A good cleaning does more for your chainsaw than just help it keep that brand new look. Regular cleaning is necessary for maintaining your saw’s health. When cleaned regularly, your chainsaw and chainsaw bar will last much longer.
So, take a few extra moments after a day of cutting and follow the steps below.
Removing and Cleaning the Cover
Remove the drive sprocket cover from the bar. This is held on by the two cover nuts you loosen when you tighten the chain.
With the cover removed, scrape the heavy debris out of the grooves with a screw driver or your bar tool. Once the heavy debris has been removed, you can do a thorough cleaning with a heavy brush. The brush will get into corners that are difficult to reach with the screw driver.
Remove the Bar and Chain
Now that the cover has been removed from your chainsaw, you’ll be able to shift the bar towards the saw. This slackens the chain allowing you to slip the chain off the bar. While you have the bar off the saw, inspect it for debris. If there is anything stuck in the chain guide groove, scrape it out with a small flat blade screw driver.
While you’re at it, check the bar for any damage. Are there any burrs on the bar? Look down the end of the bar to ensure that it hasn’t warped at all. Is the guide mushrooming or warping sideways? If so, you’ll need to replace your chainsaw bar.
Next remove the chain and clean the debris from around the sprocket. This can be a tight area to work in. I usually wrap a screw driver in an old rag to work around this tight area. Clean all around the sprocket and then turn your attention to the bar oiler.
Keeping Your Chainsaw Bar Properly Oiled
The bar oiler is little more than a slot. Bar oil from the reservoir exits this slot and lubricates the bar. If the slot is gummed up with debris, you’re obviously getting less than satisfactory lubrication to your bar. Make sure the slot is free of anything that might restrict the flow of oil to the bar.
Ready to Roll
A clean saw will run much better and will save you from buying replacement parts earlier than is necessary.
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