The operation of a chainsaw requires not only knowledge and experience, but also special care. Each time before using the tool, it is necessary to inspect its technical condition. It is especially important to know how to tighten the chain on the chainsaw, and what you need for this. If you do not check the degree of tension of the clutch mechanism, then during operation the product may fly off or break, causing serious harm to health.
The chainsaw drive mechanism is a two-stroke ICE, presented in the form of a single cylinder. The main working mechanism is the chain along with the bus. The tire is a guide device along which the cutting element moves. The chain is based on teeth, which are divided into leading, cutting and connecting.
During the operation of the chainsaw, the chain is heated. This is a negative phenomenon that reduces the life of the product. To avoid rapid wear of the cutting elements, the design of the chainsaw provides for the supply of oil, which simultaneously cools the device and lubricates the mechanism.
An extended chain can fly off the tire at any time, which will lead to the most unpleasant consequences. In order not to risk your health, you need to know how to tension the chain on chainsaws correctly. over, not only gasoline units, but also saws need tension.
Tension mechanisms
Before you learn how to properly tighten the chain of a chainsaw, you need to understand the mechanisms for performing this task. The tension is adjusted using the classic version, presented in the form of a bolted connection.
Professional chainsaws have adjusting mechanisms that allow you to make adjustments by moving the lever or turning the discs. If tensioners are used for tensioning, the degree of screwing is fixed with special locknuts.
The chain must be tightened to a certain point. It can not be tightly pulled, as this will lead to its premature rupture, and it is impossible to leave weakened. Adjustment procedures should be carried out exclusively on the tool in a cooled state. When the tool is heated, the chain is stretched, so the adjustment process will be incorrect.
The negative consequences of improper adjustment include overheating. With severe overheating, the links wear out faster, the teeth become blunt, tensile occurs, which ultimately ends up with the need to purchase a new part.
How to put a chain on a chainsaw and adjust
Video: How to Put a Chain on a Chainsaw
Now we will understand how chains are pulled on chainsaws, and how this procedure is performed correctly. The adjustment procedure is not at all complicated, and a check of the preload loosening should be performed every time before operating the tool. If you hold the chainsaw in your hands for the first time, then it is important to carry out the first adjustment according to the instructions:
- Initially dismantled the old mechanism, which is stretched, and is no longer subject to tension
- The tool is laid on its side so that the tire is at the top
- Two nut fasteners are unscrewed, after which the protective pad is removed
- The tire is removed along with the old chain. Tires also need to be replaced when the depth of the groove is reduced. Usually they serve at least 2-3 chain replacements, but it all depends on the quality of the product
- A new chain is put on the tire, but it is important to position it correctly. The pointed teeth on top of the tire should be on the opposite side of the tool
- When the chain is installed on the chainsaw, you can put the tire in place, fixing it with the adjusting nuts
This completes the replacement process, and it remains to carry out the tensioning procedure. There are two ways to do this, which are called frontal and fast. The front-end method is the most relevant, and is performed as follows:
- The tire nuts are loosened, after which the last part rises over the edge
- Using the adjusting screw, the chain is tightened to the desired parameter
- Nuts clamp the tire in position
- Hands checking tension
The quick method is less relevant, and is often used only on tools with new chains and tires. The principle of quick adjustment is based on loosening the wing nut. In this case, the screw of the tensioning mechanism is screwed in as far as it will go in the clockwise direction. The wing nut is tightened at the end of the operation, after which the handle must be lowered. How chains are tensioned on chainsaws is shown in the video material.
How to check the correct tension
The adjustment process is not a big deal. However, the effectiveness of the tool, as well as the service life of its components, depend on the correctness of this procedure. To make sure that the chain is properly tensioned, you must perform a series of the following steps:
- Manual chain movement should be easy and free.
- Grasp the product at the top of the tire, then pull it up. The optimal tensile value is 2/3 of the output of the chain leg (shank)
- When moving the product on the bus, no extraneous noise or creaking should appear
Only after verifying the correctness of the actions taken, it is possible to start the procedure of sawing wood. If the tool is used correctly, its service life is increased tenfold, which applies not only to professional expensive models, but also to budget options for chainsaws.