Paul sharpens more chainsaw chains than almost any other single job in the workshop — alongside carb cleans and brake repairs. Most cutting problems blamed on the engine are actually bar, chain, or oil maintenance issues. Get these right and the saw cuts straight, runs cool, and stays safe.
This guide covers petrol chainsaws only. The principles apply to Stihl, Husqvarna, Echo, Makita and other two-stroke saws.
Daily Checks Before You Cut
Paul recommends this sixty-second routine before every session — especially for cricket club volunteers and domestic users who pick the saw up once a month:
1. Chain brake test — push the front guard forward. Chain must stop instantly. 2. Bar oil — tank full, correct bar oil (not engine oil). 3. Chain tension — snaps back when lifted from the bar centre, not hanging loose. 4. Bar nuts tight — but loosen slightly before adjusting tension, then retighten. 5. Throttle lockout — trigger should not move without the safety catch depressed.
Chain Tension: How Tight Is Right?
Too loose and the chain derails at speed — dangerous. Too tight and the bar and sprocket wear prematurely.
Paul's method: With engine off and brake on, lift the chain from the centre of the bar. The drive links should stay engaged in the bar groove but the cutters should clear the rail slightly. It should snap back when released.
Paul's tip: "New chain stretches in the first few tanks of fuel. Check tension every fifteen minutes on a new chain. I see more derailments from loose new chains than from anything else."
Sharpening: How Often and How to Know It Is Dull
Domestic use (few hours per year): Sharpen when you are pushing the saw instead of letting it cut, or when you see dust not chips.
Professional use: Sharpen every tank of fuel or more often in dirty wood.
Signs the chain needs sharpening now: - Fine dust instead of chunky chips - Saw pulls to one side - Increased vibration - You are using the weight of your body to force the cut
Sharpening basics: - Use the correct file diameter for your chain pitch - Maintain consistent cutter length on both sides - File depth gauges if cutters have been sharpened many times - Equal strokes on left and right cutters
If cutters are below witness marks, replace the chain — sharpening will not help. See Paul's chain replacement guide.
Bar Maintenance and Rail Wear
The bar takes as much punishment as the chain. Rails wear, the groove widens, and the nose sprocket seizes.
Check for: - Rails shiny or angled — chain sits loose in the groove - Nose sprocket stiff or rough when spinning by hand - Bar bent or rails uneven height
Fix: Rotate the bar on the saw regularly to even wear. Dress rails if minor; replace bar when the groove is worn or the nose is damaged.
Bar Oil System
Without oil, the bar overheats, the chain stretches, and the drive sprocket wears.
Oil tank: Use proper chainsaw bar oil — it is sticky enough to cling at high chain speed. Engine oil is too thin.
Pump test: Point the bar tip at light cardboard at full throttle. A visible oil line should appear within seconds.
Blocked oil passage: Clean the groove in the bar and the outlet on the saw body. Check the pump drive on the clutch side.
Sprocket Wear
The clutch drum sprocket wears with chain use. A worn sprocket causes uneven chain wear and tension problems.
Symptoms: - Chain tension varies as the drum rotates - Hooked sprocket teeth - New chain wears quickly
Fix: Replace the sprocket or drum assembly when worn — Paul matches the correct part to your saw model.
When to Replace Bar vs Chain vs Both
| Condition | Action | |-----------|--------| | Cutters below witness marks | New chain | | Rails worn, groove wide | New bar | | Stretched chain, tightens constantly | New chain | | Bent bar | New bar — never straighten | | New chain on worn bar | Replace bar first or both together |
Cricket Clubs and Occasional Users
Paul services chainsaws for cricket and sports clubs used infrequently by volunteers. These saws fail from stale fuel and neglected chains more than engine wear. Book a pre-season service — fuel system refresh, chain sharpen, brake test — before boundary work starts.
When to Call Paul
Paul offers chain sharpening, bar replacement, sprocket fitting and full saw servicing from the Hyde workshop. Same-day sharpening on many jobs. Every saw gets a chain brake test before return.
Related guides: Signs your chain needs replacing · Chainsaw won't start · Stalls under load
Book Paul: 07342 239878 or WhatsApp — bring the saw or just the chain and bar for matching.
