FXA YT4370, Instruction Manual, Page: 14 / 80

14
Felling Saplings
Saplings and taller slender trees are very flexible and
are prone to catching the cutting chain which could
whip the sapling towards you and could pull you off
balance. Saplings should be felled as close to the
ground as possible taking care that the saw chain does
not come into contact with the ground.
General Tree Felling
This manual only covers basic tree felling techniques.
For more advanced felling techniques the user should
obtain formal practical training.
Risk Assessment
Before attempting to fell any tree a risk assessment
must be carried out in order to identify all the risks
involved in felling the chosen tree. The risk assessment
should include the following:
Are there any power lines, buildings, walls or fences,
that could be damaged when the tree is felled.
Are there other trees that would prevent the chosen
tree to be felled from falling safely without hanging up.
Is the chosen tree leaning, if it is extra care will be
needed when felling to ensure that the tree fall’s where
you want it to.
Can you drop the tree safely where you want it to.
Make sure that the tree has a clear area in which to fall.
Is the area around the trunk of the tree clear of brush
wood and other obstructions that would prevent a solid
footing and an unobstructed all round view of the
cutting area.
Check the wind strength and direction to see if this will
affect how the tree will fall
The tree should be checked for dead branches,
hanging branches and rot in the trunk.
Check that your safety escape routes are clear. There
should be at least two safety escape route’s Pic.F.
Pic.F
The Felling Cut’s.
Felling a tree requires at least two different cuts, the
face cut and a back cut. The face cut consists of two
cuts which removes a wedge of timber (typically this is
at an angle of between 45° to 90°) from the trunk and
partially determines the initial direction of fall Pic.G.
The wedge cut should be no deeper than 1/3rd of the
diameter of the tree trunk. There are numerous ways in
which to cut this wedge, the inexperienced user should
concentrate on the basic 60° to 70° face cut with a flat
bottom.
The back cut is made behind the wedge cut
approximately 1 to 2 inches above the notch made by
the wedge cut Pic.H. Make sure that the cut is made
parallel to the notch. Make the cut quickly and
smoothly while watching the cut and the tree. Do not
cut all the way through the tree. You must leave about
1/2î of wood between the back cut and the notch; this
is called the hinge which will control the rate and
determine the final direction of fall Pic.I. If the back cut
is not made parallel to the wedge bottom cut the
direction of fall will be affected. Pic.J. shows how the
direction of fall will be affected if the back cut is not
parallel to the bottom wedge cut.
warning! If the wedge cut is not made deep enough,
when the back cut is being made the weight of the tree
could pinch the cutting chain. To prevent pinching,
plastic or hardwood wedges can be hammered into the
back cut behind the cutting chain. If wedges are used,
care must be taken when re-inserting the cutting chain
into the partially cut, back cut, that the saw chain does
not come into contact with the wedges.
As soon as the tree begins to fall, remove the saw from
the back cut and switch it off and retreat along one of
the predetermined escape routes, walk don’t run. You
need to clear the area quickly so that if anything goes
wrong you will be at a safe distance avoiding injury.
Only when you hear the tree hit the ground is it safe to
stop and turn around.
wARNING!
If the felled tree becomes ‘hung up’ (the tree becomes
caught up in surrounding trees). The inexperienced
user should not attempt to free the tree from this
position. It will require a skilled and experienced
operator to safely remove the tree. Under no
circumstances should a ‘hung up’ tree be left in this
position. If it cannot be removed immediately, warning
signs and a safety barrier must be erected around the
area.
Technical Specification
Voltage........................................................ 230V~50Hz
Rated power....................................................... 1800W
No load cutting chain speed................................14m/s
No load speed................................................ 7600min -1
Chain type.................................Low profile semi-chisel
Chain/bar length................................................ 356mm
Cable length.........................................................0.25m
Sound pressure level........... LpA 84.72 dB(A) k=3dB(A)
Sound power level............ LwA 104.72 dB(A) k=3dB(A)
Vibration level (handle)................. 4.824m/s 2 K=1.5m/s 2
Weight................................................................. 6.23kg
Ref. Description
F.1 45° Safety escape route
F.2 45° Safety escape route
F.3 Danger areas
F.4 Line of fall