double insulation construc-
tion to become ineffective and result in
serious injury.
STANDARDS: This product is listed by
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. in ac-
cordance with UL Standard 1662.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
Z'A _
_WARNING: Before using chain
saw, ensure all fasteners are secure.
CARTON CONTENTS
Model 358,341143
• Chain Saw (fully assembled)
• Bar Sheath
Examine parts for damage. Do not use
damaged parts.
NOTE: If you need assistance or find
parts missing or damaged, please call
1-800-235-5878.
ASSEMBLY
Your saw is fully assembled; no as-
sembly is necessary.
KNOWYOUR SAW
READ THIS INSTRUCTION MANUAL AND SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERATING YOUR
CHAIN SAW. Compare the illustrations with your unit to familiarize yourself with the
location of the various controls and adjustments. Save this manual for future ref-
erence.
Oiler Actuator/
Bar Oil Cap
Lock-out
Button ---.
TRIGGER SWITCH
The TRIGGER SWITCH is used to turn
on the unit. Squeeze the trigger switch
to operate the unit after lock-out but-
ton has been pushed in. Release the
trigger to turn the unit off.
TRIGGER LOCK-OUT BUTTON
The TRIGGER LOCK-OUT BUTTON is a
control feature designed to prevent the
motor from being accidently started.
When the rear handle is gripped in a
normal cutting position, the trigger
lock-out button can be pushed in by
the thumb, permitting the index finger
to squeeze the trigger. It is not neces-
sary to maintain pressure on the trig-
ger lock-out button once the trigger
has been engaged.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Use only a voltage supply as specified
on your unit.
SELECT AN EXTENSION CORD
Extension cords are available for this
unit at Sears.
MINIMUM WIRE GAUGE
RECOMMENDATIONS
Volts
*American Wire Gauge
25 ft. 50ft. 100 ft.
(7.67 M) (15.24 M) (30.48 M)
120 A.W.G.* A.W.G.* A.W.G.*
16 16 14
Trigger Switch
Power Cord
Chain Adjustment Screw
Chain
BAR OIL CAP/OILER ACTUATOR
The BAR OIL CAP is used to access the
bar oil tank and pressed to supply oil
to chain.
CHAIN ADJUSTMENT SCREW
The CHAIN ADJUSTMENT SCREW is
used to adjust the chain tension.
POWER CORD
The POWER CORD is used to connect
the chain saw to an approved exten-
sion cord.
CHAIN TENSION
It is normal for a new chain to stretch
during first 30 minutes of operation.
You should check your chain tension
frequently. Readjust chain after every
15 minutes of operation.See CHECK
CHAIN TENSION under the SERVICE
AND ADJUSTMENTS section.
ATTACH THE EXTENSION CORD TO
YOUR CHAIN SAW
To prevent disconnection from unit, se-
cure extension cord to power cord as
shown in the following illustration.
Power Cord
BEFORE STARTING SAW
_ILWARNING: Be sure to read the
electrical safety information in the
SAFETY RULES section of this manual
before you begin. If you do not under-
stand the electrical safety information
do not attempt to use your unit. Seek
help from someone that does under-
stand the information or call the cus-
tomer assistance help line at
1-800-235-5878.
GUIDE BAR AND CHAIN OIL
The bar and chain require lubrication.
The manually-operated chain oiler pro-
vides lubrication to the chain and guide
bar. Be sure to fill the bar oil tank before
each cutting session. The oiler activator/
bar oil cap must be used regularly and
often enough to maintain a thin film of oil
on the bar and chain while saw is cut-
ting. It is recommended that the oiler
actuator/bar oil cap be operated every
ten (10) seconds and held for approxi-
mately three (3) seconds each time it is
pressed. For maximum guide bar and
chain life, we recommend you use
Craftsman chain saw bar oil. If Crafts-
man bar oil is not available, you may
use a good grade SAE 30 oil until you
are able to obtain Craftsman brand. The
oil output is manually metered during
operation. Use a funnel to fill the tank.
Replace oil cap securely. Check oil lev-
el after every 15 minutes of operation.
STOPPING YOUR SAW
• Release the trigger switch.
• If motor does not stop, disconnect
the extension cord. Discontinue use
of the unit until repaired by a Sears
Service Center.
STARTING YOUR SAW
1. Connect the saw to a power
source using the proper size exten-
sion cord (see SELECT AN EXTEN-
SION CORD).
2. Push in switch lock out button.
3. Squeeze and hold the trigger
switch.
OPERATING TIPS
• Check chain tension before first use
and after 1 minute of operation. See
CHECK CHAIN TENSION in the SER-
VICE AND ADJUSTMENTS 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 trigger switch and al-
low unit to reach full speed before
cutting.
• Begin cutting with the saw frame
against the log.
• Keep the motor at full speed the
entire time you are cutting.
• Release trigger switch as soon as
cut is completed, allowing motor to
stop.
• Keep the cord away from the cut-
ting area. Position cord so it will
not be caught on branches and the
like during cutting.
• To avoid losing control when cut is
complete, do not put pressure on
saw at end of cut.
• Stop motor before setting saw down.
TREE FELLING TECHNIQUES
Check for broken or dead branches
which can fall while cutting causing seri-
ous 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, strong winds, etc. If the tree
makes contact with any utility line, the
utility complany should be notified im-
mediately.
• 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, such as:
• The wind direction and speed.
• The lean of the 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.
•Lookfordecayandrot.Ifthetrunkis
rotted,itcansnapandfalltowardthe
operator.
•Makesurethereisenoughroomfor
thetreetofall.Maintainadistanceof
2-1/2treelengthsfromthenearest
personorotherobjects.Motornoise
candrownoutawarningcall.
•Removedirt,stones,loosebark,
nails,staples,andwirefromthetree
wherecutsaretobemade.
_'_#e Planaclearretreatpath
_,.... U_- DirectionofFall
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.
NOTE: If tree has large buttress roots,
remove them before making the notch.
If using saw to remove buttress roots,
keep saw chain from contacting
ground to prevent dulling of the chain.
NOTCH CUT AND FELLING TREE
• Make notch cut by cutting the top of
the notch first. Cut through 1/3 of the
diameter of the tree. Next complete
the notch by cutting the bottom. See
illustration. Once notch is cut, re-
move the wedge of wood from the
tree.
Firstcut _ z' t Fellingcut here
Second out/f / j \ _ Hinge
• After removing the wood from the
notch, make the felling cut on the op-
posite side of the notch. This is done
by making a cut about two inches
higher than the center of the notch.
This will leave enough uncut wood
between the felling cut and the notch
to form a hinge. This hinge will help
prevent the tree from falling in the
wrong direction.
Hinge holds tree on stump and helps
control fall
Opening
of felling
cut
Closing of
notch
NOTE: Before felling cut is complete,
use wedges to open the cut if neces-
sary to control the direction of fall. To
avoid kickback and chain damage, use
wood or plastic wedges, but never
steel or iron wedges.
• Be alert to signs that the tree is
ready to fall: cracking sounds, widen-
ing of the felling cut, or movement in
the upper branches.
• As tree starts to fall, stop saw, put it
down, and get away quickly on your
planned retreat path.
• DO NOT use your saw to cut down a
partially fallen tree. Be extremely cau-
tious with partially fallen trees that may
be poorly supported. When a tree
doesn't fall completely, set saw aside
and pull down tree with a cable winch,
block and tackle, or tractor.
CUTTING A FALLEN TREE
(BUCKING)
Bucking is the term used for cutting a
fallen tree to the desired log size.
_,WARNING: Do not stand on the
log being cut. Any portion can roll
causing loss of footing and control. Do
not stand downhill of the log being cut.
IMPORTANT POINTS
• Cut only one log at a time.
• Cut shattered wood very carefully;
sharp pieces of wood could be flung
toward operator.
• Use a sawhorse to cut small logs.
Never allow another person to hold
the log while cutting and never hold
the log with your leg or foot.
• Do not cut in an area where logs,
limbs, and roots are tangled. Drag
logs into a clear area before cutting
them by pulling out exposed and
cleared logs first.
BUCKINGTECHNIQUES
WARNING:Ifsawbecomes
pinchedorhunginalog,don'ttryto
forceitout.Youcanlosecontrolofthe
saw,resultingininjuryand/ordamage
tothesaw.Stopthesaw;drivea
wedgeofplasticorwoodintocutuntil
thesawcanberemovedeasily.Re-
startsawandcarefullyreenterthecut.
Donotuseametalwedge.Donotat-
tempttorestartyoursawwhenitis
pinchedorhunginalog.
Use a wedge to remove pinched saw.
• Roll the log over and finish with a
second overcut.
• Watch for logs with a compression
side. See illustration above for cut-
ting logs with a compression side.
BUCKING USING A LOG OR
SUPPORT STAND
• Remember your first cut is always on
the compression side of the log.
(Refer to the illustration below for
your first and second cut)
• Your first cut should extend 1/3 of the
diameter of the log.
• Finish with your second cut.
Using a log for,,support _/_ 2naCut
Turn saw OFF and use a plastic or
wooden wedge to force cut open.
Overcutting begins on the top side of
the log with the bottom of the saw
against the log. When overcutting use
light downward pressure.
Undercutting involves cutting on the
underside of the log with top of saw
against the log. When undercutting
use light upward pressure. Hold saw
firmly and maintain control. The saw
will tend to push back toward you.
_,WARNING: Never turn saw up-
side down to undercut. The saw can-
not be controlled in this position.
Always make your first cut on the com-
pression side of the log. The compres-
sion side of the log is where the pres-
sure of the log's weight is concentrated.
First cut on compression side of log
Second cut
.,,_..j/ Second cut
First cut on compression side of log
BUCKING WITHOUT A SUPPORT
• Overcut through 1/3 of the diameter
of the log.
c°t
1st Cut
Using a support stand 2? Cut
l_
.... 1st Cut
/ _"J
LIMBING AND PRUNING
_, WARNING: Be alert for and
guard against kickback. Do not allow
the moving chain to contact any other
branches or objects at the nose of the
guide bar when limbing or pruning. Al-
lowing such contact can result in seri-
ous injury.
_,WARNING: Never climb into a
tree to limb or prune. Do not stand on
ladders, platforms, a log, or in any po-
sition which can cause you to lose
your balance or control of the saw.
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