Chainsaws are one of the most popular power tools on homeowners’ wish lists. It is a versatile tool that can be used for many different purposes, including cutting firewood or trimming trees. However, there may come a time when you notice your chainsaw losing power during use. What could cause this to happen?
The two most common causes of chainsaw power loss are when the chain becomes dull or when the bar oil has run out. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to tell if you’re experiencing either one of these problems.
If your chainsaw is losing power and it’s not because you’re running out of gas, then here are a few key things to look for:
- Does the blade seem tight? Chainsaws with loose blades will lose power quickly.
- Is your saw vibrating too much? A chainsaw that’s off balance will shake all over the place and cause the engine to stall more often than usual.
- Are you using too little bar oil? The bar needs lubrication in order to keep spinning smoothly, so be sure to check the oil level.
If your chainsaw is still losing power even after you’ve fixed these common problems, then it might be time for a new blade or bar. Of course, double-checking that there isn’t any debris in the engine will help ensure that nothing gets stuck and causes damage as well.
Other common problems
Some of the most common causes include contaminated fuel; improper oiling; too frequent starts without enough rest between uses; worn-out spark plug wires; old air filter; lack of proper maintenance (i.e., cleaning), etc.
What if Your Chainsaw bogs down When Cutting?
A chainsaw is a powerful tool that can cut through just about anything. With the right maintenance, it can be used for years without any major problems.
However, there are times when the chainsaw bogs down and won’t cut. When this happens, the chain saw needs to be taken apart and cleaned out before you try again to use it.
This blog post will show you how to take your chainsaw apart and clean it without any trouble at all! It’s easy as 1-2-3!
Taking your chainsaw apart
Depending on the type of chainsaw you have, the process of taking your chainsaw apart will differ. However, the steps remain pretty much the same.
First, you’ll need a screwdriver and a small hammer for this process. You can also use a can of compressed air to blow out any debris that’s stuck in between the teeth on your chainsaw blade as well as help loosen it up before removing it from the saw bar. Be sure to wear protective eyeglasses when doing so though just in case something comes flying off.
If you have a camera phone to hand, take pictures along the way. It’s the easiest way of remembering how everything was before you began cleaning.
Once you’ve done all of that, follow these simple steps:
Step One
Remove Chain From Bar – The first step is to remove your chain from its current position around your blade by loosening one side with a flathead screwdriver and pulling away in the opposite direction until both sides are free from grooves on frame.
Step Two
Remove Saw Bar – After you’ve successfully removed your chain from around the saw bar, then it’s time to remove that as well. Be sure not to hit yourself in any way with the blade during this process because even if it doesn’t cut through the skin, there are still some nasty injuries that can occur.
To avoid injury follow these steps:
- Take a hammer or small block of wood and place it over the teeth of the blade so they are facing up towards the sky (the opposite end to where the handle is).
- Hold onto handle firmly while keeping pressure on top of saw bar with other hand. This will ensure that nothing comes flying at you unexpectedly when removing the bar. If only one person is available for this step, then it’s a good idea to place the tip of bar on ground with teeth facing up and hold the handle while someone else secures top end.
- Once you have both ends secured, slowly pull saw bar away from chainsaw body until fully removed.
Step Three
Remove the Cutting Bar – This is probably one of the easiest steps in taking your chainsaw apart because there are only two bolts that need to be loosened before removing the bar completely. To do this:
- Loosen each bolt about half way down using flathead screwdriver or small wrench (depending on size). Be sure not to take them off all of the way yet. You’ll still need these later so don’t lose of where they go when reassembling.
- Once you have loosened bolts, gently pull blade away from chainsaw body while holding onto handle firmly with other hand.
Step Four
Clean Out Debris – Now that your saw bar and chain are removed it’s time to give some attention to the inside of the chainsaw itself.
This is probably one of the most important steps when taking apart your chainsaw because if there was any debris stuck in between teeth on blades or around the motor area then this will allow for a more thorough cleanout at end of the process.
Cleaning your chainsaw
- Use a can of compressed air (if available) to blow all dirt and dust off areas where oil normally resides such as engine casing and top part surrounding rear flywheel spark plug.
- If no compressed air is available, then you can use small brush or rag to wipe away any particles that are around. Anything left over will be blown out with air in next step.
- Once all dirt and grime has been removed from chainsaw body, it’s time for oil change! To do this:
- Remove cap on top of engine casing where flywheel is (opposite end where spark plug wire goes). Using large screwdriver or wrench turn counter clockwise until comes off completely so you can remove used motor oil inside and replace with new one. Make sure to set aside old container because if using gas/oil mix formula the ratio still remains at 40:one respectively but if planning on just using straight oil, then this will need to be done as well.
- After you have replaced used the engine oil with new one being sure not to over fill it, replace cap on top casing and tighten back into place just as before. It’s also a good idea at this time to check that all bolts are tightened securely down so nothing can come loose while operating your chainsaw again in future sessions
Reassembling Your Chainsaw
Once you’re satisfied with how clean your chainsaw is, it’s now to reassemble it. If you were taking pictures along the way from the start you then need to put it all back together in reverse order of how you took it apart.
- Place saw bar back onto chainsaw body so teeth are facing inward and align bolt holes together with motor casing for each side. Make sure to place washers on before placing bolts in as this will ensure that they go all the way through without coming loose over time!
- Once bolts have been placed into their respective spots, turn screwdriver/wrench counter clockwise until tightened down securely once again (about 50% should do).You don’t want them too tight because then your chain won’t turn. You also do not want it too loose either or else risk losing a fastener during use which could cause serious injury if proper care is not taken every single time when operating your chainsaw.
Final Thoughts
The key thing to remember is that if your chainsaw is losing power and it’s not always because you’re running out of fuel, then here are a few key things to look for.
The bar needs lubrication in order to keep spinning smoothly, so be sure to check the oil level.
Other common problems include contaminated fuel; improper oiling; too frequent starts without enough rest between uses; worn-out spark plug wires; old air filters etc.
