AFTER SALES SUPPORT
1300 922 271
MODEL NUMBER: GL-CC 36 Li, 02/14
14
Working with the
Chainsaw
8
8.1 Preparations
To ensure that you can work safely, check the
following points before every use:
•
Condition of the chainsaw
Inspect the chainsaw before the start of work
for damage to the housing, the saw chain and
the cutter rail. Never use a chainsaw which is
obviously damaged.
•
Oil container
Fill level of the oil container. Even while
working, keep checking that sufficient oil is in
the system. To avoid damaging the chainsaw,
never run the saw if there is no oil in the
system.
•
Saw chain
Tension of the saw chain, condition of the
cutting elements. The sharper the chainsaw,
the easier and more controllable it is to operate
the chainsaw. The same also applies to the
chain tension. Again, while working also check
the chain tension every 10 minutes in order
to increase your safety. New saw chains in
particular often tend to expand more.
•
Chain brake
Check the operation of the chain brake as
described in the chapter “Safety devices” and
then release it.
Safety clothing
Always wear appropriate tight-fitting safety clothing
like special trousers which protect against cuts,
protective gloves and safety shoes.
Hearing protection and protective goggles.
When felling trees or performing forest work, always
wear a protective helmet with integral face and
hearing protection. This will offer protection against
falling branches and any branches if they spring back.
8.2 Description of the correct procedures for
basic use of the chainsaw
Felling a tree (Figs. 8-11)
If two or more persons are working at the same
time on felling and cutting back then the minimum
distance between the tree being felled and the tree
being cut back should be at least twice the height of
the tree being felled (Fig. 8). When felling trees, care
must be taken to ensure that no other persons are
endangered, no power supply lines are hit and no
material damage is caused to equipment or property.
In the event that a tree comes into contact with a
power supply line, the responsible power supply
company should be informed immediately.
When working with the saw on a slope, the operator
of the chainsaw must be standing at a higher point
on the slope than the tree being felled, as the tree
will roll or slip downhill once it has been felled
(Fig. 9).
Before felling the tree you must first plan and if
necessary clear an escape route. This escape route
must lead away diagonally in the opposite direction
to the expected fall direction – this can be seen in
Fig.10 (A= danger zone, B= direction of fall, C= escape
zone).
Before felling the tree you must take into account the
natural inclination of the tree, the location of larger
branches and the wind direction, as this will help you
to correctly determine the direction in which the tree
will fall.
Dirt, stones, loose bark, nails, staples and wire must
be removed from the tree.
Making the felling notch (Fig. 11)
Cut a notch (A) at right angles to the fall direction to
a depth of 1/3 of the tree diameter as shown in Fig.
10.
First make the lower horizontal felling notch (1).
This prevents the saw chain or the guide rail from
becoming trapped when the second felling notch is
made.
Making the felling cut (Fig. 11)
The felling cut should be positioned at least 50 mm
above the horizontal felling notch. Make the felling
cut (B) parallel to the horizontal felling notch. The
felling cut should be cut to a depth which leaves a
thin strip (felling hinge strip) (D) which can act as a
hinge. This strip prevents the tree from rotating and
falling in the wrong direction. Do not cut through
the strip. When the felling cut gets close to the strip
the tree should start to fall. If it becomes clear that
the tree may well fall in a different direction to the
desired fall direction (C) or it starts to lean back and
traps the saw chain, interrupt the felling cut and
insert wedges made of wood, plastic or aluminum to
open out the cut and control the lean of the tree until
it leans in the required direction.
When the tree starts to fall, remove the chainsaw
from the cut, switch it off, place it on the ground and
exit the danger zone via the planned escape route.
Watch out for falling branches and take care not to
trip.
Removing branches
Here we are talking about removing branches from
the felled tree. When removing branches, leave any
downward facing branches which are supporting
the tree until the trunk of the tree has been cut up.
Smaller branches should be removed as shown in Fig.
12 (A= cutting direction when removing branches, B=
keep away from the ground! Supporting branches
