How to Install a Chain on a Chainsaw

If you have a chainsaw at home, then you should know that special care is required for it. It is necessary to periodically clean and sharpen the chains, to clean the air filter, oil supply and tires. Well, of course, you need to follow the chain stretch, since with a bad stretch there is a risk not only to harm the saw, but also to your health if the chains fly off at high speeds.

Features of the chainsaw device

The main part of a gasoline saw is engine. In most modern devices, the engine is single-cylinder. Air cooling, two-stroke piston system. Oil in these types of engines is added directly to gasoline, and all due to the fact that the fuel is constantly washing the crankcase. The oil-gasoline ratio varies from 1:20 to 1:50, depending on the manufacturer of the chainsaw.

An air filter on gasoline saws plays an equally important role. He needs regular cleaning. If you allow severe contamination of the filter, then the dust from it will fall directly into the piston system, which will lead to engine failure.

If the filter is clogged, the saw loses speed, and the engine starts to overheat, and this can lead to burning of the piston rings.

A gasoline-powered starter is a rope with a handle, pulling which you drive the motor. When you pull the rope, the teeth catch the ratchet, the flywheel begins to unwind.

Many complain that it takes a long time to pull the rope to ignite the engine. It depends on whether the carburetor is correctly set. If the carburetor produces the correct oil-gasoline mixture, then there should be no problems.

The main working mechanism. a tire with a chain.

The chain consists of three types of teeth: leading, cutting and connecting. They are connected by rivets. The cutting teeth are located on two sides: right and left.

Chains are divided into two types: high-profile and low-profile. The first type includes chains in which the teeth are located with a large gap, and the second with a smaller gap. Also, chains can vary in shank thickness and link length. A chainsaw chain is attached to a tire that guides it in the right direction. The end face of the tire has a specific groove that holds the links and allows the chain to rotate. At the front of the tire is a driven sprocket. The chains along with the tire are called the headset, as they are removable parts of the chainsaw.

The gasoline saw has an automatic chain lubrication system. The tire delivers oil, which is then absorbed by the sawdust. If the saw is idling, the oil supply stops.

Why does the chain fly, find out the reasons

If you wondered why the chain on your chainsaw flies, then there are some problems in the mechanism. Exist three main reasons this problem: improper functioning of the tire, chain stretching and poorly fixed driven sprocket. We will analyze in more detail each of the possible causes of failure.

Tire problems

If you have problems with the bus almost always chain tension loosens. Typically, this problem occurs at the mounting location of the tire.

This place is located in the groove between the outer plate, which is located on the casing of the chain headset and the inner plate, located on the motor housing. The casing together with the tire is fixed with a bolt. This mount is called "engine assembly". The drive sprocket and tire mount are protected by special covers.

If the fixing bolts loosen, the tire begins to move or vibrate. If the tire is serviceable, then the chain tension should be normal. After stretching, she will walk for at least five working days without suspenders. Therefore, you need to properly tighten the bolts that hold the tire.

How to Install a Chain on a Chainsaw

To understand how to pull a chain on a chainsaw, first you need find and lower the chain brake. The tension screw is located next to the tire, it is turned until the chain is pulled onto the tire. Then pull the chain in a clockwise direction. If it does not move, then you need to loosen it a little by turning the tension screw in the opposite direction.

Видео: How to Install a Chain on a Chainsaw


Stretched chain

If your chain sags on a chainsaw, then this indicates a malfunction of some mechanism, one of the options is wear on the chain itself.

Over time, the metal is deformed and the chains become 0.5-1 cm longer. It’s best to fix this problem by buying a new chain, but there’s a way to get the old one back in. Experts say that it is very difficult and almost impossible, but we will tell you how to do it at home.

To do this, we will need:

  • vise;
  • file;
  • electric welding machine (not needed in all cases);
  • hammer;
  • pliers;
  • beard.

An ordinary chainsaw chain is made of strong steel, so it is difficult to disconnect it. You need to disconnect the chain on the inside of the rivet, which serves as a connecting mechanism.

First you need to fix the chains in a vice, and then gradually grind the protruding part. You need to file with a file or file. Angle grinder is not recommended, as there is a risk of damage to the side parts of the links. After grinding, the rivets are knocked out with a beard. Knocked out rivets should not be thrown away. You may not be able to find a replacement for her. Manufacturers of gasoline saws do not produce separate parts for the chain, as they do not assume that consumers will be able to repair the chain themselves. Most likely, you will not be able to make a new rivet yourself, so you will have to install the old one.

In order to shorten the chain, you need to split it in two places. But remember, that the number of guides on the inside of the chain and the distance between them must be combined with the drive sprocket.

After removing one or more links (depending on the degree of chain stretching), the chains can be joined. We connect to the old rivets, while tightly press them on the sides.

Next, we need a welding machine. The rivet must be welded to the side parts of the link. After that, file off the excess that was formed when working with welding with a file. The chain can be considered good again.

Drive sprocket loose

One possible option for a sagging circuit on your device is a problem with a leading asterisk. Most often, everything happens due to the fact that the star is poorly fixed. Now we will tell you how to properly fix the star and then put the chain on a chainsaw.

First you need to remove the engine cover. Next, remove the protective cover of the candle, pull out the air filter. Then with a special key you need to unscrew the candle. A special stopper is placed in its place, which fixes the piston in a certain position. Using a special key (you can use a universal key for an angle grinder), turn the clutch disc clockwise until the piston reaches its highest position. If you look into the hole of the candle, the piston should remain at the bottom. As a stopper, you can use a thick rope, it is better to fold it several times. After fixing, you can clamp the drive sprocket by scrolling the clutch disc counterclockwise.

After clamping, you need to do everything in the reverse order, that is, collect the chainsaw. A chain is put on the tire, it must fall on the leading sprocket that holds it. The tire is placed in special holes for fastening and bolted. Then protection is put.

How to tighten: installing the cutting element of the chainsaw

The main reasons for the sagging chain we have examined. How to install a chain on a chainsaw is described in paragraph above. Now you need to properly tighten the chains, and check whether he will pull.

Chain tension

You can pull the chains two ways: fast and frontal. It is best to stretch the frontal way.

If you carry out a front stretch, you need to unscrew the nuts that hold the tire, and lift it by the edge. With a special bolt located on the right, you need to tension the chains until an acceptable tension is obtained, and then raise the tire even higher and clamp it.

If you use the quick tension method, first you need to raise the wing nut handle and loosen it. Then tighten the chain tension screw fully clockwise. Then tighten the wing nut again and lower the handle.

Tension check

To check the chain tension, it is necessary to disconnect the brake system of the saw. Then manually draw the chains along the bus, if it walks smoothly and does not sag, then everything is fine. If the chains go very tight, then it needs to be loosened a little, because there is a risk of a break during operation.

Operation tips

It’s not enough to know how the chain on the chainsaw is pulled. You need to properly care for the saw, then you will extend the service life of not only the chain, but the whole mechanism. Here are some operation tips:

  • Clean the air filter regularly and lubricate it with oil. If necessary, replace the filter with a new one.
  • Before starting work, always check that all nuts and bolts are tightened so that the mechanism does not fail during operation.
  • Regularly lubricate the bearings, and also do not forget about cleaning the candle from fumes.
  • Lubricate the driven sprocket. And after working with a chainsaw, do not forget to clean it.
  • Lubricate, sharpen and tension the chain always on time, then there will be no problems with the tire and chain.

If you use all of the above tips, your device will last much longer than the warranty period.