Chainsaw Repair

Chainsawrepair,

I couldn't help but respond after viewing your green chainsaw.  Earlier in this thread I indicated that my first Poulan was a combination Sears/Poulan that was made up of combined parts. 

It is presently sitting under my bench with a Poulan lime green pull start cover and the main body is Sears red, beautiful two tone saw. 

Your tree falling picture came too close to home.  Had two large Ash trees next to a creek that had been beaver killed via girdling.  The first, bigger tree was not chewed in too deep so falling was no big deal.  The smaller tree, 30inch diameter was fairly deep cut by the beavers and a large split had started above the damaged area.  Didn't like the looks of that, but didn't want to take the time to chase down a chain and binder to secure the split, which I normally would do, but at my age I have gotten a little lazy and figured everything would go alright if I made my falling cuts right at the ground, below the beaver damage.

Advice for forum members, don't fall deep damaged beaver chewed trees with the beginning of a large split extending from above, down into the beaver chewed area.  Climb that sucker, rig a good line on it and pull it down with your crawler.  If nothing else, at least, secure the split with adequate chain and good binder set up.

Made the face cut, went fine, knocked out the wedge, checked location for back cut and sunk the old Jonsered 910E into her.  Kept everything lined up and level.  Saw the top start to wiggle, headed out on a 45 degree escape route and luckily the tree started moving real slow.  Set the saw down a dozen feet or so from the tree and at that point, all hell broke loose.  I didn't view all of the details since I was on route from the area, but upon review, it appeared the split slab had kicked straight back, the main body of the tree fell where I had hoped, but the tree, having been dead for three years was well tangled in the canopy and all of the top material came straight down, producing a huge shower of refuse like I could not believe.

Your green saw animation came way too close to replicating my outcome.  In one respect a bunch of things went wrong and in another respect, luck was on my side.  The only thing I actually did correctly was plan and execute my escape route.

After many years of falling trees, this was the worst screw up that came to mind.  I survived, my equipment was undamaged, I cut the stump off at the ground so none of my buddies could see what I had done.  With that I broke for lunch and took some extra time to think that one over.

Was definitely not proud of that tree falling effort.  Brought back to mind the dangers of taking short cuts and underestimating potential.

Be safe out there,

Nick, North West Farmer