Chainsaw Maintenance Tips
Chainsaw Maintenance Tips
It's always worth spending time and effort into looking after your chainsaw so it keeps working for longer and saves you money over time.
Here are some top maintenance tips for your chainsaws:
- Always Keep Your Chain Sharp (and have a spare one!)
- Never Let Your Chainsaw Run Dry
- Clean All Around the Chain
- Seasonally Flip Your Bar
Always Keep Your Chain Sharp (and have a spare one!)
One moment your chain can be sharp, the next it's caught a rock and is now dull. If you carry on cutting with a dull chain, it makes your saw work harder than it should do and the premature wear on the engine.
A good tip is to have a spare one to hand so you can replace a dull chain quickly and then sharpen your dull chain at your convenience. Eventually both will need to be replaced after becoming too worn down.
Check out our other blog post on how to prepare and sharpen a Stihl chainsaw chain.
Never Let Your Chainsaw Run Dry
If your chainsaw starts to run out of fuel and it's revving louder and higher than usual when cutting, shut it down straight away and refuel.
It's so tempting to keep cutting and squeeze that last bit of fuel out (especially when you are close to the end!) but it's actually really bad for a chainsaw to run dry. It's worth refuelling straight away as it will benefit the chainsaw in the long run.
If you want to know all the different types of Fuels and Lubricants for Stihl 2-Stroke Engines, check out our other blog post which recommends the different types and sizes of Stihl oil.
Clean All Around the Chain
Before you use your chainsaw, it's a good idea to clean around the chain and bar. They are designed to keep dust out but its without doubt some will get through. You can use a paintbrush or a screwdriver to carefully scrape any debris out.
Whilst you're cleaning it, it's worth checking for any damage to the chain or bar. If you need to replace your chain but you're unsure which you have, our blog post explains all the different types of Stihl chain there are.
Seasonally Flip Your Bar
Your bar can be worn down from extreme friction and constant pressure on one edge from pushing into the wood being cut. Flip the bar at least once a season but if your chainsaw has heavy use year round, flip it more often than once or twice a year.
