10 Ways to Extend the Life of Your Chainsaw, Starting with the Guide Bar

Posted By: Mike Kunert
Post Date: 06/22/2022

3 Ways to Extend the Life of Your Chainsaw Guide Bar

Extending the life of your chainsaw starts with regular maintenance of the chainsaw guide bar. These 3 tips will help you extend the lifespan of your chainsaw.

Regularly remove, clean, and shape the bar

Taking care of the chainsaw bar

As we've mentioned, good chainsaw care starts first and foremost with taking care of the guide bar. If you neglect maintenance on it, you will surely notice a gradual decline in performance in the power of your chainsaw. Regularly removing, cleaning, and shaping the bar will help you avoid these issues. To start us off below is a quick breakdown of the steps to remove the bar for cleaning.

  1. Remove the bar and chain with a T-handle wrench. A 1/2-inch socket and ratchet will usually work if you don't have a T-handle wrench on hand. There are usually two bolts on the side that you need to remove.
  2. The chain should loosen up once you remove the bolts from step one. Carefully remove the chain completely. Refer to the chainsaw bar length guide of your model if you are replacing your chain completely.
  3. Clean the bar with a damp rag. There are also chainsaw guide bar cleaning tools that are specifically designed to help you clean in between the bar grooves to best remove shavings and dirt.

When it comes to shaping your bar, here are a few tips to help you out:

  1. Start by checking the bar for visible wear. If you notice blue spots on the rail, these areas indicate interference issues between the chain and the bar. It's also a good idea to check the nose and tail of the bar for any signs of uneven wear patterns that might allow the chain to come off the bar. These areas may need extra attention when you start to file in the next couple of steps.
  2. There are a couple of recommended tools to gather for shaping the bar. These tools are a flat file and a bar dresser.
  3. Use your flat file or bar rail dresser by sliding it back and forth across the edge of the bar. Slide it across the bar as many times as needed to remove any knife edging on the rails. Knife edging is a razor-thin sharp piece of metal that has slowly lifted off the rails over time. A bar rail dresser is the more accurate of the two tools that are specifically designed to parallel the rails.

Check the lubrication holes for blockage

The small lubrication holes on the bar are very important. They allow the oil to make its way across the chain. Without proper lubrication, you will run into some serious problems. Be sure to locate these small holes and clean them out after every use so that they are not clogged-up with dirt or debris.

Flip the bar

Flip the bar upside-down when you put it back on the chainsaw after cleaning it or changing blades. The underside of the chainsaw bar usually wears off early in its use. It is recommended to flip the bar every time you change your chainsaw blade. If you flipped the bar and you are still not getting a good cut with it, it is time to replace the bar.

7 More Ways to Keep Your Chainsaw in Top Condition

Let's dive into some of the small, but very important chainsaw maintenance tasks that will help keep your chainsaw running at top performance for a long time.

Tighten any loose parts

For those who use a chainsaw on a regular basis, it's quite obvious when something comes loose. You can feel the awkward shakiness right away. Be sure to keep all the chainsaw guide bar nuts, bolts, and screws tight at all times. You don't need to take things apart to do so. Simply keep all visible bolts and screws tight at all times.

Check-in monthly with your wiring, cables and plugs

It's good to do a brief visual inspection of your wiring, cables, and plugs every month. If something is not connected or is torn in some way, you should make it a priority to have that issue fixed immediately before it causes a major problem.

Clean your tanks

Old gasoline can leave behind a thick residue that is not good for your engine. Clean out the inside of your fuel tank every month to ensure that your engine continues to run smoothly. There are specific gas tank cleaners and solvents on the market that can aid you in this process.

Keep it lubricated

Lubrication is everything when it comes to chainsaw maintenance. Not only should you ensure proper lubrication on the chainsaw bar and blade, but it's also a good idea to lubricate the clutch drum bearings. Visit us online or in-store to get your bar and chain oil that is specifically made for chainsaw use.

Spoil Your Starter

It's a good idea to give your starter a little extra attention. If you notice wear and tear to the starter or the starter cord, it's a good idea to have your chainsaw serviced. You can also clean the air intake slots to improve performance. Finally, test out the emergency stop switch to make sure the engine shuts off immediately.

Tighten and Sharpen the Chain

If your chain is not set to the proper tension, you will notice a poor cut right away. Tighten the chain so that when you pull on the chain, there is a small space between the links and the bar. If you have the correct tension but you are still getting a poor cut, then it may be time for a chainsaw guide bar replacement or a new chain. Refer to the chainsaw bar replacement guide of your model to get the correct specifications of the bar.

Check Anti-Vibration Wear and Tear

The anti-vibration elements are made of rubber. These are meant to cut the vibration in half. Since the rubber can get worn over time, it's a good idea to check on these elements every so often to make sure they aren't too soft or completely torn. If so, get them replaced quickly to improve the accuracy and efficiency of your cuts.

Check Out Our In-Store Inventory

If you need more chainsaw maintenance tips, reach out to our experienced team at Powersports Company. If it's time for a brand new chainsaw, we have you covered there too. Check out out in-stock inventory of STIHL chainsaws and power tools.

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10 Ways to Extend the Life of Your Chainsaw, Starting with the Guide Bar

Posted By: Mike Kunert
Post Date: 06/22/2022

3 Ways to Extend the Life of Your Chainsaw Guide Bar

Extending the life of your chainsaw starts with regular maintenance of the chainsaw guide bar. These 3 tips will help you extend the lifespan of your chainsaw.

Regularly remove, clean, and shape the bar

Taking care of the chainsaw bar

As we've mentioned, good chainsaw care starts first and foremost with taking care of the guide bar. If you neglect maintenance on it, you will surely notice a gradual decline in performance in the power of your chainsaw. Regularly removing, cleaning, and shaping the bar will help you avoid these issues. To start us off below is a quick breakdown of the steps to remove the bar for cleaning.

  1. Remove the bar and chain with a T-handle wrench. A 1/2-inch socket and ratchet will usually work if you don't have a T-handle wrench on hand. There are usually two bolts on the side that you need to remove.
  2. The chain should loosen up once you remove the bolts from step one. Carefully remove the chain completely. Refer to the chainsaw bar length guide of your model if you are replacing your chain completely.
  3. Clean the bar with a damp rag. There are also chainsaw guide bar cleaning tools that are specifically designed to help you clean in between the bar grooves to best remove shavings and dirt.

When it comes to shaping your bar, here are a few tips to help you out:

  1. Start by checking the bar for visible wear. If you notice blue spots on the rail, these areas indicate interference issues between the chain and the bar. It's also a good idea to check the nose and tail of the bar for any signs of uneven wear patterns that might allow the chain to come off the bar. These areas may need extra attention when you start to file in the next couple of steps.
  2. There are a couple of recommended tools to gather for shaping the bar. These tools are a flat file and a bar dresser.
  3. Use your flat file or bar rail dresser by sliding it back and forth across the edge of the bar. Slide it across the bar as many times as needed to remove any knife edging on the rails. Knife edging is a razor-thin sharp piece of metal that has slowly lifted off the rails over time. A bar rail dresser is the more accurate of the two tools that are specifically designed to parallel the rails.

Check the lubrication holes for blockage

The small lubrication holes on the bar are very important. They allow the oil to make its way across the chain. Without proper lubrication, you will run into some serious problems. Be sure to locate these small holes and clean them out after every use so that they are not clogged-up with dirt or debris.

Flip the bar

Flip the bar upside-down when you put it back on the chainsaw after cleaning it or changing blades. The underside of the chainsaw bar usually wears off early in its use. It is recommended to flip the bar every time you change your chainsaw blade. If you flipped the bar and you are still not getting a good cut with it, it is time to replace the bar.

7 More Ways to Keep Your Chainsaw in Top Condition

Let's dive into some of the small, but very important chainsaw maintenance tasks that will help keep your chainsaw running at top performance for a long time.

Tighten any loose parts

For those who use a chainsaw on a regular basis, it's quite obvious when something comes loose. You can feel the awkward shakiness right away. Be sure to keep all the chainsaw guide bar nuts, bolts, and screws tight at all times. You don't need to take things apart to do so. Simply keep all visible bolts and screws tight at all times.

Check-in monthly with your wiring, cables and plugs

It's good to do a brief visual inspection of your wiring, cables, and plugs every month. If something is not connected or is torn in some way, you should make it a priority to have that issue fixed immediately before it causes a major problem.

Clean your tanks

Old gasoline can leave behind a thick residue that is not good for your engine. Clean out the inside of your fuel tank every month to ensure that your engine continues to run smoothly. There are specific gas tank cleaners and solvents on the market that can aid you in this process.

Keep it lubricated

Lubrication is everything when it comes to chainsaw maintenance. Not only should you ensure proper lubrication on the chainsaw bar and blade, but it's also a good idea to lubricate the clutch drum bearings. Visit us online or in-store to get your bar and chain oil that is specifically made for chainsaw use.

Spoil Your Starter

It's a good idea to give your starter a little extra attention. If you notice wear and tear to the starter or the starter cord, it's a good idea to have your chainsaw serviced. You can also clean the air intake slots to improve performance. Finally, test out the emergency stop switch to make sure the engine shuts off immediately.

Tighten and Sharpen the Chain

If your chain is not set to the proper tension, you will notice a poor cut right away. Tighten the chain so that when you pull on the chain, there is a small space between the links and the bar. If you have the correct tension but you are still getting a poor cut, then it may be time for a chainsaw guide bar replacement or a new chain. Refer to the chainsaw bar replacement guide of your model to get the correct specifications of the bar.

Check Anti-Vibration Wear and Tear

The anti-vibration elements are made of rubber. These are meant to cut the vibration in half. Since the rubber can get worn over time, it's a good idea to check on these elements every so often to make sure they aren't too soft or completely torn. If so, get them replaced quickly to improve the accuracy and efficiency of your cuts.

Check Out Our In-Store Inventory

If you need more chainsaw maintenance tips, reach out to our experienced team at Powersports Company. If it's time for a brand new chainsaw, we have you covered there too. Check out out in-stock inventory of STIHL chainsaws and power tools.

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