The classic! Standing there, holding on to the pistol grip, waiting....for what seems like for ever to unfold lol.
I'd say the most common (90% or so) way of that happening is cutting from underneath the lean. Sawn off far corner, rotton holding wood, breezey, can all be, and usually do contribute to a smashed powersaw when falling under the lean side of a tree, and I mean the predominant side lean.
Not saying you personally at all Nails, but I have noticed a ton of pictures of people all over the other half of the states cutting every tree from one side, tree to your left shoulder. Yes it's easier to face with a half wrap on that side, and I think that might be where that habit comes from. Lots of people cutting from the downhill side, when the the tree leans over that way, to your left shoulder. Just an observation.
When a tree comes over on the stump it rarely goes straight over the top, unless the tree is pretty much standing straight up and has no defect. When it's leaning away from you on the side lean, and your bringing it over, the stem (Tall confiers anyway) sits down, or pulls around to a certain extent into the low side of the stump before going into the lay the holding wood tells it to. This still occurs slightly even when the corners are brought up evenly across the back cut.
Now you can see where the danger lies in falling timber under the lean. You can and should practice falling under the lean though, because at times you absolutely have to. To compensate the lean when falling underneath it, try gunning the tree the same amount of degrees to the other side as it's lean on the downhill side. Be careful and think about what happens when you start backing it up (cutter slang for back cut). Starting your backcut more towards the holding wood side (no matter where you are on the lean with your body) will make the tree begin to move quickly on the stump. You can see really tall conifers (120-160ft.+) move side to side quite radically when at a distance when a faller is beavering away on the stump. Infact, they can move side to side so much that it's hard to tell where the dang thing is gonna go when you first walk up lol. By sawing into the non-holding side first, the tree will stay steadfast for a bit longer, but may have a tendancy to sit down on that side of the stump, especially if too much wood is sawn up. I know you already prolly know all of this, but I was just sharing with others that might be curious. Don't ask me how I know LOL!
Buzzard: Sorry about your saw bro. I'll PM you a killer builder's number out here in Oregon and you can get another 460 hot rod. His saws are mean.
Be safe! - Burv
