How To Properly Install The Chain On The Saw

How to properly install the chain on saw

Not all modern chainsaws are equipped with a setting wheel, which greatly simplifies the procedure for installing the saw blade. Systems with a setting wheel are generally a rarity among household chainsaws. Therefore, it is very important to know the technology and sequence of installing the chain on the chainsaw.

Key points to pay attention to:

• Prepare a level surface on which you will assemble the chain and bar. This will minimize the chance of damage to the chainsaw or loss of small parts. A tire is laid out on the prepared surface and a parallel chain next to it.
• Remove the sprocket protection, on modern chainsaws it is enough to unscrew the wing nut, on older models, you may need a spanner wrench of the appropriate size.
• At the base of the guide bar, turn the sprocket all the way to the right. Only in this position is the chain installed.
• Then the chain is successively placed, link by link, on the fixing groove on the guide rail. Install the chain from the top of the guide, gradually turn it so that the bar is always on top, and the chain is on the bottom, this will allow it to always be taut and fit into the guide groove without problems. Be sure to wear thick protective gloves when performing this step, as your fingers will touch the cutting edge. Viewed from above, the cutter is always forward towards the end of the guide bar.
• Put both the tire and the chain on the drive sprocket.
• Secure the chain sprocket cover in place. Make sure all mounting pins line up with the holes. Incorrect installation with distortions or not completely can cause extraneous noise, rattling.
• Make sure that the guides “go” into the special mounting chute.
• After installation, check that the chain is secure on the chainsaw and on the bar. Everything must be securely fastened without backlash.

An important point is the degree of tension on the chain after installation. Setting the correct tension is easy and takes less than three minutes. First you need to loosen the nuts on the protective cover. Using the freely rotating adjusting screw, catch the correct tension so that the chain does not pull away from the edge of the guide bar more than 3-5 mm.

It remains only to tighten the nuts and check the tension. If correction is needed, adjust the tension again.

What is important to know: when the chain is in operation, due to the forces of friction, its metal heats up and expands, and the length increases. Therefore, it is important to regularly check the tension and correct it in time.

How to install the bar and chain on the chainsaw, see the following. Which presents a clear algorithm of actions:

Why does the chain come off

Many, even the most experienced users of chainsaws, have encountered in their life a situation where the chain jumped off the guide bar during operation. The most common cause is insufficient chain tension or wear.

In 80% of cases, the stretched chain links slip from the teeth of the drive sprocket, and it flies out from the guide under the action of centrifugal force. Although sometimes the problem appears due to the incorrect position of the sprocket relative to the axis of rotation or a loose saw bar on the chainsaw.

Chain direction and which side to wear

A chainsaw chain, if you look closely, has saw teeth pointing to one side. Therefore, it is very easy to determine the correct direction of the saw teeth on the guide bar: if you place the chainsaw itself in the plane in which it is in operation, then the row of teeth located on top of the guide bar, with sharp edges should be directed to the end of the bar. While, the row of teeth, which is located at the bottom of the chainsaw, with sharp edges should point in the opposite direction, towards the drive sprocket.

It will not work to put the chain with its teeth inward to the grooves in the guide bar, it simply will not stick to the bar. Therefore, you need to put the chainsaw chain on the bar so that the guide ears of the saw blade links are directed towards the inside of the guide bar.

How to choose a saw chain?

To select the best cutting attachment for a particular saw, the gardener needs to study several important parameters and chain criteria:

• Length. must necessarily correspond to the length of the installed metal guide. Some novice users try to fit shortened cutters to their tool bars, believing that over time they will still stretch and fit tightly onto the bar. This is a big mistake as the length of the rail and the new headset must be the same. If the chain sags as a result of operation, then it is easy to shorten it by removing several links;
• Prefabricated Angle. Parts sharpened at a 30⁰ angle are easier to handle. For regular work with frozen and damp wood, headsets with an angle of 10⁰ will be most effective;
• Manufacturer. in order for the cutting body to fit perfectly on the rail, you need to choose the products of the manufacturer’s brand of the installed guide and the saw itself. For example, Makita saws and tires should be made from the same manufacturer.

To choose a saw chain. The owner of the machine must consider the purpose for which the cutting attachment will be used. For cutting relatively coarse wood, 3/8 “pitch chains are suitable. If the loads are not high, then for installation on a power tool, it is better to choose cutting attachments with a pitch of 0.325 ″.

How to tighten a slack chain when there is nowhere to pull?

For work we need a small amount of tools.

• angle grinder with metal cut-off wheel.
  You can use a sharpening machine.
• Hex wrench, 5 mm inscribed circle.
• Piece of wire.
• Sliver.

Now we will need to get to the tension screw.

• Unscrew two screws with a hexagon.
• Remove the cover.
• Removing the tire and chain.
• We clean the body with a chip of sawdust, if any.
• Use a screwdriver to completely unscrew the tension screw.
• We take out the stem nut.
• We grind one side of the screw with an angle grinder, or rather the one that will adjoin the saw body.

So, we need to grind off one side of the larger cylinder so that it flattens out with the smaller cylinder.

As a result, we get the coveted millimeters, which were not enough for a full chain tension.

• We assemble the saw in the reverse order. Everything. the chain is tensioned.

Well, in conclusion on this issue a couple of tips.

• Do not over-tighten the chain, observe clearances.
  See drawing.
• Do not tighten immediately after use, as After cooling, the chain shrinks and therefore, under strong tension, it can tighten the bar and deform it, which can lead to irreversible damage to the tool.

• Always cool the saw before adjusting.

And two more not unimportant factors that must be taken into account when operating this tool.

First. the degree of tension affects the performance of the saw.
The second is sharpening its teeth at the cutting speed.

Compatibility check

Usually the saw chain is changed in case of extreme wear, when sharpening or repairs are no longer useful.

• When changing any part of the saw, it is advisable to buy a product from the same manufacturer as the tool itself. This guarantees the best fit.
• It is important to consider the type of tasks to be solved. For heavy loads, 3/8-inch chains are designed. If the saw is rarely used, 0.325 ” will suffice.
• The angle of sharpening of the teeth is of great importance: it is more convenient to cut large volumes of dry wood with cutting edges with a sharpening angle of 30 degrees. For working with damp or frozen material, a sharpening of 10 degrees is more suitable. The same applies to longitudinal sawing. a small sharpening angle in such cases significantly reduces the degree of wear of the cutting device.
• When choosing the length of the chain, you need to be guided by the dimensions of the tire.

How to install correctly

The installation process of the purchased component depends on the type of component tension or the type of saw. For example, if the power tool is laterally tensioned, it is recommended that you follow the sequence below:

• Release the brake by pulling the safety bar in front of you.
• Loosen the tension by turning the screw with a screwdriver and then tightening the nut.
• Raise the chain cover.
• Remove the chain from the sprocket guide, which will make it possible to dismantle it.
• The installation of a new chain starts from the front of the bar. To do this, put it on the tire on the top of the sprocket.
• Insert the tire in its original position.
• Tension the chain with the tensioning screw, ensuring its slight tension.
• Put on the protective cover after tightening the nut.

If there is a fast tension on the tool, the procedure for installing a new cutting element is as follows:

• The saw is released from the brake.
• Lock the nut on the handle. The nut can also be used to fix the guard, as well as clamp the guide rail.
• Remove the housing by turning the tire counterclockwise. This will make it possible to finally dismantle the old.
• Tuck in the chain. You should start with an asterisk. In this case, the cutting edge should be directed towards the body.
• Stretch the product by adjusting the guide.
• Replace the sprocket cover by screwing in the sprocket.

By following these guidelines, you can quickly replace the old chain with a new chain.

How to properly install the chain on the saw?

In almost every household plot or in a private house, the owner tries to equip his workshop with such a mobile tool as an electric saw. The efficient operation of the tool can only be ensured if the cutting chain is correctly installed and tensioned.

Checking the compatibility of the new circuit

When purchasing a chain, it is advisable to ensure that it is compatible with the tool. In this case, you should pay attention to the following criteria:

• Manufacturer. It should be the same as the old component.
• The type of operations to be performed with the tool. If the saw will be used under heavy loads, it is better to give preference to a chain with a 3 \ 8 inch pitch. When carrying out small loads on the saw, you can opt for a chain with a pitch of no more than 0.32 inches.
• Sharpening angle of teeth. When working with dry wood in large volumes, a sharpening angle of up to 30 degrees is suitable. For cutting wet or frozen wood, it is better to use a chain with a sharpening angle of 10 degrees.

Considering these criteria, full compatibility of the chain with the tool can be achieved.

Features of chain tension adjustment

In the process of working with the saw, periodically check the degree of tension of the cutting element on it. The easiest way to stretch is to use a 1 tooth stretch.

It is also possible to use a screw or a wing-shaped nut for tensioning. When using a screw, you can use a screwdriver. In this case, you need to turn the product several times, avoiding the presence of backlash.

The wing nut is used when there is a quick tension on the tool. For this, there is a wheel located under the cover. By pulling it, the product is tensioned, and when it is rotated to the left, it is weakened. The second method provides the most reliable and simplest tension of the component.

To replace an old component with a new one, you do not need to seek the help of a wizard. You can do it yourself, following the established rules.

Tips: how to quickly tension the chain on the saw

A mobile device for cutting wood is an indispensable attribute of almost any summer cottage or private house. Saws are especially popular in this regard, making it possible to work both outdoors and indoors. In order for the tool to work efficiently and properly, from time to time it will be necessary to tighten or change its chain.

How to properly install the chain on the saw

The procedure for installing a new chain has some peculiarities, depending on the type of tension on a particular tool.

On tools with lateral tension, proceed as follows:

• Release the brake. This is achieved by pulling on the protective strip until it clicks.
• Loosen the tension. To do this, turn the tensioning screw with a screwdriver, after which the clamping nut will begin to rotate freely.
• Raise the cover, under which the saw elements are located. To remove the chain, it must be removed from the sprocket guides (at the same time, the guide bar is dismantled). If this fails, loosen the tensioning screw even more.
• It is more convenient to start the installation of a new component from the top of the tire. It is put on over the sprocket, after which the tire can be inserted back, focusing on the guides.
• To tighten the chain, use a tensioning screw: it should sag slightly.
• The final clamping of the nut is carried out after replacing the protective cover.

The sequence for installing a new chain on tools with “quick tension”:

• The first step is to remove the saw from the brake.
• Open the nut handle until it stops.
• The purpose of the wing nut in such structures is not only to fix the shield, but also to clamp the guide rail. You need to rotate the nut counterclockwise.
• After removing the protective casing from the sprocket, you need to move the tire in the opposite direction. This will allow the old chain to be dismantled. The driven sprocket is freed from it first.
• When refueling a new product, they also start with an asterisk. At this stage, it is important to understand the direction of installation: at the bottom of the tire, its cutting edge should “look” into the tool body.
• Tension is set by adjusting the guide.
• After installing the sprocket cover, the fastening nut must be tightened, but not clamped.
• The wing nut is screwed in by hand at the very end of the procedure, following the tension wheel.

Compatibility check

Usually the saw chain is changed in case of extreme wear, when sharpening or repairs are no longer useful.

• When changing any part of the saw, it is advisable to buy a product from the same manufacturer as the tool itself. This guarantees the best fit.
• It is important to consider the type of tasks to be solved. For heavy loads, 3/8-inch chains are designed. If the saw is rarely used, 0.325 ” will suffice.
• The angle of sharpening of the teeth is of great importance: it is more convenient to cut large volumes of dry wood with cutting edges with a sharpening angle of 30 degrees. For working with damp or frozen material, a sharpening of 10 degrees is more suitable. The same applies to longitudinal sawing. a small sharpening angle in such cases significantly reduces the degree of wear of the cutting device.
• When choosing the length of the chain, you need to be guided by the dimensions of the tire.

Features of chain tension adjustment

During the operation of an electric saw, it is necessary to carefully monitor the degree of tension of its chain. The easiest way is to pull the chain tooth upwards (the top of the bar is selected for testing, approximately in the center). The normal tension level allows 1/3 of the point to remain inside the seat during tension (provided the chain rotates freely by hand).

To adjust the chain tension in different models of Makita saws, screw or wing nut tensioners can be used:

• In the first case, you will need a screwdriver to tighten the tension screw: its rotation is allowed to be carried out with the side nuts relaxed. In the course of increasing the tension, it is necessary to turn the chain forward to eliminate the hinge backlash and check the smoothness of its movement.
• On “quick pull” tools, the sprocket guard is secured with a wing nut. There is a special wheel under the cover: to tighten the chain, turn it to the right, to loosen it. to the left. This type of tensioner is more convenient, as it makes it possible to carry out the adjustment directly in the course of work.

It is not necessary to go to a service center to replace the chain on the saw or to adjust its tension. These manipulations can be carried out independently, following the recommendations presented above.

How to put the chain on the saw correctly?

To install a new cutting set, the user of the garden saw will need a screwdriver, thick cloth gloves, and a wrench.

To install the chain on the saw, you need to adhere to the following procedure:

• First, unscrew the guide bar fixing nuts using a wrench. Before doing this, it is important to ensure that the inertia brake is in the disengaged position. Otherwise, the operator runs the risk of breaking the pulling cable of the inertial mechanism;
• Then you need to carefully move the brake pad to the side;
• Next, you need to move the guide bar, while trying to hook the saw drive sprocket. This is necessary in order to remove the part of the tire installed on the sprocket. The rest of the guide. its shank, is fixed in special holes;
• After that, you need to put the chain on the saw and adjust the tension of the cutting body using a separate plastic tensioner;
• Then you need to install the protective cover and unscrew the bolts of its fastening to the end.

With each installation of the cutting device, you need to pay attention to the level of its tension and the force that must be applied to manually rotate it along the tire. If necessary, the screws must be loosened or tightened, otherwise the cutting body will wedge or constantly fly off the guide.

How to sharpen a saw chain with your own hands?

To sharpen the saw body of an electric garden saw evenly, the owner has 3 options. The first method is manual. It consists in the use of two files. a round and a flat one, as well as a holder required for fixing a round tool. The round file must be matched to the chain pitch. the larger the pitch, the larger the diameter of the file used. A flat file is required to process the stopper, so it can be of any size.

The procedure for sharpening the chain with files is as follows:

• First, the holder with the round file pre-fixed in it must be installed on the saw chain. There are arrows on the bar, which should be parallel to the guide rail;
• Next, you need to check the sharpening angle. After making sure that the upper blade of the cutting tooth of the chain is located at an angle of 25-30⁰, you can start sharpening;
• Operator movements should be uniform and directed only forward. Each of the cutting teeth of the chain must be processed the same number of times.

The second way to sharpen the saw cutting bodies is to use a set of files and a special template. The required parameters are already marked on the template: angles of inclination and processing of teeth. In addition, sharpening the saw chain using a template allows the stop tooth to be cut evenly.

During the restoration of cutting teeth, the template is alternately applied to each of them. It is equipped with moving rollers on which the file slides when using the chain. At the same time, the sharpening angle is not disturbed, which makes the restoration of each tooth uniform.

The only drawback of this method is the need to use a separate template for each specific type of cutter, taking into account the chain pitch. Width of its shank, leading link and other parameters.

The third sharpening method is using an electric machine. This option is considered the easiest, fastest and most convenient. Most of the machines are supplied complete with metric and graduated scales that allow you to restore almost any chain, regardless of its pitch and number of links.

The use of an electric saw is suitable for people who regularly cut wood and cut logs. In other cases, it is impractical to buy specialized equipment.

How the saw chain is lubricated?

For the lubrication of the saw bodies, a separate system is provided in the design of any industrial saw, the basis of which is a pump. During operation, it creates the pressure required to pump oil from the reservoir into the grooves provided in the guide. From there, oil flows into individual grooves or holes located in the chain cutting teeth.

To prevent the saw cutters from working “dry”, you need to constantly monitor the volume of oil in the tank. If necessary, the operator must top up the consumed amount of fluid.

A breakdown of the pump becomes the cause of typical malfunctions. The most common of these is a situation in which the chain on the saw is not lubricated. In this case, the owner of the saw should immediately replace the pump by first cleaning the installation site in the garden tool.

The saw chain should only be lubricated with a specialized oil. Garden equipment manufacturers prohibit the use of transmission fluids and waste fluids. They quickly clog the pump of the lubrication system, which leads to overheating and breakdown.

It is best to use specialized oils from Stihl, Husqvarna, Ravenol, Liqui Moly and Motul to lubricate the saw cutting attachment. They stand out for their high adhesion, biodegradability, ability to protect cutting bodies from wear and corrosion. Oils of these brands work well in wide temperature ranges and are not afraid of high air humidity.

Saw chain, lubricated, sharpened

The bar and chain are saw elements whose main function is to cut wood. The condition and serviceability of the saw set of a garden tool largely determines its efficiency on the site: the ability to cut down dry trees or carefully cut logs. To maintain high performance of the saw, its operator must monitor the condition of the bar and chain, regularly add new oil to lubricate them, and also change the saws as they wear out.

How to choose the right saw chain?

When buying a cutting device for a household saw, its owner should pay attention to the following criteria:

• Garden Tool Compatibility. The operator must match the saw chain from the same manufacturer that makes the garden tool on the farm. In this case, the risk of making a mistake will be minimized;
• The purpose of the chain is the relatively high performance sawing bodies with a pitch of 3/8 “. They are suitable for solving the most difficult tasks on the site. If the saw is not used often, then it can be equipped with chains with a pitch of 0.325 “;
• Chain sharpening angle. this parameter must be taken into account for further restoration of the cutting body. Saws with 3/8 “pitch are sharpened at a 30 ° angle. Chains of this type can easily withstand high loads and intense heat. If the saw is often used to work with damp or frozen wood, then it is best to install chains with a sharpening angle of 10⁰ on it;
• Chain length. according to this parameter, the saw element must match the saw guide. Otherwise, the user will not be able to install the part on the tire. To determine the length of the saw bar. The operator only needs to study its markings. It shows the size of the guide in inches or centimeters.

Another important parameter is the brand of the item. It’s best to trust the cutting bodies of trusted brands like Stihl, Husqvarna, Oregon and Makita.

How to put the chain on the saw correctly?

Most often, a side tensioner is provided in the saw device for the possibility of self-assembly by the operator of a new cutting device. To install a chain on a saw with such a mechanism, its owner must follow these steps:

• While lowering the brake lever, move the plastic shield of the operator’s protection with the other hand;
• Gently turn the built-in tension screw with a screwdriver;
• Unscrew the nut to release the tension on the cutter;
• Carefully dismantle the tool housing cover;
• Remove the metal guide from the sprocket;
• Dismantle the worn out old chain;
• Place the chain on the guide and place the cutters back on the saw.

The saw chain tension should be smooth, without jerking. To do this, slowly tighten the headset, install the protective plastic cover of the saw, and tighten the saw body with a nut and screw.

The chain is installed on saws of some modifications using built-in wing nuts, which allow you to quickly put and tighten the headset. Replacing the chain on a saw with this type of attachment should be as follows:

• First, the operator will need to lower the brake lever, unscrew the retaining nut and remove the factory protective cover;
• Next, you need to move the guide back and carefully remove the old headset;
• After that, you will need to install a new chain, putting it first on the sprocket, and then along the entire length of the guide;
• Then it remains to install the built-in sprocket in its original place and tighten the nut tightly.

At the end, the operator must turn the tension wheel in the direction indicated by the arrow, and tighten the standard “wing” to the end.

Saw chain

As with chainsaws, the main working parts of an electric garden tool are the bar and the chain. The performance of the chain saw, the volume of fuel it regularly consumes, as well as the quality of the mowing line for cutting wood largely depend on their quality and technical parameters. In order to constantly maintain the stable operation of a garden tool, its owner must study the rules for choosing, installing, maintaining and repairing a cutting headset. This will keep the bar and saw chain in order until the end of their service life.

How to choose a saw chain?

To select the best cutting attachment for a particular saw, the gardener needs to study several important parameters and chain criteria:

• Length. must necessarily correspond to the length of the installed metal guide. Some novice users try to fit shortened cutters to their tool bars, believing that over time they will still stretch and fit tightly onto the bar. This is a big mistake as the length of the rail and the new headset must be the same. If the chain sags as a result of operation, then it is easy to shorten it by removing several links;
• Prefabricated Angle. Parts sharpened at a 30⁰ angle are easier to handle. For regular work with frozen and damp wood, headsets with an angle of 10⁰ will be most effective;
• Manufacturer. in order for the cutting body to fit perfectly on the rail, you need to choose the products of the manufacturer’s brand of the installed guide and the saw itself. For example, Makita saws and tires should be made from the same manufacturer.

To choose a saw chain. The owner of the machine must consider the purpose for which the cutting attachment will be used. For cutting relatively coarse wood, 3/8 “pitch chains are suitable. If the loads are not high, then for installation on a power tool, it is better to choose cutting attachments with a pitch of 0.325 ″.

Do-it-yourself saw chain sharpening

It is best to entrust the restoration of the cutting headset to a professional from a service center. If this is not possible, then you can sharpen the saw chain yourself.

To do this, the gardener will need a set that includes:

• Round file with indicative lines applied to it;
• Flat file required for adjusting the depth gauge;
• Calibration fixture;
• Mandrel required to select the correct angle.

When filing the teeth with a round file, the operator must constantly ensure that its surface protrudes above the chain teeth by no more than 1/5 of its length. It is best to mark the first tooth to be treated in advance so that you do not sharpen it again later. All operator movements must be strictly in the same direction.

After processing each tooth, it is necessary to proceed to the restoration of its limiter. To do this, you need to attach a calibration device to its edge. As a result, the end piece should be located next to the stop. Otherwise, the stop will need to be trimmed with a flat file. Thus, the calibrator must be perpendicular to the saw bar.

In addition to special kits, there are machines for self-sharpening of the cutting body on sale. They are divided into manual and electric. A simpler device stands out for manual devices that resemble a jigsaw or a frame. To sharpen the chain with their help, the user must fix the tire in a special vice. this will make it possible to comfortably handle each of the worn teeth.

Electric machines can only be used in garages or other areas with access to electricity. Among the advantages of these devices are the ability to sharpen different types of cutting bodies, accurate adjustment of the pitch and depth of cut, as well as the choice of the correct cutting angle.

To work on an electric machine, the gardener must sharpen the first cutting tooth. After that, you need to set the parameters for restoring the headset for the first tooth and start sharpening the remaining teeth.

The chain does not spin on the saw. reasons and repair methods

The most common cause of this breakdown is a factory defect or wear on the plastic sprocket of the gearbox to which the saw bar is attached. During operation, the drive star is the first to take on the load, which is transmitted by the saw’s power unit. Over time, her teeth lick off. After that, the motor and other important mechanisms of the electric garden tool begin to overheat.

When the first signs of a saw malfunction are found, the chainring should be replaced immediately. To do this, you need to disassemble the tool and carefully remove the worn part. Then you need to clean the place under it from the remnants of the old liquid, and install a new star. At the end, the part will need to be abundantly lubricated with thick oil.

In some cases, it is not the built-in asterisk that fails, but the elements located next to it. High stress elements include clutch cup, spring, bearing and cam. As a rule, these parts cannot be repaired, so the operator will need to replace defective parts without waiting for other saw parts to fail.

In order to prevent increased wear of the drive parts in the future, you need to constantly monitor their condition and the amount of lubricant. The user of the garden saw must inspect the gear and the gearbox at least once a month and, if necessary, clean them and change the lubricant.