Craftsman 315.3413 - Manual (Page 14)

14 - English
OPERATION
 As tree starts to fall, stop the chain saw
and put it down immediately. Retreat along
the cleared path, but watch the action in
case something falls your way. Be alert for
overhead limbs or branches that may fall and
watch your footing.
WARNING: Never cut through to the notch
when making a backcut. The hinge controls
the fall of the tree, this is the section of wood
between the notch and backcut.
BUcKING
See Figures 17 - 20.
Bucking is the term used for cutting a fallen tree
to the desired log length.

Always make sure your footing is secure and
your weight is distributed evenly on both feet.
 Cut only one log at a time.
 Support small logs on a saw horse or another
log while bucking.
 Keep a clear cutting area. Make sure that no
objects can contact the guide bar nose and
chain during cutting, this can cause kickback.
Refer to Precautions Against Kickback
earlier in this manual.
 When bucking on a slope, always stand
on the uphill side of the log. To maintain
complete control of the chain saw when
cutting through the log, release the cutting
pressure near the end of the cut without
relaxing your grip on the chain saw handles.
Do not let the chain contact the ground. After
completing the cut, wait for the saw chain to
stop before you move the chain saw. Always
stop the motor before moving from tree to
tree.
 Sometimes it is impossible to avoid pinching
(with just standard cutting techniques) or
difficult to predict which way a log will settle
when cut. To avoid pinching while cutting,
rotate or move the log so that the pinch is
eliminated.
BUcKING LOGs UNDER sTREss
See Figures 19 - 20.
When the log is supported along its entire length,
it should be cut from the top or overbucking.
When the log is supported on one end, cut 1/3
the diameter from the underside or underbucking.
Then make the finishing cut by overbucking to
meet the first cut.
As the log is being cut, it will tend to bend. The
saw can become pinched or hung in the log if you
make the first cut deeper than 1/3 of the diameter
of the log.
Give special attention to logs under stress to
prevent the bar and chain from pinching.
When bucking on a slope, always stand on the
uphill side of the log as shown in figure 18. When
“cutting through,” to maintain complete control
of the chain saw, release the cutting pressure near
the end of the cut without relaxing your grip on the
chain saw handles. Do not let the chain contact
the ground. After completing the cut, wait for the
saw chain to stop before you move the chain saw.
Always stop the motor before moving from tree
to tree.
TYPEs OF cUTTING UsED
See Figure 20.
OVERBUcKING
Begin on the top side of the log with the bottom
of the saw against the log; exert light pressure
downward. Note that the saw will tend to pull
away from you.
UNDERBUcKING
Begin on the under side of the log with the top
of the saw against the log; exert light pressure
upward. During underbucking, the saw will tend
to push back at you. Be prepared for this reaction
and hold the saw firmly to maintain control.
WARNING: Never climb into a tree to limb
or prune. Do not stand on ladders, platforms, a
log, or in any position which can cause you to
lose your balance or control of the saw.
LIMBING
See Figure 21.
Limbing is removing branches from a fallen tree.

Work slowly, keeping both hands on the
chain saw with a firm grip. Always make sure
your footing is secure and your weight is
distributed evenly on both feet.
 Leave the larger support limbs under the tree
to keep the tree off the ground while cutting.