How Chainsaw Breather Works

Breather cleaning procedure

A simple cleaning method is to use a sewing needle. Make sure the valve is clogged before cleaning. It’s not hard to do.

• We remove the carburetor (it must be disconnected from the fuel hose), estimate the amount of traces of fuel.
• If fuel flows out and the breather remains clean, then everything is in order with it and you need to continue the diagnosis. If a weak stream of fuel flows out of the gas line, you can be sure that the breather needs a thorough cleaning.

Important! If, after cleaning, the chainsaw shows an increase in speed when idling, do not rush to panic and disassemble the tool or take it to the workshop. After cleaning, this behavior of the engine and carburetor (their interaction leads to an increase in idle speed) is considered the norm. If this feature is alarming, you can slightly adjust the idle screw located on the carburetor and is marked T.

Where it is located?

The breather on the Husqvarna chainsaw, as in models from different manufacturers, is located in the tank. Sometimes it gets clogged, which leads to problems with starting the tool or the chainsaw is intermittent or will not start.

Here’s how a chainsaw works

How do I fix the problem? There are several options here:

• use a compressor for cleaning;
• clean the small breather hole with a needle.

In both cases, you have to get to this detail. Taking into account the structural features of chainsaws, in order to clean the breather, you will have to remove the handle of the device.

What is a breather?

This is a part that looks like a standard valve. It plays an important role. it normalizes the pressure in the chainsaw tank. Why is it important to normalize blood pressure? In order to answer this question, it is necessary to consider the process of the formation of a vacuum in the tank. This happens when, when the gas tank is tightly closed, fuel is supplied (while the pressure on the walls increases). The breather equalizes the pressure (in relation to atmospheric pressure). Without this small valve, the importance of which many underestimate, the correct operation of the chainsaw is impossible.

Owners of Husqvarna chainsaws can also refer to the guide on how to clean the carburetor correctly.?

How to get to the breather?

You don’t need special skill. The easiest way is to refer to the instruction manual for your model. Nevertheless, instructions for dismantling the handle can also come to the rescue.

First, pay attention to the preparatory stage.

• To make cleaning easier after removing the saw handle, remove the bar and chain and the side cover. This is optional, but desirable, because at the same time you can remove traces of oil, dirt, sawdust using a brush and a compressor.
• Set the dismantled parts to one side.

After cleansing, proceed to remove the handle.

A blocked breather?

• The handle is attached to the body by three shock absorbers (all rubberized), but they cannot be removed immediately, so for a start we work with plastic plugs. They are usually located in the inner cavity of each shock absorber.
• Take a powerful screwdriver and start squeezing out the shock absorbers. Start with the one close to the back of the handle.
• We remove the two screws that will allow us to dismantle the wire rod (it is connected to the carburetor and the throttle trigger, it is close to the handle where you removed the first shock absorber).
• At the end you are left with a handle that is connected to the shock absorber. Now it remains to unscrew the case (bend to the side the inner part of the handle).
• We remove the body from the elastic band. All is ready!

If you have previously disassembled a chainsaw, you will quickly cope with dismantling the handle.

Disassembly of the starter usually follows this step. But, given the standard features of the structure of a chainsaw, we do not need this step in order to get to the breather. If desired, you can also remove the starter, as a lot of sawdust accumulates under it.

Where is the breather on the chainsaw?

A chainsaw is a device that is useful for every owner. Regardless of which model you have a chainsaw, sooner or later you have to thoroughly study it in order to diagnose problems and repair the device yourself. Why is it necessary?

Of course, such a working tool is not insured against breakdowns, but some are not so serious that you contact a service center (where you will have to leave a tidy sum). Sometimes a chainsaw can fail due to a banal clogging of the breather. Not sure where the breather is on your chainsaw? You will learn about this and much more from this article.

Breather is the culprit for problems with the operation of the chainsaw?

At the first signs of a broken chainsaw, do not rush to sin on the breather. Many people do not want to immediately start disassembling the handle if they are not completely sure that a small valve is the culprit for the interruption in work. Before dismantling the handle of the chainsaw, exclude the probable causes of damage to the device so that you know that the breather needs to be cleaned. Start small.

• Assess the quality of the fuel mixture. Not all manufacturers provide adjustable jets for chainsaw models. However, in some you can customize them. This gives the “craftsmen” the opportunity to experiment with the composition of the fuel mixture. Perhaps you decided on such an experiment, but after a while you forgot about it, and now you blame the gasoline breather of the chainsaw for the malfunction of the tool. Remember that, ideally, you need to use the brand of oil recommended by the manufacturer (indicated in the instructions for the device), do not use the old mixture (you need to develop it in two weeks as much as possible). After a month, it will deteriorate and cause malfunctions in the device.
• Check the candle (you may be filling it when you start the tool). Inspect this part, it should be clean without traces of oil. If there is a plaque on it, then it should be light, brown indicates a problem with the ignition coil. Keep spare candles handy to quickly remove this item from your saw problem.
• Not only the breather can become clogged, but the carburetor jet and the fuel filter (which is why, after dismantling, the handle must be removed and the carburetor in order to properly clean the surface under it from sawdust). You can handle clearing both nodes yourself.
• Clogged air filter. This filter can become clogged with dust, which will be the main obstacle when trying to start the chainsaw.

Consider the specifics of your tool model to be able to accurately diagnose the problem. This will help you not only to eliminate it and return to work with the chainsaw as soon as possible, but will save you from unnecessary fuss (dismantling those units that are not related to a device malfunction).

Usually, the breather is built into the fuel tank cap of the unit, so you can easily get to it, and then quickly and efficiently clean the valve.

Possible problems

The main problem that arises during the repair is the lack of the necessary information on how to carry out the repair. This is due to the fact that many foreign manufacturers believe that the saw should be disposed of after a certain period of time and use up. Therefore, many craftsmen have certain doubts, especially when repairing budget models.

But expensive professional models also create certain difficulties:

• The first problem is to supply expensive spare parts.
• For maintenance and repair of some units, special equipment is useful.

No spark when starting the chainsaw

The first and most obvious reason that “kills” a spark is poor contact between the tip and the wire. You need to adjust the gap to 0.6-0.7 mm. If carbon deposits are present on the spark plug, remove or replace the spark plug.

It happens that fuel floods the candle when starting the chainsaw. In this case, the candle must be dried (but not ignited). The remaining fuel is drained through the hole of the plug, after which it is left in a dry place for half an hour. Then the candle is put in place and the start is repeated. It is better to always have a couple of spare spark plugs, this will help you immediately determine the malfunction and not interrupt work if it is urgent.

Inspection of the spark plug will help determine the malfunction.

Inspection of a candle always provides important information. If it is dry, it means that gasoline is not entering the cylinders and you need to inspect the entire fuel supply chain from the carburetor. The appearance of carbon deposits indicates an excess of fuel supply or the ingress of excess oil.

If, upon inspection, this section is outwardly sound, but the spark still does not appear, then the matter is in the ignition unit. It is easier to replace it with a new assembly.

Chainsaw design and general classification of faults

Correct diagnosis is essential for a successful repair. Therefore, in order to determine why the chainsaw failed and, most importantly, how to make it work again, you first need to know the features of its design.

It should be noted that it does not differ in particular complexity, since it includes:

• engine (two-stroke gasoline);
• functional part (saw bar and chain);
• systems that ensure the joint operation of these two units (ignition, filtration, lubrication, etc.), that is, the tool as a whole.

In order to simplify the diagnosis of malfunctions, it is customary to distinguish them into two main categories:

• engine malfunctions;
• malfunctions of other parts of the chainsaw.

Most often failures occur in the engine systems, however, the rest of the tool, due to intensive use or improper care, can fail at any time. How to determine exactly where the breakdown occurred? Simple logic will help us with this.

If the problem is in the engine, it will:

• do not start;
• stall;
• work unstable;
• overheat;
• smoke;
• develop insufficient power.

As for all other malfunctions, as a rule, they manifest themselves with a normally operating motor.

Where it is located?

The breather on the Husqvarna chainsaw, as in models from different manufacturers, is located in the tank. Sometimes it gets clogged, which leads to problems starting the tool or the chainsaw is intermittent or will not start.

How do I fix the problem? There are several options here:

• use a compressor for cleaning;
• clean the small breather hole with a needle.

In both cases, you have to get to this detail. Taking into account the structural features of chainsaws, in order to clean the breather, you will have to remove the handle of the device.

How to repair a chainsaw with your own hands

Checking the condition of the fuel and air filters.

If everything is in order with the fuel quality, the chainsaw engine may not start due to clogged fuel and air filters. To diagnose these elements, it will be necessary to perform a number of manipulations associated with their dismantling.

For the fuel filter:

• Disconnect the gasoline supply channel from the carburetor;
• Pump up fuel.

If there is little or no pressure in the branch pipe, disconnect the filter. Before that, free the tank from the mixture and remove the filter element itself. Dismantling is done with a wire hook. A clogged replacement cartridge that causes a poor starting of the chainsaw engine can be cleaned, but it is best to replace it with a new one. When using the tool in dusty conditions, it should be cleaned on a regular basis.

A clogged air filter can cause the chainsaw engine to run erratically, making it stalling or difficult to start. Dust and dirt deposited on the adsorbent material impede the flow of air into the system, make the fuel mixture so rich that it will sometimes be difficult to start the tool.

Checking the air filter is one of the first steps in finding the cause of a poor start.

Care should be taken when removing the air filter, as dust accumulated on the surface of the saw during operation can enter the carburetor. And this is fraught with more expensive repairs. After detaching the cartridge, thoroughly clean it from the accumulated dirt and rinse it with the addition of detergent. Dry the element and put it back in place just as carefully.

How to detect oil line leaks and clogged passages?

If the chain dries quickly, you must immediately clean the channels through which the oil flows to it. Then it is advisable to inspect the joints of the fittings with the oil pump tubes. Oil leaks oblige us to either replace the tubes (if they are covered with cracks), or seal the joints with a sealant (if leaks are found at the attachment points).

At the end of the inspection, assemble the chainsaw exactly according to the instructions.

Remember that individual parts of chainsaws are designed for a certain period of operation and require replacement after the expiration of the passport period. In any chainsaw, this is a tire, a chain and a drive sprocket. In models with an anti-vibration system, individual parts are changed. Therefore, follow the recommendations for use, work carefully and the chainsaw will serve you for a very long time.

Chain lubrication problems

For proper operation, the chain must be constantly lubricated in order to reduce friction between the tire and the links, as well as prevent premature wear of the links.

• If the chain is not lubricated on the chainsaw, then there is a problem with the oil pump. oil is not supplied due to a clogged channel. Lack of lubrication is the reason why the chain stretches or why the chain breaks. Clean the channels, the smallest particles of chips constantly get there and clog them. May also cut off the oil hose. If you need to adjust the oil pump of the chainsaw or repair it, it is better to contact the service.
• Splashes oil from the chain. Incorrectly selected lubricant. it is too liquid, therefore it does not so much lubricate the links as splashes onto the wood. Replaces grease with a thicker one.