Chainsaw Repair

I guess I may ask too many questions but here's another. I got four 8' hickory logs too cut, only cut one so far but it starts splitting down the center when I get about half way down the log. Am I doing something wrong? these boards sure would be pretty if I could leave them wide.
Thanks
DJ

It was growing on the side of a branch and a storm took it down, I cleaned it up. This was the but cut, haven't cut any more yet.

Thanks a lot, I'll cut the next one like that, when the rain stops.
Thanks Again
DJ

If that hickory was a wind fall it probably has splits in it .
This summer a straight line wind blew 60 feet out the top of a 100 foot bitter nut hickory .Where broke off was 2 feet in diameter .That top even at 2 feet had splits the entire length of it .I still haven't got that thing split and stacked .

I think what you will find is that salvaging lumber from wind falls or dead falls you are going to have a lot of internal damage .You will get some good lumber and what's left is just high priced firewood more or less .
Even on a green fall you can get structural flaws just from tipping it over .
With my little accumulation of hardwood,3,500 BDF I might start out with a 1 by 12 16 feet long and if I'm lucky enough I might end up with a 1 by 8 or 10  by 12 foot the time I rip it and square it .It could be 6 inch wide stuff too . Then again I don't have 3 bucks a BDF in it either  ,about 20 cents and my time .