Echo CS-490 Operator's Manual - page 19

19

CS-490

FELLING THE TREE

A falling tree can seriously damage anything it may 

hit - a car, a house, a fence, a power-line, or  

another tree.  

There are ways to make a tree fall where you want 

it, so first decide where that is!  

Before cutting, clear the area around the tree.  

You will need good footing while working and you 

should be able to work the saw without hitting any 

obstacles.  

Next, select a path of retreat.  

When the tree begins to fall you should retreat 

away from the direction of fall at a 45-degree angle 

and at least 3 m from the trunk to avoid the trunk 

kicking back over the stump. 

Begin the cut on the side to which the tree is to fall. 

Cut a notch about 1/3 of the way into the tree. The 

position of this notch is important since the tree will 

try to fall “into” the notch.  

The felling cut is made on the side opposite the 

notch and at a level about 5 cm above the bottom 

of the notch.  

Do not try to cut through to the notch with the  

felling cut.  

The remaining wood between the notch cut and 

felling cut about 5 cm will act as a hinge when the 

tree falls, guiding it in the desired  

direction.  

When the tree starts to fall, kill the engine, place 

the saw on the ground and make your retreat 

quickly. 

To fell big trees with a diameter exceeding twice 

the bar length, start the notching cuts from one 

side and draw the saw through to the other side of 

the notch.  

Start the back cut on one side of the tree, pivoting 

the saw through to form the desired hinge on that 

side.  

Then remove the saw for the second cut. Insert 

the saw in the first cut, very carefully so as not to 

cause kickback.  

The final cut is made by drawing the saw forward 

in the cut to reach the hinge. 

1

2

3

Felling cut

Hinge

Direction of  fall

First cut

Notch

Second cut

One-third tree diameter

Direction of fall

5 cm

5 cm

45°

45°

Not this way

Retreat

Retreat

3 m