how to tighten a pole saw chain

You may need to loosen the chain tensioning pin that connects the guide bar to the chainsaw. The loose chain also causes slanted cuts. Pull a little on the chain. This is a serious issue as it may end up hitting someone and causing serious injury. It’s good if you can clean the guide bar with a putty knife. Sharpening your chain is an efficient way to save money over buying a new chain, and there are several ways to do it with or without a specialized chainsaw sharpener. Follow these simple steps for tightening your chain saw chain to ensure safety and performance. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Last Updated: March 28, 2019 Does it stretch? There are nuts on the side that hold the guide bar. This causes a lot of stress on the guide bar nose and drive sprocket. So turn the tensioning screw a quarter turn counterclockwise. Learn more... A good chainsaw can last you a lifetime, but only if you take good care of it. However, the basics of adjusting chain tension are the same. And if you just tightened it before cutting, that can damage the saw. The saw flings towards your body and can result in a serious injury. You know this when the chain is not hanging down. The bar and chain need to have the right amount of tension. If you properly follow the next steps, you will tighten the chain on your chainsaw in less than a minute. Depending on your model, turning the tensioning screw clockwise will tighten the chain tension. wikiHow's. To adjust the chainsaw chain tension, you’ll need to use a screwdriver. This happens when the tip of the chainsaw touches the branch. • Release chain tension by turning the tension adjustment screw, located behind the chain bar, counterclockwise. Do not over tighten the adjustment screw. Proper chain tension should be maintained at all times. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. After adjusting, lift the tip of the guide bar up to check the tension. The loose chain may result in the chain flying off the guide bar. You can read more about some good pole saw options available for your garden needs. Bar Stud Slot Sprocket • Ensure that the chain tensioning pin is located in the … These screws are situated to the side of your chainsaw guide bar. Luckily, tightening a loose chain is not a complicated task. Whenever you adjust the tension screws, or when tightening the bar clamp, be sure to hold the nose of the bar up. Double check the chain to see that it's at the correct tightness before moving on. The chain is compatible with different models of GreenWorks saw. Do it carefully this time. Basically, these bolts “lock” the position of your chainsaw bar in relation to the internal sprocket, which keeps the chain tension consistent (more on this later). When you tension your chainsaw chain, you finish by “setting” that tension so that it will not change as you operate the chainsaw. Some pole saws might come with an auto tension adjustment system as well. An improperly tensioned chain can be highly dangerous. This helps remove the gunk in the groove where the chain sits. The chainsaw chain should feel snug but still pull freely. Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. Besides, the chain will also remain in a stable state. Kickback is a situation that can occur when using a chainsaw. It should move freely along the guide bar. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. With one hand rise a bit the front of the bar, and readjust the tightening of the chain. They should separate just a little bit from the bar. The common location for the tension adjustment screw is on the side. And turning the tensioning screw counterclockwise will loosen the chainsaw chain tension. Till you’ve adjusted the tension and tightened the nuts back, keep holding the bar tip. It has got its reputation for the impressive performance and features. A loose chain increases the chances of such kickback happening. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Always wear a good pair of leather work gloves when you handle the chain saw and especially when you adjust the sharp cutting chain. No. The chain should wrap snugly around the whole bar, not be hanging off the bottom side. You should read the manual provided with your chainsaw to know the exact steps. Some smaller saws may have a knob or lever to release the cover, instead of screws or nuts, making it easier to adjust without tools. A "perfect" middle ground to shoot for is 1.25mm of space between the chain and the bar, on the bottom half. When you have the right tension, hold the tip of the guide bar up and tighten the retaining nuts back up. To check to alignment, slightly pull the chainsaw chain, if it gets disengaged from the guide bar, it’s time to tighten up the chain a little bit. You will then be able to tighten the chainsaw chain with the tension adjustment screw. To prevent that, … Time reduction; At the same time, the chainsaw chain tightening will reduce the working hours. You’ll know the proper chain tension by pulling the chain and testing it. By using our site, you agree to our. The pole saw has a chainsaw attached to one end. Page 15 CARE AND MAINTENANCE • To replace the bar and chain, loop the chain over the sprocket and place the bar against the bar stud slot. Use only the replacement chains recommended for your saw. With a gloved hand, pull the chainsaw chain along the top of the guide bar from the engine to the guide bar nose several times. A properly adjusted chain is safer, more effective, and longer-lasting, and this is one small maintenance task that you can do easily at home. Kobalt 40-volt cordless pole saw gets up to 140 cuts of 4x2 treated lumber on a fully charged 2.5 Ah battery. Or sufficient oil is not reaching the chain during cutting. So the concept is the same whether you use a pole saw or a chainsaw. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. Follow the operating instructions for your particular saw. It can also get over-tightened. The chainsaw rotates in the clockwise direction. All such issues reduce the life of the bar, chain, and other parts of your pole saw. Properly tension your chain before beginning to use the machine, and then check every 20 minutes for the first hour of use. For precise work, you want about a 1.25mm space between the blade and the bottom of the bar when the motor is cool. Checking Chainsaw Chain Tension. The bar is the long "knife" of the chainsaw -- the part you use to guide the blade and actually cut. You need to make sure the tension is just right. It all depends on the equipment you have available and the amount … How to Tighten an Electric Chainsaw Chain. 3. If the chainsaw is new, the chain may stretch when used for the first few times. Make sure you take extreme care and perform a tension check every time you use the saw. Auto oiler and easy adjust chain tensioning system provides hassle free operation. And to loosen the chain you simply loosen the chain. With some types of sprockets, you may need to insert the bar without the chain on it, then loop the chain around the drive sprocket, finishing up by aligning the chain loosely into the groove on the guide bar. But not too loose to get disengaged. Occasionally flip the bar when re-installing it, so that the top and bottom will wear at approximately equal rates. With the chain brake now off, give the saw a few revs to see how the saw feels. Plug the chain saw into a power source. To tighten the chain, you simply tighten this bolt. These nuts are located on the side panel. A chain saw chain can start to loosen and sag over the course of normal use. Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. The first thing you need to do is checking the tension of the chain, do this in order to determine if the chain needs to be tightened or not. Keep turning the tensioning screw till you get the desired tension. So, your work will get an improvement. See bolts in the photo below: If the bolts … A tight chain causes the chainsaw to consume a lot more oil. References. It should sit into the guide bar. Periodically check for signs of improper tension between cuts, in case the bar clamp has loosened or the chain has expanded. Some chainsaws have an automatic tensioning handle, but for most models, one or two bolts are the standard. But it should be loose enough that you can pull the chain a little away from the bar. To adjust the chain, loosen the nuts that hold the guide bar in place. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. I think the steel wool acts as a baffle to prevent the oil sloshing around when the pole saw is in use. If you simply need to tighten your old chain, click here. You need to loosen the guide bar before you try to tighten the chainsaw. The best way to know this is to pull the chain from the guide bar and see how much the drive links separate. Keep in mind that as the chain warms during use, the chain will naturally loosen. Keep turning the tensioning screw till you get the desired tension. Although most pole chain saws are lightweight, they still posses cutting teeth as sharp as any other model. While gloved, turn the saw off and tug at the chain along the bottom edge of the saw. A toothbrush is a good way to help remove tricky, hard-to-reach bits. Tightening the screw will tighten the chain, and loosening will loosen the chain. Note: When your chainsaw cools down after use, the chain tightens up. It is not unusual to need a new drive sprocket after wearing out multiple chains. If … You may need to loosen a few nuts on the side panel to do this. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 13,080 times. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Adjust the tension if needed to avoid the chain to whiplash, or tension loss. – If it’s still too loose, release the tip of the guide bar and turn the tensioning screw a half turn clockwise. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. The pole chainsaw chain may keep coming off because the tension is too loose. You may need to take the side cover off by removing some screws. If the edges of the guide bar have become flared from heavy use, they may interfere with the smooth cutting of the chain, making it difficult to cut straight, if at all. Otherwise, you risk serious injury if the saw turns on. To check the tension, you can pull the chain in the direction away from the chainsaw. It is always best and safest to operate your chain saw with a taut chain. A hot chain tends to expand and it will not adjust correctly. They must properly fit not only the guide bar but also the drive sprocket. With a pole saw, your most basic manual form is going to be a long pole that’s often extendable to around 10-20 feet, and a horizontal hacksaw-like blade on end, usually with a slight curve. A hot motor and chain will slightly expand the chain, loosening it slightly. Cleaning and taking good care of your chain and bar will keep you safe and prevent the need for more serious repairs. But should be loose enough that you can pull the chain a little away from the bar. So the chain cutting edges should face away from the engine. Many pole saws and chainsaws come with a screwdriver/wrench in the package. Do not completely tighten the attachment nuts yet because they serve to clamp the bar into position, and it needs to be adjusted first. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9b\/Adjust-Chainsaw-Tension-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Adjust-Chainsaw-Tension-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9b\/Adjust-Chainsaw-Tension-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid7531645-v4-728px-Adjust-Chainsaw-Tension-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"