Chainsaw Maintenance – 8 Basic Tips For Beginners

Using the incorrect fuel mix ratio in your chainsaw can lead to internal engine damage caused by not having enough oil or carbon build-up by having too much oil.

Chainsaws are designed with a specific fuel mix ratio in mind. Be sure you read your chainsaws owner’s manual to get your chainsaw’s fuel mix ratio.

It’s easy to avoid fuel-related problems by using fresh, properly mixed fuel from the beginning. If you doubt the gasoline you have, it’s best to dispose of it and start with a freshly mixed can.

4. Use Correct Bar Oil in Chainsaw

Bar oil is used to lubricate the chain as it rotates around the guide bar.

Will any type of oil work for chainsaw bar oil?

The answer is absolutely NOT.

Chainsaw bar oil is designed to be tacky enough to stick the chain and guide bar while providing lubrication at the same time. If regular oil is used in place of chainsaw bar oil the bar and chain will build up heat and wear due to the oil being slung off the chain as it rotates. Regular oil is not tacky enough to be used as chainsaw bar oil.

Chainsaw bar oil is also designed to be more environmentally friendly than standard oil. If you are using regular oil for bar oil, you are slinging environmentally damaging oil out into your environment. Using regular oil in place of chainsaw bar oil is not a good idea.

5. Inspection of Chainsaw Oiler

This tip goes hand in hand with tip number four’s recommendation of using correct chainsaw bar oil.

Now that you have the correct bar oil for your chainsaw, you need to make sure that the chainsaw’s oiler is functioning correctly. This can be done in two ways and only takes a second to check.

The first way to check the chainsaw oiler is to start and run the chainsaw as normal. Before you make contact with the wood for your first cut look and see if you a light oil mist coming from the chain onto the wood. If the chainsaw is oiling correctly, you will see a light line of oil on the wood directly in front of or beneath the chainsaw chain and bar. If no oil is present, kill the chainsaw and inspect to see why the oil is not getting to the bar.

The second way to check the chainsaw by oiler is to remove the chainsaws chain, guide bar, and chain cover. You should be able to see the oil hole of the chainsaw. The oil hole is where the chainsaw expels oil to oil the chain and guide bar. Clean the oil from around the chainsaw’s oil hole and reassemble the chainsaw without the chain and guide bar. Once the chainsaw is back together, start and run the chainsaw for approximately 30 seconds. Now kill the chainsaw’s engine and remove the side cover again. If oil is dripping from the oil hole, you know the oiler is working.

If there is no oil present, you will likely have an issue with the worm gear or oil pump on the chainsaw and will need to take the chainsaw into a service center for repair.

6. Clean Chainsaw’s Guide Bar Rail and Oiler Holes

Now that your chainsaw is oiling correctly, you need to turn your attention to the guide bar itself.

The chainsaw’s guide bar rail and oiler holes must remain clean and open. Over time the rail and oiler holes can become clogged with dirt, dust, and debris, which can hinder the effectiveness of the bar oil.

The rail of the guide bar is the opening around the edge of the guide bar that the drag link of the chain sits in while it rotates.

If the guide bar rail is dirty, the oil can not travel efficiently with the chain’s drags links around the guide bar, which causes a build-up of heat. Heat on a chainsaw’s guide bar and chain will lead to your guide bar and chain wearing out quickly. Heat needs to be avoided as much as possible.

Also, the oiler holes on the guide bar itself need to remain clean and open. If the oiler holes become plugged, the bar oil can not pass from the chainsaw’s oiler to the guide bar. If no bar oil is transferred to the guide bar, your chain and bar will basically be run without lubrication. This will lead to heat quickly building up, and you are left with a ruined guide bar and chain that will need to be replaced.

7. Use a Sharp Chain on Chainsaw

Using a sharp chain on a chainsaw is often overlooked by the beginner chainsaw user.

A sharp chain will pull itself toward the wood. The user will simply need to guide the cuts of the chain and let the saw work. When a chain is sharp, the chainsaw will produce wood chips as it works its way through the wood. Cutting almost feels effortless when your chain is sharp.

On the flip side, a dull chain will feel like it is resisting cutting and almost bouncing across the surface of the wood. When this happens, the chainsaw operator will have to press down on the chainsaw and run the saw harder to get it to make any cutting progress. The chainsaw will be exposed to more wear and tear, not to mention dangerous aspects of cutting with a dull chain. Also, sawdust will be produced by the dull chain instead of the wood chips produced by the sharp chain.

8. Store Chainsaw Properly

This is where most beginner chainsaw operators make mistakes.

Most beginners will use their new chainsaws for a task at hand and simply store the chainsaw in the shed or garage when done. In most cases, the chainsaws are put up dirty and with fuel still in the fuel tank and carburetor. This is a major no-no.

Always clean your chainsaw upon completion of a job. You don’t want caked dirt and grime all over your new chainsaw for extended periods of time in a hot garage or shed. The next time you need your chainsaw, it will be a nightmare to clean.

Also, the fuel left in the fuel tank and carburetor can decay and will more than likely pull water out of the air and into your fuel tank.

Remember, decayed fuel will make your chainsaw run poorly and water can destroy your chainsaw. Always dispose of the non-used fuel in the chainsaw’s fuel tank properly and run the carburetor dry if storing your chainsaw for more than a month.

Spend a little time properly storing your chainsaw and you will save a ton of headaches in the future.

Wrapping Up

Keeping a chainsaw in proper working order is done by completing maintenance on a routine basis.

The beginner chainsaw user can extend the longevity of their new chainsaw and save money by following the eight basic tips of chainsaw maintenance explained above.

Have a great day and happy cutting!

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