6 Reasons Why Your Chainsaw Chain Won’t Spin Freely

A chainsaw is useless when the chain around the guide bar stops moving. The chain’s spinning can be affected by other factors besides a damaged guide bar.

When the chain brake is engaged, a Stihl chainsaw chain will not move or turn on the bar if the bar and chain are not lubricated, the chain tension is too tight, or the clutch pads are worn.

Jammed chains are annoying. This can be fixed by a novice chainsaw user. This article describes how to fix each issue.

Stihl Chainsaw Not Spinning

Functional chainsaws are useful. Chainsaws need regular maintenance. If your chainsaw’s chain isn’t spinning, check the following.

Problems	Solutions
Damaged guide bar	If the sprocket won’t turn, or the guide bar is bent, replace it.
Chain brake engaged	Make sure the chain brake is off before starting.
Damaged chain	Check sprocket. If breaks, replace it.
Lack of Bar and Chain Oil	Check the guide bar. Replace corroded or broken guide bars. Fuel up.
Tight chain tension	Adjust the chain tension.
Worn Clutch	Replace the clutch assembly.

1. Damaged Guide Bar

The guide bar sprocket helps the chain move around the end of the bar with as little resistance as possible. If this sprocket doesn’t turn, the chain won’t turn either.

With a pinch in the guide bar slot rail, a guide bar can stop a chain from spinning. If the slot rail is stuck between two pieces of wood, the chain won’t be able to move through the slot.

When a guide bar is bent, it can stop a chain from spinning.

The Fix

The chain won’t turn without the sprocket. Remove the saw’s bar and chain to check. Remove the chain from the guide bar after removing the saw bar and chain. The bar’s tip sprocket should now be seen.

Replace the guide bar if the sprocket won’t turn. The bar may split if the sprocket rotates but the chain doesn’t. If this is the case, the chain may be trapped between the bar sprocket and the bar, requiring replacement.

The chain won’t fit through the slot rail if it’s pinched between the wood. Remove the saw’s guide bar to verify. Pinches are usually obvious. Instead of loosening a pinched bar, replace it.

A bent-guide bar must be replaced.

2. Chain Brake Engaged

Safety guards protect Stihl chainsaw handles. Chain brake guard. It reduces kickback injuries.

Sometimes the chainsaw chain brake stops it. A saw operator may think the saw is broken if they don’t know how to disengage the chain brake.

Kickbacks stop the chain brake. To stop the chain, manually push the chain brake forward. When starting the chainsaw.

The Fix

Pulling the guard to the back of the saw will release it and allow the chain to move freely, so be sure that the chain brake is not engaged before proceeding.

3. Damaged Chain

When used right, chainsaws cut with the chain. If the chain breaks, the chainsaw can’t be used. Without taking the chain off the guide bar, you can’t see this damage.

Check the sharp bottom after taking the chain off. This part is Chain Drag. Guide bar slot rail slides chain drag. The chain gets stuck in this part of the chain, which breaks it.

The Fix

This kind of damage to a chain is usually caused by using the chain without the right amount of tension or by using a worn-out sprocket. If the chain breaks, a new one will have to be bought.

4. Lack of Bar and Chain Oil

The bar and chain must be kept oiled or else there will be more friction and heat will build up. Without enough grease, the chain will start to move very slowly.

Check to see if there is enough oil on the bar. If there isn’t enough oil on the bar, you aren’t getting enough lubrication. Another reason is a clogged oil channel.

The Fix

Make sure the bar is in good shape. Replace a guide bar that is rusted or broken. Next, examine the oil route and clear it if necessary.

Always keep the bar and chain on your Stihl fully greased. To avoid running out of bar and chain oil, refill it each time you fill up with fuel.

Chain oil may run out before the fuel tank needs to be refilled if you are using too little oil.

5. Tight Chain Tension

If the chain on your machine isn’t tight enough, it won’t last as long and the chain might stop or not turn. If the chain doesn’t come off easily, the tension is probably too high.

The chain must be adjusted often because it gets longer as you use it. If you tighten the chain too much around the bar, it won’t move around the bar.

The Fix

Stihl chainsaw chain tension needs to be adjusted. Unplug the spark plug. Chain brake unlock. Loosen the clutch and chain brake cover bar retaining nuts.

Hold the bar nose up. Turning the tensioning screw clockwise tightens the chain and counterclockwise loosens it. Tighten the bar retaining nuts while holding the bar nose up once the tension is right.

The chain should fit snugly around the bar, but you should be able to move it. It shouldn’t dangle from the guide bar. Once the tension is right, tighten the bar nuts.

6. Worn Clutch

The clutch band drum brake stops the clutch drum, letting the chain turn. The motor will run if the clutch band is worn, but it won’t engage the clutch drum. This stops the chain.

Clutch pads wear out. They won’t turn the chain by engaging the clutch drum.

The Fix

Make sure the emergency stop lever isn’t engaged. The chain won’t rotate if the stop lever is pulled. If the clutch pads are worn, replace the clutch assembly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)