Chipper Course

[Stephen Blair]

My pet hate with the boys is hearing that all-too-common high revving saw and then BANG on the chainbrake... I always let the saw rev down first before putting the brake on..drives me mental.

Never been tought anything about not standing directly in line with the chain...but does make alot of sense.

 

chain break chain break chain break, i want to hear it snap on, if you do it automatically then it can save your bacon when you need it, the amount of times i have tripped or fallen while snedding out stuff and landed on my arse or down a big ditch, but unconsciously whacked on the break...only once when putting a gub in on a dead elm, standing on wild garlic my footling gave way and both feet slipped at the same time, i ended up sliding down backwards, upside down, when i stopped, the 046 was running full tilt, sitting across my throat with the nose in the ground and i hadnt hit the chain breal because the way i had slipped..lucky me:ohmy:in an emergency you dont get time to slow the revs down...full chain break every time i start a saw..always got spares in the mog and van:001_smile:

[Highland Forestry]

chain break chain break chain break, i want to hear it snap on, if you do it automatically then it can save your bacon when you need it, the amount of times i have tripped or fallen while snedding out stuff and landed on my arse or down a big ditch, but unconsciously whacked on the break...only once when putting a gub in on a dead elm, standing on wild garlic my footling gave way and both feet slipped at the same time, i ended up sliding down backwards, upside down, when i stopped, the 046 was running full tilt, sitting across my throat with the nose in the ground and i hadnt hit the chain breal because the way i had slipped..lucky me:ohmy:in an emergency you dont get time to slow the revs down...full chain break every time i start a saw..always got spares in the mog and van:001_smile:

 

One of the guys blew up a two week old MS260 doing that only a few weeks back... snapped the brake band, the spring and cracked the clutch drum.

Chainbrake goes on all the time, dont even think about it, but I never put it on at full revs..

 

Sounds nasty slipping down a bank like that Stevie - must have been a brown trousers moment..

[Jamie]

let the revs drop and click it on. i even 'slow' the chain speed down on a bit of wood before engaging it. thats not to say in an emergency i wouldn't slam it on, but why put all that undue stress through the clutch?

 

Jamie

[Stephen Blair]

never broke any clutches before, that must if been a good spring mate,i usually replace the drums every few months just so i get the lovely snappy sound

[Mesterh]

Never been tought anything about not standing directly in line with the chain...but does make alot of sense.

 

Really?

 

I think it was the first thing we were taught.

 

There is a reason why saws are supposed to be used with your right hand on the throttle.

[Highland Forestry]

never broke any clutches before, that must if been a good spring mate,i usually replace the drums every few months just so i get the lovely snappy sound

 

I usually replace the drums after about 4 chains..

The lad that blew his clutch drum up was whacking the brake on at absolute full revs, no wonder it couldnt take it.

 

Mesterh - nope was never tought that and untill stevie mentioned it i'd never given it a thought.

[Mesterh]

Mesterh - nope was never tought that and untill stevie mentioned it i'd never given it a thought.

 

That is a poor bit of training you had there tbh!

 

The most 'dangerous' place you can be when snedding or cross cutting is over the saw especially when its a big fella! Well imo and iirc my trainers opinion too.

 

Saws can also kick out not just up as I found out one day whne a big old dolmar whacked me in the side of the knee cap I cried for days:crying:

[bob]

the thumb thing is more important than folk believe

obviosly you have better hold of the saw

and stops you getting carpel tunnels ect

hold your hand out in front of you palm up where is your thumb

now put your thumb to the side as you would when not having it round handle and notice the strain on your tendons

not good for you

[Stephen Blair]

interesting bob, very interesting. i could really feel it for just the few seconds i tried it

[Jamie]

never never never slam a chainbrake on at full revs, unless the proverbial is just about to fly through the fan.

 

Jamie