Craftsman 358341180 Owner’s Manual

Operator's Manual

I CRAFTSMAN°I

13 Amp/4.0 Peak HP Motor

ELECTRIC CHAIN SAW

Model No.

358.341180 - 18 in. Bar

Safety
Assembly
Operation

Maintenance
Espa6ol, p. 17

®

Read and follow all Safety Rules and Operating

WARNING:
Instructions before first use of this product.

For answers to your questions about this product:

Call 7 am-7 pm, Mon-Sat; 10 am-7 pm, Sun

• 1-800-235-5878 (Hours listed are CentraITime)

Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179 U.S.A.

545097795 9/12/06

Warranty 2 ServiceandAdjustments 14
SafetyRules 2 Storage 16
Assembly 7 TroubleshootingTable 16
Operation 7 Spanish 17

Maintenance 12 PartsOrdering BackCover

ONEYEARFULL WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN ELECTRIC CHAIN SAW

When used and maintained according to the operator's manual, if this product fails
due to a defect in material or workmanship within one year from the date of pur-

chase, return it to any Sears store or other Craftsman outlet in the United States for
free replacement.

This warranty excludes the bar and chain, which are expendable parts that can
wear out from normal use in less than one year.
This warranty applies for only 30 days from purchase date if this product is used

for commercial or rental purposes.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights
which vary from state to state.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179

,_L WARNING: 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-

larly 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.

Headng _ Safety Hat

Protection'''_ I _._-- Eye

Snug Protection
Fitting
Clothing Heavy Duty

Safety Safety Chaps
Shoes _

• 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 me-
dication. You must be in good physical
condition and mentally alert. If you

have any condition that might be ag-

gravated by strenuous work, check
with doctor before operating. Watch
what you are doing. Use common

sense.

_i

Gloves

• Donotstartcuttinguntilyouhavea
clearworkarea,securefooting,and
especiallyifyouarefellingatree,a
retreatpath.Keepworkareaclean.

OPERATE YOUR SAW SAFELY

• Do not operate with one hand. Seri-
ous injury to the operator, helpers, or

bystanders may result from one-
handed operation. A chain saw is in-

tended for two-handed use.

• Do not operate saw from a ladder or
in a tree.

• Make sure the chain will not make
contact with any object while starting

the saw. Never start the saw when
the guide bar is in a cut.

• Do not force chain saw. It will do the
job better and safer at the rate for

which it was intended.

• Do not put pressure on the saw, es-
pecially at the end of the cut. Doing
so can cause you to lose control

when the cut is completed.

• Stop the saw before setting it down.

• Hand carry saw only when motor is
stopped. Carry the chain saw by the

front handle with the saw stopped, fin-
ger off the switch, the guide bar and

saw chain to the rear.

• Use the right tool, cut wood only.
Don't use chain saw for purpose not

intended; for example, don't use
chain saw for cutting plastic, mason-
ry, non-wood building materials.

• Do not operate a chain saw that is
damaged, improperly adjusted, or

not completely and securely as-
sembled. Always replace bar, chain,

hand guard, or other parts immedi-
ately if they become damaged, bro-

ken, or are otherwise removed.

• Inspect chain saw cords periodically
and if damaged, have repaired by a

Sears Service Center.

MAINTAIN YOUR SAW IN GOOD
WORKING ORDER

• Have all chain saw service per-
formed by a Sears Service Center

except the items listed in the MAINTE-
NANCE section of this manual.

• Make certain saw chain stops mov-
ing when trigger switch is released.

• Keep the handles dry and clean and
free from oil and grease.

• Keep oil cap and fasteners securely
tightened.

• Nonconforming replacement compo-
nents or the removal of safety devices
may cause damage to the unit and

possible injury to the operator or by-
standers. Use only Craftsman acces-
sories and replacement parts as rec-
ommended. Never modify your saw.

• Maintain chain saw with care.

• Keep unit sharp and clean for better
and safer performance.

• Follow instructions for lubricating and
changing accessories.

• Unplug the chain saw from the power
source when not in use, before servic-

ing, and when changing accessories

and attachments, such as saw chain
and guard.

• Check for damaged parts. Before fur-
ther use of the chain saw, a guard or
other part that is damaged should be

carefully checked to determine that it
will operate properly and perform its

intended function. Check for alignment

of moving parts, binding of moving

parts, breakage of parts, mounting and
any other conditions that may affect its
operation. A guard or other part that is
damaged should be properly repaired

or replaced by a Sears Service Center

unless otherwise indicated elsewhere

in the operator's manual.

• When not in use, chain saws should
be stored in a dry, high or locked-up
place out of the reach of children.

• When storing saw, unplug and use a
bar sheath or carrying case.

ELECTRICAL SAFETY

'_WARNING: 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 only 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,"W").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-

inGFCIprotectionandmaybeused
forthismeasureofsafety.Inspect

chainsawcordsperiodicallyandif
damaged,haverepairedbyaSears

ServiceCenter.

GUARD AGAINST KICKBACK
Follow all safety rules to help avoid kick-

back and other forces which can result
in serious injury.

_._._._ _, Kickback Path

Avoid Obstructions

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

fromtheoperatorandcouldeasily
causetheoperatortolosecontrolof

thesaw.

REDUCE THE CHANCE OF
KICKBACK

• Recognize that kickback can happen.
With a basic understanding of kick-

back, you can reduce the element of
surprise which contributes to acci-

dents.

• Never let the moving chain contact
any object at the tip of the guide bar.

• Keep working area free from obstruc-
tions such as other trees, branches,

rocks, fences, stumps, etc. Eliminate
or avoid any obstruction that your
saw chain could hit while cutting.

• When cutting a branch, do not let the
guide bar contact another branch or

other objects around it.

• Keep saw chain sharp and properly
tensioned. A loose or dull chain can

increase the chance of kickback.
Follow manufacturer's chain sharp-

ening and maintenance instructions.
Check tension at regular intervals,

but never with engine running. Make
sure bar clamp nuts are securely
tightened.

• Begin and continue cutting at full
speed. If the chain is moving at a

slower speed, there is greater
chance of kickback occurring.

• Use extreme caution when re-enter-
ing a cut.

• Do not attempt cuts starting with the
tip of the bar (plunge cuts).

• Watch for shifting logs or other ob-
jects that could close a cut and pinch
or fall onto chain.

• Use the specified Reduced-Kickback
Guide Bar and Low Kickback Chain.

Avoid Pinch-Kickback:

• Be extremely aware of situations or
obstructions that can cause material

to pinch the top of or otherwise stop
the chain.

• Do not cut more than one log at a
time.

• Do not twist the saw as the bar is
withdrawn from an undercut when

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.

MAINTAIN CONTROL:

Stand to the left of thes_

Thumb on Y'_,V_ _;_W

underside [ _(kt '_
of handlebar _".t:_\

Never reverse
hand positions

Etbow
locked

• A good, firm grip on the saw with
both hands will help you maintain

control. Don't let go. Grip the rear

handle with your right hand whether

you are right or left handed. Wrap the
fingers of your left hand over and
around the front handlebar, and your

left thumb under the front handlebar.
Keep your left arm straight with the

elbow locked.

• Position your left hand on the front
handlebar so it is in a straight line

with your right hand on the rear han-
dle when making bucking cuts.

Stand slightly to the left side of the

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
is difficult to maintain control of saw

above shoulder height.

KICKBACK SAFETY FEATURES

_IL WARNING: The following fea-
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. Follow all safety rules to help
avoid kickback and other forces which

can result in serious injury.

• Hand Guard: designed to reduce the

chance of your left hand contacting
the chain if your hand slips offthe

front handlebar.

• Positionoffrontandrearhandlebars:
designedwithdistancebetween

handlesand"in-line"witheachother.
Thespreadand"in-line"positionof

thehandsprovidedbythisdesign
worktogethertogivebalanceand
resistanceincontrollingthepivotof
thesawbacktowardtheoperatorif

kickbackoccurs.

• Reduced-KickbackGuideBar:de-
signedwithasmallradiustipwhich

reducesthesizeofthekickback
dangerzoneonthebartip.Thistype

barhasbeendemonstratedtosignif-
icantlyreducethenumberandseri-

ousnessofkickbackswhentestedin
accordancewithANSIB175.1.

I_'_ SmallRadius

_ _"_ 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

,1_-.. _,_ Elongated Guard Link

_ Deflects Kickback Force

_X_ _ And Allows Wood To

_/-'_ Gradually Ride Into Cutter

CHAIN BRAKE

• Chain Brake: designed to stop tile
chain in the event of kickback.

,_ WARNING: WE DO NOT REP-
RESENT AND YOU SHOULD NOT

ASSUME THAT THE CHAIN BRAKE WILL
PROTECT YOU IN THE EVENT OF A KICK-
BACK= Kickback is a lightning fast action
which throws the bar and rotating chain
back and up toward the operator. Kick-
back can be caused by allowing contact
of the bar tip in the danger zone with

any hard object. Kickback can also be
caused by pinching the saw chain along
the top of the guide bar. This action

may push the guide bar rapidly back to-
ward the operator. Either of these
events may cause you to lose control of

the saw which could result in serious in-
jury or even death. DO NOT RELYUPON

ANY OF THE SAFETY DEVICES BUILT
INTO YOUR SAW. YOU SHOULD USE THE
SAW PROPERLYAND CAREFULLY TO

Contoured Depth Gauge

AVOID KICKBACK. Reduced-kickback

guide bars and low-kickback saw
chains reduce the chance and magni-

tude of kickback and are recommended.
Your saw has a low kickback chain and

bar as original equipment. Repairs on a
chain brake should be made by an au-

thorized Sears Service Center. Take
your unit to the place of purchase if pur-

chased from a servicing dealer, or to

your nearest Sears Service Center.

• Tip contact in some cases may
cause a lightning fast REACTION,

kicking the guide bar up and back

toward the operator.

• Pinching the saw chain along the tip of
the guide bar may push the guide bar

rapidly back towards the operator.

• Either of these reactions may cause
you to lose control of the saw which
could result in serious injury. Do not

rely exclusively upon devices built into

your saw.

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 circula-

tion disorders or abnormal swelling.

Prolonged use in cold weather 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 tex-

ture, or loss of feeling in the fingers,

hands, or joints, discontinue the use of

this tool and seek medical attention.
An anti-vibration system does not

guarantee the avoidance of these
problems. Users who operate power

tools on a continual and regular basis

must closely monitor their physical
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 and appliances built with this in-

sulation system are not intended to be
grounded. No grounding means is pro-

vided on this unit, nor should a means

of grounding be added to this unit. As a
result, the extension cord used with this

unit can be plugged into any polarized
120 volt electrical outlet.

Safety precautions must be observed

when operating any electrical tool. The

doubleinsulationsystemonlyprovides
addedprotectionagainstinjuryresult-
ingfromaninternalelectricalinsulation

failure.

WARNING"Allelectricalrepairs

tothisunit,includinghousing,switch,
motor,etc.,mustbediagnosedandre-

pairedbyqualifiedservicepersonnel.

Replacementpartsforadoubleinsu-

latedappliancemustbeidenticaltothe
partstheyreplace.Adoubleinsulated
applianceismarkedwiththewords

"doubleinsulation"or"doubleinsu-
lated".Thesymbol[] (squarewithina

square)mayalsobemarkedonthe

appliance.Failuretohavetheunitre-
pairedbySearsservicepersonnelcan

causethedoubleinsulationconstruc-

tiontobecomeineffectiveandresultin

seriousinjury.

STANDARDS: This product is listed by
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. in ac-

cordance with UL Standard 1662 and
ANSI B175.1.
ANSI B175.1-2000 "American Nation-

al Standard for Powered Tools - Safe-
ty Requirements".

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

CARTON CONTENTS
Check carton contents against the fol-

lowing list,
Model 358.341180

• Chain Saw (fully assembled)

• Bar Sheath
Examine parts for damage. Do not use

damaged parts.

KNOW YOUR CHAIN SAW
READ THIS OPERATOR'S 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.

Bar Oil Cap ITI

Trigger Lockout _---_-__-..._\_L_

NOTE: If you need assistance or find

that parts are missing or damaged,

please call 1-800-235-5878.

ASSEMBLY

Your unit is fully assembled; no assem-

bly is required.

_ ,/_ _l.d,_ Handguard

Power /.... \

Oord / Bar B Bar Ch'a,

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 forward. 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 accidentally started.
When the rear handle is gripped in a

normal cutting position, the trigger

Trigger Clamp Chain

Switch Adjusting Wheel

lock-out button can be pushed forward
by the thumb, permitting the index fin-
ger to squeeze the trigger. It is not nec-
essary to maintain pressure on the

trigger lock-out button once the trigger

has been engaged.
BAR OIL CAP

Tile BAR OIL CAP is used to fill tile bar

oil tank.
CHAIN ADJUSTING WHEEL

Tile CHAIN ADJUSTING WHEEL 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 15 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.

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

25ft. 50ft. 100 ft.

Volts (7.67 m) (15.24 m) (30.48 m)

14 12 NOT

120 A.W.G* A.W.G.* RECOMMENDED

*American Wire Gauge

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 r _

Extension Cord

BEFORE STARTING SAW

_I, WARNING: Be sure to read tile
electrical safety information in the safe-

ty rules section of this manual before
you begin. If you do not understand

the electrical safety information do not
attempt to use your unit. Seek help

from someone that does understand
the information or call the customer as-

sistance help line at 1-800-285-5878.
GUIDE BAR AND CHAIN OIL

The bar and chain require lubrication.
The chain oiler provides lubrication to
the chain and guide bar. Be sure to fill

the bar oil tank before each cutting ses-
sion. Lack of oil will quickly ruin the bar

and chain. Too little oil will cause over-
heating shown by smoke coming from

the chain and/or discoloration of the bar.

For maximum guide bar and chain life,

we recommend you use Craftsman
chain saw bar oil. If Craftsman bar oil is

not available, you may use a good

grade SAE 30 oil until you are able to
obtain Craftsman brand. Use a funnel to

fill the tank. Replace oil cap securely.

Check oil level after every 15 minutes of
operation. Oil level can be monitored by

viewing the oil level indicator (see il-

lustration in KNOW YOUR CHAIN SAW
section).

STOPPING YOUR UNIT
Release the trigger switch.

• If motor does not stop, disconnect
the extension cord. Discontinue use

of unit until repaired by a Sears Ser-
vice Center.

STARTING YOUR UNIT

1. Connect the saw to a power source

using the proper size extension cord

(see SELECT AN EXTENSION CORD

in the OPERATION section).

2. Grip both handles firmly.

3. Push and hold the trigger lock-out
button with your right hand thumb.

4. Squeeze and hold the trigger switch.

CHAIN BRAKE

,_WARNING: If the brake band is
worn too thin it may break when the

chain brake is triggered. With a broken
brake band, the chain brake will not

stop the chain. The chain brake must
be replaced if any part is worn to less

than 0.020" (0.5 mm) thick. Repairs on

a chain brake should be made by your
authorized service dealer. Take your

unit to the place of purchase or to the
nearest authorized service dealer.

• This saw is equipped with a chain
brake. The brake is designed to stop

the chain if kickback occurs.

• The inertia-activated chain brake is

activated if the front hand guard is

pushed forward, either manually (by
hand) or automatically (by sudden
movement).

• If the brake is already activated, it is

disengaged by pulling the front hand
guard back toward the front handle as
far as possible.

• When cutting with the saw, the chain
brake must be disengaged.

Disengaged

Braking function control

CAUTION: The chain brake must be

L

_//_kD : Engaged

checked several times daily. The motor
must be running when performing this
procedure. This is the only instance
when the saw should be placed on the

ground with the motor running.

Place the saw on firm ground. Grip the
rear handle with your right hand and
the front handle with your left hand.

Squeeze trigger switch and allow mo-
tor to reach full speed. Activate the
chain brake by turning your left wrist
against the hand guard without releasing
your grip around the front handle. The

chain should stop immediately.
Inertia activating function control

Ai_ WARNING: When performing the
following procedure, the motor must

not be running and the saw must be
unplugged from the power source.
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 use the weight of
the saw to 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
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 using

the following steps. This will help you
get the "feel" of using your saw before
you begin a major sawing operation.

• Squeeze trigger switch and allow
unit to reach full speed before cut-
ting.

• Begin cutting with the saw frame
against the log.

• Keep the motor at full speed the
entire time you are cutting.

• Release the trigger switch as soon
as the cut is completed, allowing
the 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 the saw before setting it down.

TREE FELLING TECHNIQUES

_L WARNING: Check for broken or

dead branches which can fall while
cutting 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. If the tree does make con-
tact with any utility line, the utility com-

pany should be notified immediately.

• 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 af-
ter it is felled.

• Study the natural conditions that can
cause the tree to fall in a particular
direction; such conditions include:

• 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.

• 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. Noise can

drown out a warning call.

• Removedirt,stones,loosebark,
nails,staples,andwirefromthetree

wherecutsaretobemade.

_,.. Planaclearretreatpath

_ _'_.._. Directionoffall

t

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 the notch is cut re-
move the wedge of wood from the

tree.
Firstcut _ l'; _ Felling cut here

Notch KXi

Seoo_ j t W 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 feINng

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 tile 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.

BUCKING TECHNIQUES

_i WARNING: If saw becomes

pinched or hung in a log, don't try to

force it out. You can lose control of the

saw resulting in injury and/or damage to

the saw. Stop the saw, drive a wedge

10

ofplasticorwoodintothecutuntilthe
sawcanberemovedeasily,Restartthe
sawandcarefullyreenterthecut.Donot
useametalwedge,Donotattemptto

restartyoursawwhenitispinchedor
hunginalog.

Use a wedge to remove pinched saw,

Turn saw OFF and use a plastic or
wooden wedge to force cut open,

Overeutting begins on the top side of
the log with the bottom of the saw

against the log. When overcutting use
light downward pressure.

Overcutting Undercutting

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 oil compression side of log

ing. See illustration above for cutting
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

2 nd Cut

2 nd Cut ":' _-

Using a support stand 2 nd Cut

L

ut

Second cut

Second cut

First cut on compression side of log

BUCKING WITHOUT A SUPPORT

• Overcut through 1/3 of the diameter
of the log,

• Roll the log over and finish with a
second overcut.

• Watch for logs with a compression
side to prevent the saw from pinch-

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 tnjury.

AI_,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.