Worcraft PROFESSIONAL GC22-16E, Instruction Manual

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Chain brake
In the event of kick-back, the chain brake (3) will be actuated via
the front finger guard. The front finger guard is pushed forwards
by the back of the hand and this causes the chain brake to stop
the chain saw, or rather the motor, within 0.15 s (Fig 5, H).
Releasing the chain brake (Fig 5)
To be able to use your chain saw again, you must release the
saw chain again. First switch off the chainsaw. Then push the
front finger guard (3) back into the vertical position until it locks
in place (Fig 5, I). The chain brake is now fully functional again.
Chainsaw protection
Never use the chainsaw in the rain or in damp conditions.
Warning! If the extension cable is damaged, pull the plug out of
the power socket immediately. Never work with a damaged
cable.
• Check the chainsaw for damage. Before using your tool again,
check the safety devices or any slightly damaged parts to
ensure that they are in good working order.
• Make sure the moving parts are working correctly.
• All the parts must be correctly assembled and meet all the
conditions required to ensure that the chainsaw works correctly.
• Any damaged safety devices and parts must be properly
repaired or replaced immediately by a Customer Service
workshop, unless there are instructions to the contrary in these
operating instructions.
Notes on working practice
Kick-back
You can avoid accidents by not sawing with the tip of the guide
bar as this may cause the saw to rear up suddenly. Always use
the complete safety equipment and clothes when working with
the saw. Kick-back is an upward and/or backward movement of
the guide bar which can occur if the saw chain at the tip of the
guide bar encounters an obstruction.
Make sure your work-piece is firmly secured. Use clamps to
stop the work-piece slipping. This also makes it easier to
operate the chainsaw with both hands. Kick-back causes the
saw to behave uncontrollably and thus brings with a slack or
blunt chain. A poorly sharpened chain increases the risk of kick-
back. Never saw above shoulder height.
Operation - tips on chain saw use
Important Notes
• Use the device exclusively for sawing wood. Do not cut metal,
plastics, masonry, building material that is not made of wood,
etc.
• Turn off the engine when the saw comes into contact with a
foreign object. Inspect the saw and repair it if necessary.
• Protect the chain from dirt and sand. Even a small amount of
dirt will quickly blunt a chain and increase the risk of kickback.
• Start by cutting a few small logs, using the exercise to get a
feel for your device before you tackle more difficult tasks.
• Press the casing of the chain saw against the log when you
start sawing.
• Allow the saw to work. Exert only slight downward pressure.
• In order not to lose control of the device you should lean
towards the end of the incision so there is no pressure on the
saw.
Felling Trees
– Only after appropriate training
Caution: Watch for broken or dead branches that could fall
during sawing and cause serious injury. Do not saw near
buildings or electrical wires if you do not know in which direction
the felled tree could fall. Do not work at night since you will not
be able to see properly, or in rain, snow or storm, as it is
difficult to predict the the direction in which the tree could
fall.
• Plan your work in advance.
• The work area around the tree should be clear so you
have a firm foothold.
• The operator should always stand on the uphill side of
the terrain as the tree is expected to roll or slide after
felling.
• Check for broken or dead branches, which can fall and
cause serious injury.
The following conditions may affect the direction in which a
tree falls:
• Wind direction and speed.
• Lean of the tree. The inclination is not always visible due
to uneven or sloping terrain. Determine the lean of the tree
using a solder or a spirit level.
• Branch growth (and hence weight) on one side only.
• Surrounding trees and obstacles.
If two or more people are involved in the cutting and
felling, the distance between those who are felling and
cutting should be at least twice the height of the tree to be
felled. When felling trees, make sure that other people are
not put at risk, that supply lines are not hit and that no
material damage is caused. If a tree comes in contact with
a supply line, the supply company has to be notified
immediately.
Look for decay and rot. If the trunk is rotted, it may
suddenly collapse and fall on you. Make sure there is
enough space for the tree to fall safely. Keep a distance of
2 1/2 tree lengths from the nearest person or other objects.
Engine noise can drown out a warning call.
Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, nails, staples, and wire
from the tree where you are going to cut.
Keep an escape route (Fig. A)
Before felling, an escape route has to be planned and
cleared, if necessary. The escape route should lead
diagonally away from the back of the falling tree (Fig. A).
Item 1: Plan of emergency exits
Item 2: Position in which the tree falls
Felling of large trees - only with appropriate training
(15 cm in diameter)
Fell large trees using the notch method. Here, a wedge is
laterally cut out of the tree according to the desired
direction of fall. After a cut has been made on the case of
the other side of the tree, the tree will fall in the direction of
the wedge.
Note: If the tree has large prop roots, they should be
removed before making the notch. If the saw is used to
remove the prop roots, the chain should not touch the
ground, to prevent it from becoming become blunt.
Undercut and felling of the tree (Fig. B-C)
• Saw a wedge with a depth of 1/3 of the tree diameter at a
right-angle to the falling direction. Make the lower
horizontal wedge cut first (Fig. B, No. 1). This will prevent
the saw chain or the guide bar becoming jammed when
the second wedge cut (Fig. B, No. 2) is made.Now remove
the excised wedge.
• Next, you can run the felling cut (Fig. B, Pos. 3) on the
opposite side of the tree. Do this at approximately 5 cm
above the centre of the notch. Make the dropping cut
parallel to the horizontal wedge cut. For the dropping cut