Zenoah GZ381 Manuel D'utilisation page 28

To clear the trunk and prepare for your retreat
1. Delimb the stem up to shoulder height. Work from
the top down and make sure that the tree is between
you and the chainsaw. (Fig. 70)
2. Remove any undergrowth from the base of the tree.
3. Check the area for obstacles such as stones,
branches and holes so that you have a clear path of
retreat when the tree starts to fall. Your path of
retreat should be roughly 135 degrees away from the
intended felling direction.
1. Danger zone
2. Retreat path
3. Felling direction
(Fig. 71)
To fell a tree
Zenoah recommends you to make the directional cuts
and then use the safe corner method when you fell a
tree. The safe corner method helps you to make a
correct felling hinge and control the felling direction.
WARNING:
diameter that is more than two times larger
than the guide bar length. For this, you must
have special training.
To make the directional cuts
1. Make the directional cuts ¼ of the diameter of the
tree. Make a 45°-70° angle between the top
directional cut and bottom directional cut. (Fig. 72)
a) Make the top directional cut. Align the felling
direction mark (1) of the product with the felling
direction of the tree (2). Stay behind the product
and keep the tree on your left side. Cut with a
pull stroke.
b) Make the bottom directional cut. Make sure that
the end of the bottom directional cut is at the
same point as the end of the top directional cut.
(Fig. 73)
2. Make sure that the bottom directional cut is
horizontal and at a 90° angle to the felling direction.
To make the felling cut
The felling cut is made from the opposite side of the tree
and it must be perfectly horizontal. Stand on the left side
of the tree and cut on the pull stroke.
1. Make the felling cut about 3-5 cm (1.5-2 inches)
above the bottom directional cut. (Fig. 74)
2. Set the spiked bumper (if one is fitted) just behind
the felling hinge.
3. Use full throttle and advance the saw chain/guide
bar slowly into the tree. Make sure that the tree does
not start to move in the opposite direction to your
intended felling direction.
28
Do not fell trees with a
4. Drive a wedge or breaking bar into the cut as soon
as it is deep enough. (Fig. 75)
5. Finish the felling cut parallel with the directional cut
line so that the distance between them is at least
1/10 of the trunk diameter. The uncut section of the
trunk is called the felling hinge. The felling hinge
controls the direction that the tree falls in. (Fig. 76)
WARNING:
felling direction is lost if the felling hinge
is too narrow or non-existent, or if the
directional cuts and felling cut are badly
placed.
(Fig. 77)
6. When the felling cut and directional cuts are
complete the tree should start to fall by itself or with
the aid of a felling wedge or breaking bar. (Fig. 78)
When the felling cut and directional cut are complete the
tree should start to fall by itself or with the aid of a felling
wedge or breaking bar.
Note:
We recommend that you use a bar
that is longer than the diameter of the tree,
so that you can make the felling cut and
directional cuts with single cutting strokes.
See instructions under the heading
Accessories on page 38 to find out which
lengths of bar are recommended for your
chainsaw.
There are methods for felling trees with a diameter
larger than the guide bar length. However these
methods involve a much greater risk that the kickback
zone of the guide bar will come into contact with the
tree.
(Fig. 79)
To free a badly fallen tree
It is very dangerous to remove a trapped tree and there
is a high accident risk. The safest method is to use a
winch:
• Tractor-mounted
• Portable
WARNING:
is trapped and never work in the risk zone of
the hanging trapped tree.
(Fig. 80)
To cut trees and branches that are in tension
1. Figure out which side of the tree or branch that is in
tension.
2. Figure out where the point of maximum tension is.
(Fig. 81)
All control over the
Never try to fell a tree that
272 - 009 - 21.06.2021