Earning his Spurs - Pitchcare

about tree removal from an ecological
perspective, the woodland edge supports
more species than the centre, so creating
rides actually encourages diversity by
extending the area of woodland edge.
Dead trees have considerable
ecological value, with log piles providing
a home for invertebrates, fungi and even
small mammals. Standing dead wood is
also useful and ‘weed’ trees such as
sycamores could be treated with bark
ringing to kill the tree, leaving it in situ
for maximum ecological benefit.
Greenkeepers should consider
replanting too, looking at suitable sites to
CHAINSAWS have become
sophisticated machines with a
range of specialist designs for
large timber or climbing work.
But, many of the developments
have been geared towards
improving the health and safety
record of tree work and to
making operation easier for
occasional users.
Stihl is now incorporating
much of its advanced
technology, first developed for
foresters, into general purpose
chainsaws such as the new MS
391, designed to tackle
anything from fallen trees to
fence posts. The company
suggests that this would be an
ideal choice for a golf course,
with its 64.1cm 3 engine and
choice of 16-20in guide bars.
These include the 2-Mix
engine designed to offer fuel
consumption savings of up to 20
percent compared to a
conventional two-stroke engine,
lower emissions and improved
performance.
The engine’s four-port
technology optimises fuel
combustion to improve
efficiency, while stratified
scavenging reduces the
scavenging losses typical of twostroke
engines, where unburned
fuel emissions are emitted to
the environment with the
exhaust. The new technology
injects a layer of clean air
restock. New trees should ideally be
native species, of local provenance, and
planting in single species groups,
possibly in multiples of three to replicate
how trees seed and spread naturally.
Closer planting at woodland edges than
in the centre also helps to give a natural
‘domed’ effect to the woodland.
There is a wide range of species to
choose from, including understory trees
such as field maples, hawthorn, rowan,
goat willow and holly. Tall canopy trees
would include birch, Scots pine, oak and
beech, whilst crab apple is another
important woodland tree. Remember,
SawPoints - What’s new?
between the burned charge in
the combustion chamber and
fresh mix in the crankcase.
What escapes as the scavenging
loss with the exhaust emission
is not fresh fuel mixture, but air.
The exhaust, therefoe, contains
fewer pollutants.
A new long life air filter
reduces maintenance by
incorporating a pre-separation
system that extends the service
life of the air filter. The preseparation
system uses
centrifugal force and a threedimensional
air flow to remove
larger, heavier particles of dirt
and route them away from the
intake air, before they even get
to the physical air filter. The
largely particle-free air is then
directed to the filter via a preseparation
channel.
Stihl’s anti-vibration system
uses a combination of Cellasto
AV elements and special springs
between the engine unit and
handles to reduce the vibration
caused by the engine and saw
chain, even at high speeds. This
is said to offer comfortable
operation as well as improved
guiding of the saw bar,
enhanced by low vibration Stihl
Comfort Saw chains fitted as
standard.
An option is the Picco Duro
(PD3) saw chain with a drive link
thickness of 1.3mm and 3/8in
pitch. This carbide tipped low
profile saw chain is said to stay
sharp up to four times longer
than a standard saw chain while
offering low vibration and low
kickback properties. Stihl
suggests that this chain is also
ideal for the less experienced
chainsaw user, or someone
working with dirty wood such as
fence posts or railway sleepers.
Husqvarna’s latest
developments include TrioBrake
and AutoTune.
In addition to the usual inertia
mechanism and the front
kickback guard, the chain brake
can be triggered in a third way
with Trio Brake. A new guard,
which be activated by the user’s
right hand, has been added to
the rear handle. Together, the
three different modes form a
brake system that can prevent
injury in certain kickback and
fall situations.
Trio Brake is said to be ideal
for occasional users and those
who have not used a saw
before. It can also encourage a
more ergonomic working
posture, because if the user
doesn’t bend their knees when
working and, instead, bends
their back, the right hand is
likely to trigger the chain brake.
The brake may be activated
manually or automatically
(during a kickback and during
improper or dangerous use).
Users have commented on
benefits from improved safety,
improved work techniques and
efficiency, productivity and a
reduction in physical strain, says
Husqvarna.
AutoTune is a new technology
that provides the saw with
improved engine performance
through an automatic engine
that not all trees may be appropriate on
all golf courses - for example, white
beam drops white leaves which can make
balls hard to find!
Sentinel trees can add interest, with
horse chestnut, ground fir or noble fir
working well, as can cedar, but remember
the spreading habit of this species.
Any tree nursery can supply suitable
stock, and specialists attend the major
events, such as BTME, offering a good
source of advice and information.
Where the ground permits, extra heavy
rootball trees can be sourced from
suppliers if immediate impact is needed,
setting function. This avoids
wasting time on carburettor
adjustments, as the saw
automatically adjusts for
different fuels, altitudes,
humidity and temperature. It
also compensates for clogged
air filters, will regulate idle, low
and high speed settings and
comes with diagnostic
technology.
The heavy duty 576XP AT
chainsaw is the first of
Husqvarna's chainsaws to
feature Auto Tune, although it
will be introduced as an option
on other models in the future.
As well as AutoTune this saw
features an X-Torq engine,
designed to produce high torque
over a wide rpm range,
combined with low fuel
consumption and reduced
emission levels. Its low
emissions technology is
designed to use fuel more
efficiently than a conventional
two-stroke engine, the company
suggests, with 20 per cent fuel
savings and a 60 per cent
reduction in emissions.
Makita says that chainsaw
safety is a fundamental element
of the design and manufacturing
its saws with three key safety
factors: an efficient chain brake,
a new easy-start system and low
vibration levels.
Saws feature a forward finger