How to tighten chainsaw chain

It is essential to keep your chainsaw chains tightened and sharp for efficient and safe performance. So, the first step in keeping your saw working properly is holding the chain tight. So, here we are going to discuss the complete method of how to tighten chainsaw chain.

Never let the chain get so loose that it slips off the bar while cutting or idling along at high speeds. You can tell when a chain is too loose because it will start to flop around and jump off the bar. On the other hand, chains that are too tight will be hard to start and very sluggish while running and can also cause dangerous kickbacks.

Tightening chains is an essential part of saw maintenance, It does not matter that you are using electric chainsaw or 4 stroke chainsaw or any other type, you need to tighten the chain. Make sure to check your chain once a week or after every couple hours of use.

How to tighten chainsaw chain

Before you start tightening your chain, be sure the engine has cooled off. Trying to tighten a saw with hot metal will burn you.

Before you have a chance to tighten your chainsaw chain, you will need to collect some necessary items so that the task is as easy as possible for you. 

Here are some of the things you’ll need: – Flathead screwdriver – Phillips head screwdriver – Socket wrench with drivers in both sizes – Torque wrench – New chain.

Tight the Chain Bar

To get started, you need to inspect the situation. If you can see that there is a play between the bar and blade, then it is pretty easy to tighten it again with some simple tools. You can tighten the bar in three different ways. Let’s get started to explore them.

Screwdriver tightening method

If your saw is vibrating or running very loudly, the problem is most likely with the screws holding the bar to the saw.

Take a look at the bar closely, and you’ll see two screws on one side and often just one on the other. The ones that are loose will be easy to spot as they will come out very far from the body of the bar. What you need to do is tighten these with a screwdriver. So that it no longer comes loose and stays in place while you use your chainsaw.

To do this, counter-tighten the screws with a screwdriver until they are snug and then turn them back half a turn to get an even tighter grip. It will be much more challenging to get out if one is stripped, so you may want to skip that one for now and come back to it when you have the time.

Socket wrench tightening method

It is a much more secure way of keeping the bar in place, but it does require that your chain saw has screws on both sides. If not, this method will still work, but you’ll have to tighten one at a time instead of being able to do them both at once.

The screws you need to tighten are located on the top and bottom of your chainsaw bar. You will want to remove it from the saw, place it on a flat surface so that the blade is facing up, and use a socket wrench to tighten them. While you do this, pay attention to how tight they have become, ensuring they aren’t too tight to avoid future damage.

Using a torque wrench for tightening chainsaw 

It is by far the most secure way of keeping it in place, but you will need a torque wrench to get the job done.

The problem is that not every homeowner has one of these handy, so it may be an option for you if your saw is already damaged or you have no other options, but it’s definitely worth trying out the other two methods first to see if they work for you!

Tightening the chain

There’s no technical way to do this. You can do it as you normally would, however you must know the vital thing before tightening the chain. You must be careful not to loosen or tighten the tensioner, which will make your chainsaw bounce around while running and prevent you from getting the right amount of fuel.

Locate and tight the Tensioning Screw

The tensioning screw is located beneath the front handle above the cover. This screw tightens and loosens the chain when it’s in place on your saw’s guide bar. You just need to tighten or loosen the screws with any tightening tool like screwdriver or wrench. Tight it based on how loose or sharp you would like it to be. Must turn it clockwise to tighten the chain and anti-clockwise for loosening it. You can proceed with doing this until it fits properly around the guide bar.

Check and double-check that it’s tight!

Your last step is to check that everything has been tightened up properly. You will get the best results if you take your chainsaw for a test run to determine whether or not it’s running smoothly.

If it’s still not tight enough, you may have to keep tightening it. It may cause some parts of your blade to get more worn out faster than others, which is why checking the tension after every use is very important.

FAQs

Can you use a wrench to tighten a chain?

Sure! You just have to be careful that you don’t over tighten it and damage the saw. If this happens, you’ll need to replace the whole thing which can get expensive if it’s a newer model of chainsaw. Use the socket wrench as a guide for how far to tighten it.

Will the pipe wrench tighten chainsaw chain?

Yes! A pipe wrench is a very strong tool and isn’t likely to break if you use it properly, but be careful when using it with your saw. If you overdo it, you could end up damaging the bar or worse.

How do I tighten a chain saw chain?

There are different ways of doing this, so the best thing to do is research it based on your specific model. If you follow these guidelines then chances are that you’ll be able to keep your saw running smoothly for longer!

Do I need a torque wrench for chainsaws?

It’s possible to tighten your saw with a socket wrench, but you may need a torque wrench if tightening it that way doesn’t work for your saw.

You might also want to give one of these a try if you have no other options available.

How tight should chainsaw chain be?

This is something that varies depending on the model of your saw, but you should be able to find the correct tension level in the owner’s manual if it isn’t already printed on the bar. If you can’t find this info anywhere online, take out the blade and check to see how loose or tight things are before tightening it up any further.

Conclusion

As you see how easy method is it and you don’t need to hire any professional for this purpose. You can do it in your free time and save money. Keep this tips in mind before you begin, then follow each step to secure the bar with the tensioning screw and tighten the chain. After doing so, you will find that your chainsaw runs much smoother than it did before. I hope that this article on how to tighten chainsaw chain will be helpful for you.