How to tension a chain correctly on a chain saw

Why chainsaws pull quickly?

A quick check of the chain tension is very simple: take hold of the prong and pull it upwards. If the chain is tensioned correctly, the tail will be sunk into the bar groove by 1/3 of its height. If it is too tight, it indicates too much tension, but if it is too light, it indicates too little tension.

A chainsaw should normally run smoothly along the bar without much effort. If it is difficult to move the bar, it is a sign that it is too tight.

If the chainsaw’s cutting attachment is under too much strain, the bar will begin to heat up and wear down, increasing the strain on the engine and it will wear out quickly. Never start the machine if the chain is loose because the cutting chain can get caught and cut off, endangering the operator. The chain can come off the tire and injure your limbs, and it often damages itself and damages the tire. Also working with a loose chain element can lead to one-sided wear of the bar, after which the machine stops making straight cuts, and the saw is pulled sideways.

What you’ll need

To adjust your chainsaw chain tension, you will need:

• A socket wrench for the nuts that hold the cap on the headset.
• A slotted or Phillips-head screwdriver for the adjusting screw.
• Tight gloves to check chain tension.

Suitable wrench and screwdriver are usually included with the chainsaw. Gloves are needed to protect your hands from injuries with a sharp chain. You can also check tension by holding two screwdrivers on opposite sides of the chain on the bar for a test rotation.

Choice of chain

The chain, like the motor, is considered the most important part of the tool, so if you use it frequently, it needs to be repaired, sharpened or replaced at all. A badly worn part should definitely be replaced, and for this work, you need to know the rules for selecting a new product:

• If any part has to be replaced, it is worth knowing about the compatibility of electric and gasoline saw assemblies. In other words, buy parts only from the company that made the product. For example, a chain for a Makita electric saw will only fit that company’s tool.
• You need to choose a chain for your saw depending on the type of work. If you need more power, it’s better to buy a chain with a 0.37-inch pitch, and for small loads, 0.32-inch is fine. The total volume of the cylinder in this case is not very important.
• It is worth paying attention to the angle of sharpening. It can help in future maintenance, repairs or other cases. For large amounts of work, an angle of about 30 degrees is optimal, which is quite easy to handle heavy loads. But for heavy woodworking it is worth opting for a sharpening angle of 10 degrees.
• Total chain length must match the factory bar dimensions. The chain can sag or get stretched with long use, but this problem can be solved by simply removing a few links.

You also need to consider the material and method of cutting. For example, for longitudinal cutting, you need to use a chain with a small sharpening angle. The amount of work accomplished will be slightly less, but the cutting element will last a very long time.

Makita UC 3520A electric chainsaw Overview

I’m doing a review of my Makita UC 3520A electric chainsaw. Video I partially disassemble the saw cover,

The flap lever in front of the handle is a chain brake. A man throws a punch, he rests his hand on the flap, the motor stops. It’s a backstop.

The Makita electric chainsaw has a lock against overheating of the motor, lock on. The gradual increase in starting current allows for gradual speed gain, extending the life of all components.

Experts advise against buying a chain saw if it is not blocked. This is the first sign that the model is tampered with.

has shown that Makita chainsaws are at the top of the Yandex Market, based on user surveys and product purchases.

How the chainsaw chain lubrication system works?

Chainsaw lubrication is constantly working on the basis of the oil pump. The oil hose ends at the point where the bar joins the crankcase of the existing chainsaw. In turn, there are holes or grooves on the chainsaw headset, through which the regular oil disperses through all working organs.

The design and operating principle of the lubrication systems used by modern chainsaws stands out for their simplicity. This makes it possible to repair the mechanism to every owner of a gasoline-powered tool.

Chain tension

The chainsaw chain and guide bar are under the highest stress during operation, unlike other chain saw parts. Over time, it lengthens in size due to boring gaps in the connecting links. This process takes place with any kind of chains, that’s why it is necessary to control chain tension and wear periodically while using a chain saw.

If the chain is too tight, cutting efficiency will be reduced and the engine and transmission will be more stressed. The guide bar gets very hot because of increased friction, which leads to fuel waste.

How to prevent

To prevent the saw chain from loosening and breaking, use quality metal links. Check that the chain is lubricated before use and retighten the adjusting screw systematically. Read more about how to start your chainsaw correctly. During scheduled service, check the condition of the drive sprocket, which sometimes causes breakage.

Shortening or replacing a chainsaw chain link can be done at home. It is not a good idea to buy expensive riveting equipment. The procedure can be done with simple locksmith tools. The length of the harness and its tension directly affects the performance of the work, the risk of injury. Before you start the saw you should check the tension of the blade and if necessary tighten the adjusting screw.

What to do if the chain slackens

If the chain is slack there is a risk of injury to the operator because the saw blade can tear or just come off the guide sprockets. Of course, modern chain saws have safety and emergency stop systems, but these systems do not always work correctly.

It is important not to install a chain on a chainsaw with defective or damaged saw links, in addition to the danger of breaking at any time, such a chain will grind the guide bar grooves, which will lead to its skewing, uneven cutting and failure of the guide bar.

What can cause the chain to sag during even brief use?

• There could be a problem with the guide bar. Sometimes because of operator negligence or because the threads of the guide bar fixing bolts are excessively worn, the chain can vibrate and lose tension. Check condition of fixing bolts and replace with new ones if necessary. When the bolts are sufficiently tightened, these problems do not occur.
• If a chainsaw is handled reasonably carefully, any chain can wear out over time. Trying to repair it or put it back together is a futile endeavor. If a chain sprocket is stretched due to natural causes, it would be best to buy a new sprocket.
• The sprocket is misaligned. Sprocket teeth misalignment may cause sagging. If this happens, it’s best to call your dealer to have the chain tensioned and the drive sprocket adjusted. Fixing the drive sprocket in the correct position is quite difficult, because you will have to dismantle many small parts, remove the guide bar, and then reassemble everything in the reverse order.

How to Change the Chain on a Partner Chainsaw

How to tighten the chain on a chainsaw: instructions and recommendations

Professionals know full well that it’s not the strength of the chainsaw that makes it a good tool, but how well it is used. With proper care, any chainsaw can last a long time, demonstrating excellent performance. If it’s the other way around. Not properly monitoring the tool and not following safe operating practices will greatly shorten the life of the tool and lead to early failure.

One of the most important points of proper technical operation is the care of the chain. You need to know how to tighten the chain on your chainsaw, how to grind it properly, and how to lubricate it. It is also very important to have an idea of its characteristics. This knowledge can be very useful if you need to choose a new chain.

Algorithm for step-by-step installation

Not all modern chainsaws are equipped with a setting wheel, which makes the installation procedure of the saw blade much easier. Systems with a thumbwheel are very rare among home chain saws. That’s why it’s important to know the process and the chain fitting sequence on the chainsaw.

The main points to pay attention to:

• Prepare an even surface on which to assemble the chain and guide bar. This minimizes the chance of damage to the chain saw or loss of small parts. Lay the guide bar and the chain next to it in parallel on the prepared surface.
• Remove the sprocket guard, on modern chainsaws just unscrew the wing nut, on older models you might need an appropriate size ring spanner.
• At the base of the guide bar, turn the idler sprocket all the way to the right. Only in this position do you install the chain.
• Then chain link by link is slipped onto the guide bar retainer groove, one after the other. Install the chain from the top of the guide bar, gradually turning it so that the bar is always at the top and the chain at the bottom, this will ensure that it is always taut and fits into the guide bar slot without any problem. When you do this, be sure to wear thick protective gloves, because your fingers will touch the cutting edge. When viewed from above, the cutter is always facing forward toward the end of the guide bar.
• Put the bar and chain on the drive sprocket.
• Secure sprocket cover in place. Make sure that all mounting pins are in line with the holes. Installation that is not straight or not all the way up can cause noise, rattling, etc.
• Make sure the guide rails “fit” into the special mounting groove.
• After installation, check that the chain is locked in place on the chainsaw and the bar. Everything should be securely fastened without backlash.

An important point is the degree of tension of the chain after installation. Setting the correct tension is very easy and takes no more than 3 minutes. First you need to loosen the nuts on the cover. Use the freely rotating adjusting screw to catch the correct tension, so that the chain does not pull away from the edge of the guide bar more than 3-5 mm.

All that remains is to tighten the nuts and check the tension. If adjustments are needed, readjust the tensioning.

When the chain is in use, due to friction forces, the chain metal expands and becomes very hot and the length of the chain increases. This is why it is important to check the tension at regular intervals and correct it in time.

How to install the bar and chain on your chainsaw, see the following video, which provides a clear procedure:

Why is the chain slipping?

Many of the experienced chain saw users have had to deal with the problem of the chain jumping off the guide bar when in use. common cause. lack of tension of the chain or wear.

In 80% of the cases the stretched chain links slip off the teeth of the drive sprocket and the chain slides out of the guide bar due to the centrifugal force. But from time to time the problem is caused by wrong sprocket position in respect to the rotation axis or a loose guide bar on a chain saw.

How to fit the chain and guide bar on a chainsaw: assembly

The procedure under consideration is quite simple. It is characterized by the following features:

• First release the chain brake.
• The tensioning screw is in close proximity to the guide bar.
• The next step is to tighten the cutting element in a clockwise direction.
• If the chain is difficult to move, the locking screw must be loosened.

Modern chainsaw ranges make this job a lot easier. Therefore, you can perform it yourself even if you do not have special tools.

How the chain is tightened

The principle of chain tensioning is as follows:

• with a standard wrench that comes with the chainsaw, the nuts on the cover are loosened;
• then a screwdriver is inserted in a special groove, rotary movements are made and the chain is tightened;
• the spanner should be turned slowly and accurately. after a couple of turns the degree of tensioning is checked manually, then if necessary a few turns are done again;
• When the chain is tightened enough, you need to put the cover back on.

How to sharpen a chain cutter?

There is a lot of information on this subject on the internet. I also learned a lot, tried it out, experimented.

And in the end I came to a conclusion, unless, of course, to engage in professional sharpening of the chain, the best way on a domestic level, in my subjective opinion, is sharpening with an ordinary semicircular file.

First, there’s nothing complicated. a shorok on the inner plane of the tooth and that’s it.

The main thing is to do it in one direction, for example, from yourself.

Secondly, the money is not expensive at all. In short, 15 minutes of effort and the chain is ready to cut wood again.

If I mentioned the topic of wood, I would also like to share with you my experience in making firewood for the winter.

Now there are many models of chainsaw chains on sale. First of all, you need to know exactly what size fits your chainsaw, and you should not make a mistake in buying. The second step is to install it correctly on the chain saw. It is a little bit time-consuming, but if you know how to set and adjust the chain on the saw bar yourself, the good owner shouldn’t have any problems. We tried to describe in detail the process of installing the saw blade on the chainsaw.

We hope that after reading this article you will succeed the first time. But to minimize problems with your chainsaw and chain in the future, don’t forget three basic rules:

• If the chain is worn and slack. replace it with a new one;
• If you get a bad cut or jarring when you are sawing, watch your chain tension on your chain saw;
• Never use chain saws that are defective or have been repaired by a dubious professional. Your health and the health of those around you is far more important than saving money on a new, reliable chain.

Necessary tools and equipment for tightening chain on your chainsaw

In order to tension it correctly you need some knowledge of simple mechanisms and simple tools. On STIHL chain saws, tightening is easy with a built-in chain tensioner. This method is as simple as possible and is very fast. To tension or adjust the slack in the chain, the manufacturer recommends that you do this:

• Using the wing nut, unscrew the sprocket cover;
• Turn the thumbwheel to find the length of the chain and tighten it to the necessary length;
• the sprocket cover is closed again and the chain is secured to the bar.

If it is impossible to tension the chainsaw chain with the built-in mechanism, use these tools (using a Sparky electric saw as an example):

• angle grinder with a metal disc;
• hexagon socket wrench, 5 mm in diameter;
• piece of wire;
• wooden stick or sturdy splinter
• flat screwdriver.

After de-energizing the electric saw, unscrew the screws with an allen key, remove the housing cover, unscrew the tensioning screw with a screwdriver and remove the stem nut. The side of the screw adjacent to the body of the saw is ground with a disk. The saw is then reassembled in the reverse order. The sawdust is needed to clean the housing from sawdust.