Loading…
25
Pro tip: the 18 inch bar on my 261 nearly cost me a finger on a willow oak in Asheville
I was limbing a willow oak last Tuesday in Asheville when the chain caught a knot and kicked back hard, and my left hand was right in the path. I had my brake cover off because I was lazy about cleaning it, so the chain brake never engaged, and it scared me bad enough that I sat in the truck for 10 minutes after. Now I check that brake before every tank of gas, and I want to know if anyone else runs into kickback more on willow oak than other species. Also, how often are you all pulling the cover to clean the brake band?
1 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In1 Comment
karen_martin1mo ago
Man that feeling of sitting in the truck after a close call is the worst, and I know it well. Willow oak is grabby as hell compared to most stuff I cut, those tight knots and the way the grain twists just loves to snatch a chain, so you are not crazy for noticing it kicks more there. Bet the brake cover being off is the part that eats at you most, since that thing is there for exactly that moment. I pull my cover maybe every 4 or 5 tanks unless I am cutting dirty wood, then it is every tank because the band packs up with crud and stops grabbing right. Glad you kept all your fingers and good on you for slowing down and checking it now.
1