Chainsaw Maintenance

Re: Chainsaw Maintenance

Gary Evans

>"Regular Maintenance?" What exactly is that? 8^]

Typically I just add gas/oil mix and bar oil when needed. Likewise with sharpening and tightening the chain.

If the saw gets to running a little rough or is getting harder to start, then I'll blow out the air filter.

Items like filing or flipping the bar are easily done, if needed, when changing the chain, but that only happens when there is about an 1/8" of tooth remaining. The sprockets on today's modern bars with enclosed bearings rarely seem to need any attention in that area.

Can't seem to remember the last time I replaced a spark plug or had to monkey with the oil feed rate for the chain. I do remember once a long time ago when I had to replace a fuel filter in the tank.

By the way, I have a Stihl and a Husky. 'Nuff said. I hope Murphy doesn't see this as a gloat and come to pay me a visit. 8^]

GE

Re: Chainsaw Maintenance

Brad

>A few years ago I inherited a Stihl that was almost new. Because I had another saw that I usually use, I only fired the Stihl up every now and then. A short while back I tried to use it and couldn't keep it running, I took it to the shop and ended up paying about $50 to have the fuel system cleaned. The guy told me all I had to do to prevent that was to run all the gas out of it before storing it. Expensive lesson.

Re: Chainsaw Maintenance

George Van

>Clean Fresh Gas, Clean Fresh Gas, Clean Fresh Gas. Solves a lot of problems.

George

Re: Chainsaw Maintenance

Doug Leite

>Whenever I use my saw at home, when I am done I remove the bar and chain and blow the cover and saw out and check and clean the air filter and check the bar groove with a wire and clean it out as necessary, I check the side of the bar for any metal burrs that may occur and flat file the bar if needed. I then blow out the end sprocken and grease the bearing through the small hole at the end of the bar that is provided for this purpose. I reassemble the saw while flipping the bar over to provide even wear on both sides. I use a good m/c 2 stroke oil and add a fuel stabilizer in case I don't cut any wood for a while. Works for me.

And Don't Forget - Good Clean Gas! :-)

Clem Wixted Jonesboro, AR

>

Re: Chainsaw Maintenance

Ryan McMullen

>OK, I've got a question about maintenance. After I get done useing the CS I let it cool down, usually while I'm cleaning up the debris that is left behind. When it's cool I put it back in the case. Now for the question. Why is it that the next time I go to use it the bar & chain oil has leaked out so the bottom of the case and CS are covered in it? Should I be pouring the unused oil back into the container it came in? That, to me, would introduce contaminates to the oil and I don't want to do that. The CS is an 18" poulan BTW.

Thanks for any info

Ryan

Re: Chainsaw Maintenance

Peter Teubel

>On my saw, there is a cam on the sprocket that operates the oil pump. At a certain position, the plunger is depressed and the oil will flow. I simply rotate the chain a bit (1/2 turn of the sprocket) when I see the oil leaking. No more leaks.

Re: Chainsaw Maintenance

DaveZ

>Oil leaking like that tends to be saw specific. One might leak and another of the exact same model won't. Don't know if it will work for you but right before you put it away, open the oil cap and then reclose it.

Re: Chainsaw Maintenance

W.C. Turner

>So, you are aquainted with Murphy too, HUH?

Just got a new Husky 350 and was looking thru the manual. Didn't realize there's so much to do on a C/S.

Speaking of sprockets, manual says to change those every time you go thru 2 chains.

Re: Chainsaw Maintenance

Gary Evans

>Hi W.C.,

I'm sorry, but I think the guy who wrote that bit must be working in the parts marketing dept. I have been using chainsaws A LOT for the 26 years that we haved lived here in the woods, and I have never, ever, never, HAD to replace a drive sprocket because of excessive wear. If you keep the oil feed for the chain cranked up to the point where it will throw off excess oil when you rev it up with the tip pointed toward a surface where the oil can be seen, you just won't have many sprocket, chain or bar problems. Of course, you probably will use more bar oil than the marketing department advertises. 8^]

GE

I got that incorrect...

W.C. Turner

>That info came out of the Oregon chain mfg. Co. booklet, Saw Maintence & Safety Manual. I thought that was a bit excessive when I read it. I said to myself, I think they want to sell some chains & sprockets.