Chainsaw chain is the element that is subjected to the greatest loads and overheating. From such influences, it can break, fly off the guide rail or just become dull from prolonged use. For timely maintenance or replacement with a new one, you need to know how to remove the chain from the chainsaw yourself and install it back. A step-by-step algorithm of these operations will be shown below.
The direction of the chain and which side to wear
The chain of the chainsaw, if you carefully consider it, has saw teeth directed in one direction. Therefore, the correct direction of the saw teeth on the guide tire is very simple to determine: if you place the chainsaw itself in the plane that it is in the process of working, then the row of teeth located on top of the guide tire with sharp edges should be directed towards the end of the tire. At the same time, the row of teeth, which is located below the chainsaw, with sharp edges should look in the opposite direction, in the direction of the drive sprocket.
It will not work to put the chain with its teeth inward to the grooves in the guide rail, it simply will not stay on the tire. Therefore, it is necessary to wear the chain of the chainsaw on the tire so that the guide ears of the links of the saw blade are directed inside the guide tire.
Chain tension
The chain of the chainsaw together with the guide bar during operation experience the greatest load, unlike other parts of the chainsaw. Over time, it lengthens in size due to the boring of gaps in the connecting links. This process occurs absolutely with any kind of chains, therefore, when operating a chainsaw, it is necessary to periodically monitor the correct chain tension and its wear.
The following depend on the state of the circuit:
- the term of her life;
- safety of work on felling or dissolution of wood;
- ICE resource.
If the chain is tightened, then the efficiency of sawing is reduced, the engine and transmission are subjected to increased loads. The guide tire is very hot due to increased friction, the operation mode of the chainsaw goes to the excessive consumption of the fuel mixture.
What to do if the chain sags
If the chain slacks, there is a risk of injury to the operator. after all, the saw blade may break or simply fly off the guide sprockets. Of course, modern chainsaws have security systems and emergency stops, but these systems do not always work correctly.
It is important not to install a chain with defective or damaged saw links on the chainsaw, in addition to the danger of tearing at any time, such a chain will sharpen the guide grooves of the tire, which will lead to its skew, uneven cut and failure of the guide bar.
What can cause a chain to sag during even short operation?
- There may be problems with the guide rail. Sometimes due to an oversight of the operator or due to severe wear of the threads of the fixing bolts in the place of fastening of the guide bar, vibration can occur, which causes a weakening of the chain tension. It is necessary to check the condition of the fixing bolts and, if necessary, replace them with new ones. When the bolts are sufficiently tightened, such problems do not arise.
- When the chainsaw is handled with care enough over time, any chain may wear out. Trying to repair it or assemble one from several is a futile task. If the chain headset is stretched due to natural reasons, it is best to purchase a new one.
- The asterisk is skewed. Due to the displacement of the sprocket teeth, sagging may occur. In this case, it is best to contact the service center to repair and adjust the position of the driving star. It is quite difficult to fix the drive sprocket in the correct position, because you will have to dismantle many small parts, remove the guide rail, and then reassemble everything in the reverse order.
Step-by-step installation algorithm
Not all modern chainsaws are equipped with an installation wheel, which greatly simplifies the installation of the saw blade. Systems with an adjusting wheel among household chainsaws are generally rare. Therefore, it is very important to know the technology and sequence of installing the chain on a chainsaw.
Key points to pay attention to:
- Prepare a flat surface on which you will put together the chain and the bar. This will minimize the chance of damage to the chainsaw or loss of small parts. A tire is laid out on the prepared surface and a chain is parallel in parallel.
- Remove the sprocket protection, on modern chainsaws it is enough to unscrew the wing nut, on older models, you may need a ring wrench of the appropriate size.
- At the base of the guide rail, turn the tension sprocket all the way to the right. Only in this position is the chain installed.
- Then the chain in series link by link is imposed on the locking groove on the guide rail. Install the chain from the top of the guide, gradually rotate it so that the tire is always on top, and the chain is below, this will allow it to always be in a taut state and lie in the guide groove without problems. When you perform this step, be sure to wear thick protective gloves, because your fingers will touch the cutting edge. Seen from above, the cutter is always located forward to the end of the guide rail.
- Put the tire and chain on the drive sprocket.
- Fasten the chain sprocket cover in place. Make sure that all mounting pins align with the holes. Incorrect installation with distortions or not to the end can be the cause of extraneous noise, rattling.
- Make sure that the guides “enter” into the special mounting groove.
- After installation, check the chain fixation on the chainsaw and on the tire. Everything should be securely fixed without backlash.
An important point is the degree of chain tension after its installation. Setting the correct tension is very simple and takes no more than three minutes. First, loosen the nuts on the protective cover. Use the freely rotating adjusting screw to catch the correct tension so that the chain does not stretch more than 3-5 mm from the edge of the guide bar.
It remains only to tighten the nuts and check the tension. If adjustment is needed, adjust the tension again.
What is important to know: when the chain is in operation, due to the friction forces, its metal is very hot and expands, while the length increases. Therefore, it is important to regularly check the tension and correct it in time.
How to install the tire and chain on a chainsaw, see the following video, which presents a clear algorithm of actions:
How to unravel a chainsaw chain
When removing the old or when putting on a new chain on the guide bar of the chainsaw, it may get confused. It can also occur during sloppy transport. When the chain is tangled, it folds into rings.
Due to the lack of flexibility in the transverse direction, it is very difficult to untangle it with bare hands, because when you try to untangle one ring in another place, a new ring is formed.
It is necessary to put the chain of the chainsaw on a horizontal surface and untwist the rings in different directions, while pulling the blade in such a direction that the diameter of the rings increases. Sooner or later, the chain will unravel in its natural position.
There is another way. you can rivet one link of the chain and straighten it, then connect it into a ring and rivet the riveted links back.
Why does the chain jump
Many, even the most experienced users of chainsaws, faced in their life a situation where the chain jumped off the guide bar during operation. The most common cause is insufficient chain tension or wear.
In 80% of cases, the stretched chain links slip from the teeth of the drive sprocket, and under the action of centrifugal force it flies out from the guide. Although sometimes the problem arises due to the incorrect position of the sprocket relative to the axis of rotation or a loosely fixed saw tire on a chainsaw.
Conclusion
Now on sale there are many models of chains for chainsaws. First you need to know what size is right for your chainsaw and not make a mistake in the purchase. The second step is to correctly install it on a chainsaw. This is a somewhat time-consuming process, but if you know how to dress and set the chain on the saw bar yourself, then the happy owner should have no problems. We tried to describe in detail the process of installing the saw blade on a chainsaw.
We hope that after reading this article you will succeed the first time. But in order to minimize the appearance of problems with a chainsaw and chain in the future, do not forget 3 basic rules:
- If the chain is worn out and sagging. replace it with a new one;
- If vibration occurs during cutting and the cut is bad. watch for chain tension on the chainsaw;
- Never use saw blades that are defective or repaired by dubious specialists, your health and those who are near are much more important than a small cost savings on buying a new and reliable chain.
Do-it-yourself chainsaw sharpening
The tooth of the chain scales the tree like a plane, and the thickness of the chips is controlled by the height of the limiter.
Intensive work of the saw leads to a quick dulling of the chain. Several sharpenings may be required within one day. The problem is also compounded by the fact that the tooth quickly dulls when it meets the ground. It is enough to put the tire on the tire once or twice, and the work can be stopped. the chips become shallow, and the saw ceases to delve into the tree.
Video: How to Wear a Chain on a Chainsaw
The earlier blunted teeth are pointed, the less material needs to be removed when grinding. chain life longer. To determine the moment when sharpening is already required is quite simple. An important feature is the feed force. Correctly sharpened chain retracts into the cut with a slight push. If, on the contrary, the chainsaw is forced to see with increased feed force, the teeth become dull. Blunted chain can also be recognized if, instead of a large thick chip, only small chips are pushed out of the cut.
In this situation, the chainsaw needs to be sharpened urgently. Do not use a blunt or defective saw chain. the result is a strong tension in the body, a large cyclic load, poor cutting results. In addition, this means reduced productivity, high fuel consumption and increased wear on all parts of the chain saw.
The parameters of chain teeth
To achieve optimal cutting properties, the tooth blades have certain angles. The angular posterior part of the tooth forms the posterior angle of the upper blade. This angle is necessary for cutting the upper blade into wood.
The serrated tooth blade forms the posterior corner of the end blade. This angle is necessary for side cutting chips.
The edge of the end blade forms a rake angle with the sliding surface of the cutting element. The front angles of various types of chains range from 60 to 85 °.
The rear corner of the upper blade characterizes the inclination of the upper blade.
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This angle is measured relative to the sliding plane of the cutting arm and, depending on the type of saw chain, has a value from 50 ° to 60 °. The upper blade is the main blade and the rear corner of the upper blade. this is the most important angle. The trailing angle of the upper blade is difficult to measure; its correct value is formed when other prescribed values are observed.
The cut angle or the angle in the plan is obtained by measuring from the upper cutting edge at a right angle to the guide bar.
The grinding angle can be changed depending on the application. The basic rule: the greater the angle of sharpening, the higher the cutting efficiency when cutting thawed soft wood. Reducing the angle of sharpening when cutting frozen and / or solid wood contributes to a smoother operation of the saw and reduction of vibration. However, sharpening angles greater than 35 ° and less than 25 ° should be avoided (with the exception of chains for longitudinal sawing at which this angle is 10 °).
The rake angle, grinding angle and angle of the upper blade change during sharpening. These angles have a decisive influence on chain cutting ability. Be sure to follow the prescribed values.
On each cutting link in front of the serrated blade there is a depth limiter. The difference in height between the upper edge of the depth sensor and the front edge of the back of the tooth is defined as the distance from the depth gauge.
The depth of the depth gauge depends on the depth of insertion of the upper blade into the wood (chip thickness) and, therefore, productivity. The distance from the depth sensor is set depending on the chain pitch and type of execution. Normally, it should be 0.5-0.8 mm, usually 0.6 mm. High values will lead to an increase in the tendency of the chainsaw to recoil, too much traction and chain vibration. Low values result in poor performance. Since the distance to the depth stop at each sharpening of the saw decreases due to a decrease in the upper edge of the tooth, the depth gauge also needs periodic sawing. after 5-10 sharpening the chain.
How to install a tire and chain on a Stihl MS 180 chainsaw
Operation tips Stihl chain saws MS 180 Thank you for the video you liked! Subscribe to our channel.
How to install a chain and a tire on a Stihl MS 180 chainsaw
For many, installation Chains Stihl The MS 180 seems like a daunting task, but it’s really nothing complicated.
General rules for sharpening chainsaws
Chain sharpening tools
On the holder with a round file there are lines that allow it to correctly position it relative to the chain. The holder is mounted on a pointed tooth in accordance with the orientation line. In this case, the insert itself rests on the upper edge of the tooth and the depth gauge, and the file is located under the cutting edge.
Using the holder ensures that the file matches the tooth at the correct height. For different stages of the saw chain, there are different holders. Correct the choice of holder in combination with the correct diameter of the file ensures that the file protrudes 1/5 of its diameter behind the tooth. Use only special files for sharpening chains.
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Before sharpening the chain saw, it is advisable to fix the tire. When grinding, it is necessary, maintaining the position of the holder and pressing the file on a pointed edge, to make several (2-3) turns away from you. Do not try to click too hard on the file; movements should be smooth and measured. The file is rotated regularly to avoid one-sided wear. All other teeth are sharpened equally. It is more convenient to first grind the teeth in one direction, then change the position and do the same with the teeth of another direction.
When sharpening all teeth, make the same number of moves with the file at the same pressure. Due to this, the same tooth length will be obtained. All cutting teeth should be the same length. Different lengths of teeth cause uneven movement of the chain and the formation of cracks in it. If the length of the teeth is not the same, all cutting teeth should be cut to the length of the shortest tooth.
After a slight sharpening of the cutting teeth, the depth stops. To do this, the template is superimposed on it so that the stopper falls into the groove, and the tip protruding from the slot is cut into a flat file.
The principle of using another set for chain chain rings does not differ from the first, although its design has differences.
A round file is used to sharpen a cutting tooth, and also to sharpen a depth gauge. apartment. A special template provides grinding parameters for both cutting teeth and stops. In the first case, it is superimposed on the chain so that it falls into its slots. The file, applied to the template and located under the cutting edge, rests on the guide rollers. The direction of the file should be parallel to the side faces of the template.
When sewing the stop, the pattern is superimposed so that the stop falls into the groove next to which SOFT (for soft wood) or HARD (for hard) is written. As in the case of the first device, grinding is performed by smoothly moving the flat file away from you.
Chain saws
Stihl produces two versions of manual machines. stationary FG 2 and mobile FG 1 mounted directly on the bus. There are analogues of lesser-known companies, comparable in price with the simpler devices described above, for example, this.
The working part of these devices is structurally similar to a circular saw, into which a round long file is inserted instead of a saw blade. FG 1 and FG 2 not only sharpen the chains, but also fix them by adjusting the length of the upper edge of all teeth to the same size. the smallest tooth, which is perceived as a control tooth. A rather complicated mechanism allows you to set all the necessary parameters. Sharpening is performed for 2-3 movements, then proceed to the next tooth, keeping for him all the settings that were made for the control tooth. This provides the same grinding parameters for all teeth. When sewing the limiter, the round file changes to a flat one.
It is easy and convenient to use an electric grinder for a chainsaw. It has a setup system that allows you to install chain at right angles and bring the disc exactly to the sharpened edge. There are machines that automatically hold the vise when the disc is lowered onto chain.
The chain is an important element in the design of the chainsaw. It is it that accounts for the greatest load during operation, therefore, high-quality and systemic care is required. When using any model, it is important to know how to properly wear the chain, monitor its tension. If you fix it incorrectly, there is a risk of stretching and getting out of the grooves. The saw’s productivity is reduced, and the risk of injury at high power is also increased.
Why did the chain fly off?
There are several reasons why the chain may fly off during operation. This may be due to improper operation of the tire or insufficient stretch. The problem sometimes appears with insufficiently fixed leading and driven sprockets. Determining the cause allows you to accurately select the required repairs, tools.
Tire weak
When the chain tension is reduced, the problem is often accompanied by a weakening of the tire itself. To check its condition, you need to examine the place between the top plate on the headset cover and the inner surface on the case. When the fixing bolts are loosened, the tire begins to move, which can be seen from the characteristic vibration during sawing. For frequent use, it is recommended that bolts be clamped regularly.
Figure 1. The tire has weakened
If you yourself decide to tighten the tire, then you need to find and lower the chain brake. Turn the tension screw so that the chain fits snugly into the grooves. After that, pull the chain in the direction of travel, if it is too tight, loosen the screw.
Important! Tire weakening is observed in both professional and household chainsaw models. When using the tool extensively, check the tension before each start.
Stretched chain
Any functional changes in the chain lead to a decrease in the productivity of the tool, injuries during operation.
It should be regularly monitored so that there is no deformation of the metal and stretching more than 1 cm.
If such a problem still arises, you need to purchase a new circuit or adjust the old one.
Separate the chain links on the machine or fix it in a vice, grind the rivets with a file and knock them out with a beard (it is not recommended to use an angle grinder).
Remove 1-2 links depending on the degree of chain stretching. After that, put all the elements in place, insert the rivet and hit it with a hammer, use a special rivet tool. For reliability, it is recommended to use a welding machine. At the end of the work, grind the excess and burrs with a thin file.
Leading Star Issues
Sometimes chain slack is due to problems with the drive sprocket. The most common situation is when it is poorly fixed. Step-by-step algorithm to tighten an asterisk:
- Remove engine cover.
- Remove the air filter and unscrew the candle, putting in its place a special stopper for fixing the piston in a stationary position.
- Use the angle grinder key to turn the clutch disc clockwise to the maximum upper position. Check the sprocket’s tightness, adjust its position.
Figure 3. Leading star on a chainsaw
After clamping, assemble the chainsaw back, be sure to put on the protective cover. When assembling, check that the chain fits snugly on the bar.
How to put a chain on a chainsaw?
In most chainsaw models, it is easy to put the chain on the tire by unscrewing the main screw, then the links must be placed on the drive sprocket. Before starting work, the general condition of all cutting surfaces and the guide groove and the setting wheel should be inspected. Often dirt and small chips accumulate in it, which subsequently lead to a scheduled repair, deterioration of the slip. Step-by-step algorithm of work:
- Loosen the screws securing the sprocket protection cover; it is usually tightened with the wing nut.
- Turn the tension sprocket to the right until it stops.
- Place links on the headset starting at the top. Finish, so that they fall into the corresponding grooves.
- Reattach chain sprocket mount, tighten nut. The guides must fall into a special groove.
- Release the chain brake, pull the chain along the travel line to check the tension. If necessary, tighten the tensioner lever.
Figure 4. Installing the chain on a chainsaw
The adjusting wheel should spin freely after installing the chainsaw chain. At the end of the work, be sure to lubricate all moving parts of the tool to avoid rapid wear.
Important! The headset should only be fitted with tight protective gloves. This will protect you from injuries and cuts by the sharp edges of the cutting edges of the teeth.
How to install a tire with a chain on a chainsaw?
Often problems in the operation of chainsaws arise when the tire is improperly installed. This can be determined by the characteristic rattling, vibration and low productivity of the saw during operation. The tire is fastened to the housing between the outer plate, fixing is carried out with a special bolt.
The people call this part the “engine assembly”, it consists of a drive sprocket and locking bolts. Installing the tire together with the saw is not difficult. you need to remove all the protective covers, unscrew the fixing bolts a third of the length and put the headset on. Then tighten all the nuts tightly, twist the tensioner with a special lever.
Tire installation on Stihl and Husqvarna
Chainsaw models from the manufacturer Stihl may vary during the assembly process. Walkthrough:
- Open wing nut, remove cover for chain sprocket. Turn it on the tire all the way to the right.
- Put the chain on the tire, starting from the top, the cutting tooth on the upper side should look straight ahead.
- Attach the assembled tire to the chainsaw, pull the structure onto the sprocket. Slide guide onto collar bolt. Close the cover with the pins in the holes provided by the manufacturer.
- Rotate the wing nut until the sprocket cover touches the engine housing.
- Turn the clamping bolt forward, the drive links should fall into the grooves of the tire. Tighten the wing nut fully.
At the end of work, check the tension, if the headset does not move well, adjust the tension with a nut. Before starting, apply the chain brake.
The Husqvarna chain saw chain mounting algorithm is almost identical. The main difference is that for most models, the tension and adjustment of the headset to the body is controlled not by one, but by two wing nuts. A separate adjusting lever is rarely found on the protective housing of an external sprocket; therefore, tension adjustment should only be carried out with bolts.
Important! Before you start working with a chainsaw, you should carefully study the user manual. It describes in detail all the steps of tuning and assembling the tool.
Chain tension
To check the tension, you must first turn off the brake. Then pull the chain in the middle of the headset, normally the shanks should not go out more than 2/3 of the height. It is recommended to scroll it manually. jamming and gliding too quickly are not allowed. If necessary, tighten with the nut on the protective cover.
Figure 5. Checking the chain tension
Installing and checking the chain tension on the tire is an important operation process for any chainsaw. The work is easy to do on your own. Regular maintenance of the tool allows you to avoid injuries and reduce productivity even when working with dense wood.
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