Chainsaw Repair

I learned about the root ball falling back into the hole "experimentally" by cutting from the top down, leaving me with this when it stood up:




Experience is what we learn doing things we are not qualified to do. 

But it's the norm, not the rule and it doesn't always work that way.  Many times the root ball just sits there on its side.  A couple of years ago a large white oak fell on a clear and still summer day, and the tree fell somewhat down hill.  I really wondered what the root ball was going to do and suspected it would not go back, and as I cut it started to move towards the trunk.  Fortunately I guessed correctly and wedged it so I didn't get the bar pinched.  It still sits there today - I tried to push it back with my FEL but didn't have the power.  This tree had been killed by something like oak wilt and the bottom was laced with some fungus.  I suspect the roots finally just rotted and over it went (it leaned down hill).