Chainsaw Chain Course: 4 Steps To Always Get It Proper – Burly Beaver

If you’re reading this post, then congratulations. You’ve stumbled into one of many all-time classic chainsaw blunders.

Getting your chainsaw chain course appropriate, is a standard supply of frustration for anyone who never had the great fortune of being proven the straightforward manner.

A chainsaw doesn’t reduce proper with a backwards chain. Plus, from a security perspective: if the chain is backwards all the cutters are dealing with you! Chain course isn’t rocket science, but it’s essential for running a chainsaw successfully (and safely).

Saw Chain ’re gonna get you up-and-running, and it’ll only take 3ish minutes (go ahead, time me). Comply with these 4 steps to get your chainsaw chain headed in the suitable course.

For those who just wish to double verify a chain that’s already in-place, skip to step 3, which will present you a fast way to verify.


Get Chainsaw Chain Route Right
1. Remove the chainsaw casing

First thing’s first, get able to substitute your chainsaw chain. This means removing the aspect casing from your chainsaw so you can get to the bar and chain.


Nice – so far so good!
This will let you get to the bar and chain.


2. Take away the chain
Take the bar and chain off of the chainsaw. Lay all the things out.


We’ll be attending to the great things subsequent.
3. Establish the course of the cut

There are three issues on a series that you may test really easily, to make sure it’s pointed in the proper direction.


Check out the notes on the picture below:
Actually, most likely simply certainly one of the three strategies here would work wonderful, but if you want to be tremendous thorough, you can check all three.

Very first thing to check is the drive link, which ought to be pointing ahead. The drive link is the wave-formed piece that matches into groove on the chainsaw bar. If that little wave is pointing towards the end of the bar (e.g. ahead), then your chain is pointed in the correct route.

You can also verify the cutter, which should also be pointing forward. The cutter is the only part of a chain that actually cuts the wooden (the identify says all of it). There’s a couple ways you may inform which way the cutter is dealing with. You possibly can touch it (perhaps not the safest choice, watch out, or use a unique method). Or, you can too tell from the shape of the metallic. The front of the cutter is often taller and more open than the again of the cutter.

Lastly, you can verify that the guide is instantly in entrance of the cutter. The guide is usually misunderstood. It’s truly not a cutting blade in any respect. It’s goal is to manage the quantity of wooden that’s sliced by the cutter at a time (which controls the aggressiveness of the cut).

If any of this chain element terminology is unclear to you, or if you’re just interested to study extra, try this in-depth clarification of the anatomy of a chainsaw chain.


4. Reassemble and tighten
As soon as you’ve bought your chain path discovered, it’s time to put all the things again together.

You may already know the way to do that step, but should you don’t, no worries. We have a step-by-step information for the way to do this (with footage), on this post.


Bonus: when to replace a chainsaw chain
If you’re checking your chain direction, then it could be because you aren’t getting the pace or quality of cut that you just were anticipating. Chain course will definitely make it harder to finish a cut. Nevertheless, even if in case you have the chain on correctly, you may run into velocity/high quality issues if your chain is dull or damaged.

So, I’ve added this section to help you consider in case your chain difficulty is definitely from a dull/broken chain, as soon as you’ve already checked the route.

Stihl, one of many world’s main chainsaw manufacturers, has a terrific article about the 5 signs that a chainsaw chain is dull, which I’ve summarized beneath:


5 signs a chainsaw chain is dull
1. You have to push the chainsaw to make a lower (the chain ought to do the give you the results you want).
2. The chainsaw makes nice sawdust, instead of large wooden chips
3. Things start smoking (despite correct lubrication and chain tension)
4. The chainsaw “pulls” in a single path, making a crooked lower
5. The chainsaw shakes or bounces whereas reducing
If your chainsaw is doing any of the above, then you definately possible have a dull or broken chain.


Should I sharpen or substitute my chain?
Your subsequent step will likely be to evaluate further, by simply examining the chain in order to search out any chipped, broken, or damaged hyperlinks. If there is evident harm or missing pieces, then you need to go ahead and exchange your chain.

However, if the chain seems to be intact and in good condition, then sharpening it will probably be sufficient. A great chain can normally handle a couple dozen sharpenings, depending on how much materials you take off each time.

Chain manufacturers also include markings on the top/side of a chain’s cutter links, and on the chain’s information links, which show how a lot material will be safely eliminated. See photographs beneath for an example of these markings.

Putting it merely, don’t use a chain that has been sharpened past these markings. That’s not safe. When you come as much as those lines, it’s time to replace your chain.


Wrap-up
Alright, there you’ve gotten it. By utilizing the methods above, you must be able to quickly get your chainsaw chain path proper, each time. And with the opposite steps, it is best to have every part you need to fix that backwards, dull, or damaged chain.


If in case you have any questions, be happy to shoot us a note. We’d love to assist.
Also, if this text answered your question, then I’d love for you to share it with someone else who might find it useful.


That’s all for now. Thanks for reading!

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