How To Choose A Chain And A Tire For A Chainsaw

How to Choose the Right Chainsaw Chain

A correctly chosen saw bar for a chainsaw will ensure high-quality operation of the tool, relieve the engine from excessive loads. The coincidence of the lubrication hole of the guide and the oil pump guarantees regular lubrication of the chain edges and, as a result, prolongs their cutting properties. To maintain even wear on the chain groove, it is recommended to turn the bar over from time to time. Following the selection criteria and operating rules described above, you can significantly extend the service life of the unit.

Step size and tail thickness

Different units are designed for different chain pitches. The only exception is professional equipment for which any cutting elements are suitable. The smaller the step, the lower the performance level of the device and the greater the load on the motor.

Experts also identify such an indicator as the “aggressiveness” of the device. This refers to ease of control. The large step makes the teeth begin to “tear” the material. In addition, a wide step increases the cutting width, respectively, the performer will be forced to make much more effort so that the apparatus does not fall out of hands.

The thickness of the tail (driving link) is another important parameter of the saw part. The thicker this element, the better and stronger the goal. However, when choosing an element for work, you need to check the information specified in the operation manual of the device.

The most reliable brands of chains

• Stihl. The famous Swiss brand that produces chainsaws from durable chrome-nickel steel alloys. When heated, they do not stretch, which is ensured by the use of a special technology of hot riveting in production.
• Oregon. A subsidiary of Blount Inc. This manufacturer is considered one of the highest quality and most popular chainsaws on the market. In addition, Oregon manufactures all sorts of additional parts and accessories for sawing equipment.
• Carlton. Famous American manufacturer. The chains produced by the company are characterized by increased hardness, as they undergo special processing in production.
• Windsor. The developers of this company have developed an alloy that has incredible strength. In addition, chains from this manufacturer are resistant to stretching and have a high level of heat resistance.

One way or another, when buying a chain for a tool, you should talk to a sales assistant. It is he who will help you make the right choice.

How to choose a tire for your chainsaw?

A correctly selected guide bar guarantees not only efficient performance of the assigned sawing tasks, but also the durability of the unit. Long-term operation, solid inclusions in the wood, as well as careless handling of the chainsaw, sooner or later lead to tire wear and, as a result, the need to replace it.

Chainsaw tire sizes

Today on the market of spare parts there is a wide range of chain guides, which differ in technical characteristics, materials used in the manufacture, wear-resistant coatings. As a rule, manufacturers of gas powered tools indicate in their product passports the recommended tire parameters that will not lead to excessive engine wear or overheating. There are three main types of guides, which differ based on the frequency of use, operating conditions and the type of chainsaw.

Why does the chainsaw cut crooked?

Often, during long-term operation of the chainsaw, the owner notices the tire drift away from the straight cut. Despite the seemingly obvious problem, the reason for this behavior of the tool may arise due to the following factors:

• Incorrect sharpening of chain edges. Lateral (right or left) teeth are sharpened unevenly;
• Development of link pads, due to which the chain is tilted in the vertical plane;
• Uneven wear on the top and bottom of the tire. In this case, you will need to replace it with a new one.

To prevent a chainsaw cutting curve, you must follow the rules for sharpening the chain and periodically check the lubricant supply to the cutting edges.

How to choose the right chain for a chainsaw?

• Gasoline saw chain design
• The main characteristics of the chainsaw chain

• Chainsaw chain pitch selection
• Selecting the thickness of the driving link
• Profile height, cutting depth and chain length

Professional woodcutters know that the quality of the chainsaw and the ease of its operation depend not only on the power of the tool, but also on its configuration, but especially on the cutting element, in other words, the chain. The chain is a very important part of the chainsaw. If it is incorrectly selected, this will create an additional load on both the operator and the gasoline unit, which can lead to its early failure. How to choose the right way how to choose a chainsaw for a summer residence; how to choose a chainsaw for a summer residence. Therefore, it is very important to know how to choose the right chain for a chainsaw, which will be discussed later.

Chainsaw device diagram.

Guide bar selection criteria

When choosing a guide for a chainsaw, it must be remembered that during operation it is exposed to serious mechanical and thermal stress. Therefore, it must be made of alloy steel and subject to heat treatment. It is the quality of the material that primarily determines the safety of using the tool and its durability. It is also worth considering the following technical characteristics:

How to choose a tire for your chainsaw?

• Chainsaw bar mount. Shank configuration primarily determines the ability to fit the guide to a specific tool model. The location of the tensioner and oil supply holes must be exactly the same as the factory. Most manufacturers have unified the mountings of their products, and tires from different modifications will have identical shanks.
• Groove width. For professional saws, this parameter is 1.5. 1.6 mm, and for household tools. 1.1 and 1.3 mm.
• Driven sprocket. Located on the bar, it determines the pitch of the chain links and during operation is subjected to high mechanical and abrasive influences.
• Length. This characteristic determines the distance from the toe of the tire to the toothed stop. Depending on the power of the unit and the manufacturer, the length of the chainsaw bar can vary from 12 to 20 inches.

The geometry of the teeth

Links can have more than just different sizes and thicknesses. When choosing, it is important to take into account the geometry of these parts. There are two tooth profiles:

• Chipper (“sickle”). Thanks to the crescent-shaped teeth, the saw achieves a high level of performance, sharpens quickly and easily and does not require perfect corner geometry. The disadvantages of this design include an increased load on the device and a decrease in the cutting properties of the chainsaw.
• Cheese (“seven”). Such parts are often used on a professional instrument. The disadvantages of these teeth include difficulty in sharpening and rapid wear due to trapped dirt.

Poorly fixed drive sprocket

Quite widespread is the variant when the leading sprocket is poorly fixed. It often detaches itself during operation. The solution to this problem is carried out as follows:

• The protective cover of the engine and spark plugs are removed, after which the air filter is removed.
• The next step is to remove the spark plug, which requires a special wrench.
• A special plug allows you to fix the piston in the desired position.
• A special key turns the clutch plate until the position of the piston, which should be located on top, is changed.

Then you can fix the sprocket in the correct position and solve the problem in question. The specified information indicates that such work is quite problematic, it is often carried out by organizations servicing chainsaws.

How to put the chain on a chainsaw correctly

To perform a sufficiently large number of works, a chainsaw can be used. The main cutting element of such a tool is represented by a chain with different blades. Modern versions are characterized by the fact that they can be serviced independently. When cutting for a long time or if basic recommendations are not followed, the cutting edge wears out quickly. That is why it is necessary to remove and sharpen the chain, and then install it. This procedure is characterized by a fairly large number of features, which we will talk about in more detail later.

How to put the chain on a chainsaw correctly: direction

When considering how to correctly put the chain on a chainsaw, we note that the modern version of the tool has a special setting wheel. Due to it, the procedure is greatly simplified. Among its features, we note the following points:

• Considering how to properly put the chain on the chainsaw, we note that first you need to prepare a flat surface. This eliminates the possibility of damage to the tool. After that, the main part of the tool, the bar and the chain are laid out separately.
• The next step is to remove the protection that protects the sprocket. In most cases, it is fixed with a conventional wing nut.
• On the tire, the sprocket turns to the right until it stops. It is in this position that the tool is installed.
• Then the chain is gradually superimposed on the fixing element. A fairly common question can be called which side this element is put on. Installation starts from the top, the chain is rotated so that the bar is on top. Such operations should only be carried out with thick gloves that can withstand the impact of the cutting edge. The cutter on the end face must be facing forward.
• Both elements are worn on an asterisk.
• The next step is to reattach the chain sprocket cover. It is important to make sure that the pins line up with the holes. Improper fixation may cause rattling or other problems.
• It is necessary to ensure that the guides fall into a special chute.
• The state of the chain is checked visually after it is fixed.

The next step is to directly check to see if the chain has been over-tightened. To do this, release the chain brake and pull it along the mowing line of movement. The check is carried out exclusively with special gloves.

In general, we can say that the procedure under consideration is quite simple to execute and does not require special tools. However, not all chainsaws are as easy to maintain as stated above.

How to install a chainsaw cutter

After installing the chain, tighten it correctly and check the tension. Among the features of this moment, we note the following:

• Pulling too tight will cause overloading and may cause the product to burst.
• Insufficient tension leads to chain wear and many other problems.

In general, we can say that there are practically no problems with fixing an unworn product.

Circuit voltage

Stretching can be done using two methods: fast and frontal. If stretch is used, then the installation of the chain on the chainsaw is carried out as follows:

• The nuts are unscrewed.
• The tire is held and lifted from the edge.
• There is a special bolt that is used to tension the chain.
• The tire is lifted to eliminate the possibility of sagging of the web.

It is quite simple to do this work, it requires a small set of tools.

The clockwise chain tension is carried out in the case when there is not a lot of free time. The chain screw is securely fixed to eliminate the possibility of rattling at the time of operation.

Bus problems

Today, the problem associated with an unreliable fixation of the tire is often encountered. It is characterized by the following features:

• The body with the guide element is fixed with a bolt.
• The connection is provided by two plates, one of which is located on the body, the second on that, which is designed to guide the chain at the time of operation.
• The drive sprocket and the tire support are protected by a special casing, which eliminates the possibility of damage to the main elements.
• When the locking bolts are loosened, the structural element in question begins to move and vibrate at the time of operation. This problem can be solved by tightening the fasteners.

Other defects simply cannot be solved. In most cases, defects become the reason why you have to purchase a tire and replace it.

Why the chain flies. find out the reasons

When considering how to install a chain on a chainsaw, you should also pay attention to what reasons lead to its collapse. There are three main reasons:

• Incorrect bus operation.
• Malfunction of the main elements.
• Poor drive sprocket retention.
• Strong chain elongation.

Each reason becomes the reason why quite a lot of difficulties arise with the use of a chainsaw.

How to properly put the chain and tire on the chainsaw: assembly

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

• First, the chain brake is released.
• The tensioning screw is in close proximity to the tire.
• The next step is to pull the cutting element clockwise.
• If it becomes difficult to move the chain, then you have to loosen the fixing screw.

Modern designs of chainsaws greatly simplify the conduct of such work. Therefore, you can do it yourself, even in the absence of special tools.

The chain is stretched

If the chain is used incorrectly or for a long time, it can be very stretched. This is due to the fact that the metal can deform over time. Too much wear and tear becomes the reason why you have to purchase a new version, but it is possible to use the old one for a short period. Rapid stretching can be avoided only if the recommendations for use are followed. To carry out the work you need:

• A hammer.
• Vise.
• Welding machine.
• Beards.
• Pliers.

It is not difficult to put on the stretched version, but quite a few problems arise with the restoration, since the metal is characterized by increased strength. In this case, the main elements are fastened with rivets. The work is carried out as follows:

• The product is fastened in pieces.
• If work is carried out while using an angle grinder, then there is a possibility that the surface will be damaged, since this tool is difficult to control.
• After crushing, rivets are knocked out. Do not throw it away as it can be reused.
• Chain manufacturers do not issue spare parts that are required for maintenance.
• You can make a rivet with your own hands, but the work is quite difficult.
• The product is divided into two parts. It should be borne in mind that the number of guides and the distance between them must remain unchanged.

When solving a problem with a long length, do not forget that too short a chain can no longer be pulled. In addition, it is not recommended to apply oils to the saw chain.