Chainsaws are great tools but only when they’re working properly. Here are five chainsaw-maintenance tips to keep your chainsaw cutting strong.
Chain needs to be kept sharp.
Anyone who has attempted to force a dull chain through wood understands the value of a sharp chain.
Sharpening a chain properly is an art form, so if you don’t want a collection of useless chains on your garage wall, take it to a pro.
It will most likely cost you less than $10 and will save you a lot of time and aggravation.
- Make sure you’re using the right file size. You can find this information on the package the chain arrived in or in your owner’s handbook.
- Make sure you’re filing at the right angle. A file gauge, which you can get at most home centres, guarantees that you hold the file appropriately.
- Use the same number of file strokes on each tooth (typically 3-6).
- Use the depth gauges with caution (the protrusions directly in front of each tooth). If you file them down too much, the saw will bite too deeply into the wood, causing it to stall or, worse, throw you off balance.
- Use a gauge to confirm that the depth gauges are sharpened properly.
Maintain proper tension in the chain
A chain that is excessively tight can bind the saw and cause it to stall. An over-tightened chain on a non-roller-tip bar can overheat.
When adjusting the chain, raise the bar’s tip as far as it will go and tighten the tensioning screw until the slack is removed from the underside.
Break in a new chain
When it’s time to change the chain, soak it in bar and chain oil for a couple of hours prior. This keeps all of the pivot points lubricated.
After that, suspend the chain from a nail and pour the excess oil back into the pan.
Install the chain and run it until it is heated.
As the chain heats up, it will loosen, so turn off the saw and retension the chain.
Then, for 30 minutes or so, do light-duty labour like chopping limbs and tiny branches. Re-tension the chain, and you’re ready to tackle the heavy-lifting.
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Keep the air filter clean
One of the most critical aspects of chainsaw maintenance is keeping the air filter clean in order to extend the life and performance of the saw.
It’s the only way to keep sawdust and debris out of the engine, which can clog the carburetor and make the saw start hard and perform poorly. Contaminants can also damage the piston rings, resulting in a loss of compression and reduced power.
Rather than a foam or paper filter, many saws use a screen. In these circumstances, use an air compressor to blow air backwards through the filter to prevent particles from lodging deeper in the media.
Fresh gasoline is the best gasoline
The majority of homeowners’ chainsaws spend significantly more time in the garage than in the woods.
Gasoline can break down in as little as 30 days as it ages, causing gums and varnish to clog the carburetor and cause hard starts and harsh running.
Only enough fuel to last 30 days should be mixed. Even better, use a two-stroke oil containing a fuel stabiliser.