Chainsaws are extremely useful – when they’re working properly. Here are five important maintenance tips to keep your chainsaw operating at peak performance.
1. Keep the chain sharp
Anyone who has tried forcing a dull chain through wood knows the importance of a sharp chain. Properly sharpening a chain is an art form best performed by a professional, which will cost you a little money, but can save you a ton of grief.
However, if you’re up for the challenge of learning to sharpen chains, be sure to…
- Use the proper file size, which can be identified on the box the chain came in or in your owner’s manual.
- File at the correct angle. Purchase a file gauge to ensure you hold the file correctly.
- File each tooth the same, typically three to six strokes.
- Pay attention to depth gauges, which are the protrusions directly in front of each tooth. If you file too much, the saw can bite too deeply and stall, or even pull you off balance.
Again, using a file gauge will ensure you are sharpening correctly.
2. Properly tension the chain
A chain that’s too tight can bind and stall the saw. On a non-roller-tip bar, an over-tightened chain can overheat. When adjusting the chain, hold the tip of the bar up as far as it goes and tighten the tensioning screw until you’ve taken the slack out of the underside of the bar.
Use AMSOIL Bar & Chain Oil to ensure that the chain stays properly lubricated during operation, which reduces friction and heat.
3. Break in a new chain
When replacing the chain, break it in by performing the following tasks:
- Soak it in AMSOIL Bar & Chain Oil for a couple of hours. This ensures all the pivot points are well lubricated.
- Hang the chain from a nail and let the excess oil drip back into the pan.
- Install and tension the chain and run until warm; the chain will loosen as it heats up.
- Tension the chain again, while it’s powered off and still warm.
- Perform light-duty work, like cutting limbs and small branches for 30 minutes.
- Tension the chain again, and you’re ready to dive into heavy-duty work.
4. Clean the air filter
Keeping the air filter clean is one of the most important parts of chainsaw maintenance to extend saw life and increase performance.
It’s the only line of defense against the engine ingesting sawdust and dirt, which can plug the carburetor and cause the saw to start hard and run poorly. Contaminants can also wreck the piston rings, causing the engine to lose compression, reducing power.
Many saws have a screen as opposed to a foam or paper filter. In these cases, use an air compressor to direct air through the filter backward to prevent lodging debris deeper into the media.
If you don’t have an air compressor, tap the filter on the edge of a workbench. If you have a foam or paper filter, replace it often – it’s far less expensive than replacing the entire saw.
5. Use fresh gasoline
Most homeowners’ chainsaws spend far more time sitting in the garage than cutting wood. Unfortunately, gasoline starts breaking down in as little as 30 days, creating gums and varnish that can plug carburetors and lead to hard starts and rough running.
It is best to mix only enough fuel for the job at hand. If your chainsaw will sit for more than 30 days, be sure to use a two-stoke oil formulated with a gasoline stabilizer, such as AMSOIL SABER® Professional Synthetic 2-Stroke Oil.
Not only is SABER Professional formulated with fuel stabilizer, but it also fights carbon to keep exhaust ports and spark-arrestor screens clean for maximum engine operability and power.
Using a premium two-stroke oil is an overlooked, but vital, part of chainsaw maintenance.
You can also stabilize fuel by adding AMSOIL Quickshot®. Both products keep gas fresh for up to six months!
There are many ways to take care and maintain a chainsaw. I always try to keep my chainsaw chain sharp because it will restrain and increase safety for using the chainsaw. Another important part of maintaining my saw, check the bar and chain oil level often. Now I will follow the expert tips to maintain the chainsaw. Thanks for sharing informative article.
Great post and well explained. Will try this one too for my Baumr-AG.
Thanks for sharing with us.The post is awesome & plenty with great information. You told very clearly about Chainsaw Maintenance Tips. I got some information that really didn’t know. Your 5 Expert Chainsaw Maintenance really helpful for all.
Hi Leonard,
Thanks for the positive feedback, and thanks for reading.
John
Nice and quick expert tips. Besides maintaining the chainsaw properly, the operator should also beware of chainsaw safety…which people overlooks often. Chainsaw safety is a must.
And for sharpening chainsaw I personally recommend Timberline sharpener, though its a bit pricey…but worthy in the long run.
great tips. Before I never maintain chainsaw but I wanna apply your tips. I have been using Black & Decker LP1000 Alligator from the 2016 year and still, now I love Black & Decker brand.
What a nice post. This is a very helpful post. If anybody reading this post then he must know the right chainsaw and i follow the tips.
Lots of good tips for maintenance here.
Does amsoil make a bar and chain oil?
We sure do.
Hey John,
Thanks for the tips. When you own a chainsaw you really need to be on top of the maintenance, as chainsaw malfunctions are something you really don’t want to think about. Where I’m from a lot of the hire shops won’t even hire them as the risk can be quite high.
Tony K.
Hmmm good tips, thanks for sharing this
I use saber 100/1 in my saw it runs great! No smoke and little smell. I may try bar oil.
This is some really good information about the chainsaw. It is good to know that it would be smart to maintain the tension in the can. I didn’t realize that slackens chains can really damage something.
great post
Thank you for the article. It is very useful for me.
Thanks for the awesome tips!
I never knew that in order to keep a chainsaw running efficiently you have to keep the chain sharp by filing each tooth the same amount. I used a chainsaw for a lot of outdoor projects but I didn’t take good care of it and now it stopped working. I will have to find a local store to buy a quality chainsaw from.
John, awesome post. I want to share a few things on chainsaw maintenance.
Try to keep it out of the dirt is a big thing. Don’t hit any rocks either.
The chains that I buy have witness marks on them. Keep both edge of the tooth the same length of these marks and the chain will cut good.
There is ALOT to running a saw.
Anyway, Keep up the good work…
Chris
Hi John
I got a lot of effective tips from your article. How often should anyone need to change the chainsaw chain?
Hi Alfredo,
I take extreme care to avoid driving my chain into the dirt, so I change mine infrequently. I cut about 5-7 cords of wood a season, and my chains will last a couple years at least. I also sharpen them at the first sign of dullness.
So, it depends on how well you maintain your chains. They should last quite a while if you’re careful.
Thanks,
John
Really Awesome!! Well explained details to chainsaw maintenance tips.
Out here in the left coast(CA), we are forced to use an ethanol gas (15%), unless you get 92 octane premixed fuel. The Saber two stroke oil is absolutely the best you can get to keep the fuel from separating, and get the best lubrication and protection available. As a certified Stihl technician, I can’t tell you how many people purchase a power tool with absolutely no experience or knowledge of what should be done for safety or use and storage. I actually had a customer want to return a string trimmer because it ran out of gas! My other suggestion on top of AMSOIL’s recommendations is to run your equipment dry when storing it at the end of the season, particularly lawnmowers. Also, run blowers for at least 30 seconds wide open to clear spark arrestors. They are mandated by USDF here, and the screen sizes have gotten smaller over the years, causing carbon build up when run at low rpm. I have seen many lawnmowers that will not run because of corrosion caused by water in the float bowls. If you use it during the wet season make sure to use AMSOIL fuel stabilizer. It’s actually cheaper to purchase a new carburetor than for me to spend the time to get the channels cleaned, and it’s usually not possible anyway. If it smells like varnish it’s probably done. Propper maintenance saves you money, anguish, and time!
Hi Paul,
Great tips. Thanks for sharing.
John
Thanks a lot for sharing, really a helpful article for chainsaw owners. Maintainance is necessary for most of the chainsaws.
Hi Baker,
I’m George S. Battista. I read your whole article. You are right keeping the air filter clean is one of the most important parts of chainsaw maintenance its extend saw life and increase performance what I found in my experience. Thanks for sharing a valuable article.
Great content. I found all I’m looking for. Thank you.
I love this kind of chainsaw stuff. Thank you.
Nice article. I was going to buy a chainsaw soon. Now I believe I will get a better product with this article.
Solid post about chainsaw maintenance. The video is very well made and showed off sharpening the chainsaw very well. Ive been a huge fan of using AMSOIL in my vehicles, and now that ive got a new chainsaw to play around with ill be using AMSOIL for any needs I have with it!
thank you
Good information. Thanks for sharing such an amazing blog.
Thank you so much for this cool post. Which one is chainsaw you can advise to me?
Hi,
Thanks for reading. Personally, I use and like my two Stihl chainsaws. I’ve also used and like Husqvarna. You can’t go wrong with either brand.
John
Chainsaws combine innovative technology with high power, optimum ergonomic design and low weight. These properties minimize the burden for man and the environment.
Stihl is a very good brand. Thank you so much.