(broken image removed)(broken image removed)Had a cedar set back down on my saw yesterday. I know what I did wrong cutting it down, so lesson learned there. But how do I go about safely getting the stuck bar out and cutting the tree up? Also how do I tell if the bar is bent? I'm operating on the assumption it is at this point?
Bar stuck
- Thread starter bornhunter04
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Another bar/chain bolted to your powerhead or another saw. Use a straight edge or something else flat to test the bar. Even a pane of glass will work.
Now, about your felling cut:
Whut the.....???
Now, about your felling cut:
Whut the.....???
chazcarr
Minister of Fire
That's not coming out without another cut to take the pressure off your bar. I always carry an extra bar and chain in case that happens. I think the tree is too high for a car jack to work.
maple1
Minister of Fire
Another cut - using a wedge will help too.
EDIT: Or you could just start de-limbing & cutting it up, from the top down.
EDIT: Or you could just start de-limbing & cutting it up, from the top down.
Sconnie Burner
Feeling the Heat
Definitely going to have to remove the weight of the tree. Either limb it and buck it from the other end or bottom up cut it on the horizontal area as near to the bar as you can so you can lift it and push back to the other side. WORK CAREFULLY!
hman
Member
I agree,remove the power head,get another bar and chain,or another saw.Start limbing and cutting the trunk until the pressure is off the bar.
sportbikerider78
Minister of Fire
From the pic, looks like he already took the powerhead off.
Just be careful. That felling cut is interesting and you likely don't need any of us raking you over the proverbial coals for it. If you need help, ask a more experienced friend to come over.
Don't be in a rush to make this better.
Just be careful. That felling cut is interesting and you likely don't need any of us raking you over the proverbial coals for it. If you need help, ask a more experienced friend to come over.
Don't be in a rush to make this better.
maple1
Minister of Fire
Gotta give you credit for posting the pic - that in itself likely took some gumption. 
Should be an easy fix, long as you have another saw or B&C.
Should be an easy fix, long as you have another saw or B&C.
If you shoot as well as you fell trees then all of the wild game out there is pretty safe......
Just kidding.
As mentioned earlier, best is to get a friend with a saw and slightly more experience to help out in this situation.
Just kidding.
As mentioned earlier, best is to get a friend with a saw and slightly more experience to help out in this situation.
AmbDrvr253
Minister of Fire
Dooooohhhhhhh! Though i give you credit for manning up and asking for help. Agreed with the posts above. Yoyu will need another saw.
Got a new bar yesterday. I was trying to drop it the other direction but it didn't want to go that way. It was wanting to fall but couldn't quite make it. So since this was in the yard I didn't want it to go over unexpectedly, so I tied a rope and gave it a yank with my truck. It splintered off, thats why the notch looks like that. Figured I could get the bar out once it was on the ground. So it would be best to start climbing and work my way top to base.....slowly? Believe me I'm not in any hurry to get hurt. That bar can stay in there while I figure out the best way to get it out. What's interesting is that the other tree I cut down first sat down on the bar too. Had to make a very slight relief cut to ease the tension and then it went right over the way it was supposed to. Are cedars prone to this?
maple1
Minister of Fire
maple1
Minister of Fire
Yes, that's what I'd do. But be careful, you will still hit tension since the trunk is so far in the air.
Another approach depending on your confidence level would be to start a down cut in the middle of the trunk, stop in the middle & hammer a wedge in the top of the cut, then keep going all the way thru with the cut. With the wedge in solid, the cut should open up at the bottom as you get close to completing it and you should be able to cut right thru without a jamb. But we're not there & can't see the whole tree & how it's laying - gotta be careful of a possible roll too, or spring back. Likely better to start with getting rid of what top you can, which will also likely have its tricky moments with how high the trunk still is. Wedges are really worth it sometimes in these situations - even with easily getting a bar unstuck. Take your time regardless.
Another approach depending on your confidence level would be to start a down cut in the middle of the trunk, stop in the middle & hammer a wedge in the top of the cut, then keep going all the way thru with the cut. With the wedge in solid, the cut should open up at the bottom as you get close to completing it and you should be able to cut right thru without a jamb. But we're not there & can't see the whole tree & how it's laying - gotta be careful of a possible roll too, or spring back. Likely better to start with getting rid of what top you can, which will also likely have its tricky moments with how high the trunk still is. Wedges are really worth it sometimes in these situations - even with easily getting a bar unstuck. Take your time regardless.
I would have to believe that this is happening because of your felling cut "design". From the pics it does not appear to be a proper face cut/wedge with the back cut slightly higher. A proper wedge/ back cut creates a hinge that will not allow the tree to "sit down" on your bar. It is possible to pinch the bar if the tree is trying to go the other way, but not actually drop.
maple1
Minister of Fire
Ya, back cut is coming in way too much higher than the wedge. And looks like not lined up either in the first stump.I also don't make my wedges that deep/big.
Good luck the rest of the way!
Good luck the rest of the way!
![[Hearth.com] Bar stuck](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/161/161454-416098bc7b31d739db142ee3c7efa0c6.jpg?hash=hJ48Nqeb3u "[Hearth.com] Bar stuck")
chazcarr
Minister of Fire
Geez... It is like a textbook example of what not to do...
In fact I hope it is staged just for that purpose.
I wish it was staged. These guys should be fired!
This was a pic from a storm that ripped through few European countries two weeks ago.
maple1
Minister of Fire
Actually, given it looks & sounds like a disaster cleanup operation and the wires have likely been turned off - I kinda think he might know what he's doing.
Sometimes it's a fine line though...
(At least he has the gear on for it).
Sometimes it's a fine line though...
(At least he has the gear on for it).
Fred Wright
Minister of Fire
Cedar can be unpredictable. It's sometimes difficult to gauge felling aim through the heavy foliage. And a slight puff of breeze is all that's needed to push a bushy tree like that the wrong way. If you don't have 'em already get a pair of plastic felling wedges. They can save you a lot of time and headache.
Yup, get another bar and chain, work the tree from the top down. Be mindful of weight on those lower limbs... leave the ground contact cuts for last.
It's unlikely your bar is damaged but not impossible. Any reliable straight edge will tell you for certain. I've had pinched bars before, worst result was a couple of broken cutters. The bar survived.
Yup, get another bar and chain, work the tree from the top down. Be mindful of weight on those lower limbs... leave the ground contact cuts for last.
It's unlikely your bar is damaged but not impossible. Any reliable straight edge will tell you for certain. I've had pinched bars before, worst result was a couple of broken cutters. The bar survived.
We all live and learn.... I learned a lesson about tree lean that cost me a bar... and I am glad and lucky that that is all it cost me. Lets just say I had everything right including the felling cut etc... I just forgot one thing... .what way does that tree lean.... yeah all of the branches were on the opposite of the direction I wanted it to go..... anyway lesson learned... very scary when a tree starts going in the "wrong direction, and then starts to twist etc... and then you think "WTF WAY DO I RUN
!!" and then you just take cover... after the crashing etc.. you find a bent bar and feel lucky....
My point is we all learn things... best if we dont have to but if we make mistakes and take away from that something valuable... there is no shame in that.
!!" and then you just take cover... after the crashing etc.. you find a bent bar and feel lucky.... My point is we all learn things... best if we dont have to but if we make mistakes and take away from that something valuable... there is no shame in that.
English BoB
Minister of Fire
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