Apart from keeping your chain properly sharp, another important aspect governing the chainsaw’s performance is the chain tightness. It is also known as chain tension. Maintaining the right tension on your chain is an easy but technical thing to do. Often chainsaw operators failed to get good results from chainsaws despite having an advanced and latest model. They maintain the chainsaw adequately, keep the chains sharp but fail to get the correct tension on the chain. If you are one of them and are worried about chain tension, we have got you covered in this guide. We will discuss the proper tension and on the chain and how to achieve it.
Testing the Chain Tension
To test the chain tension, you can use two tests. They are explained below.
The Snap Test: Snap testing can be done by pulling the chain away from the guide bar with your hands. Pull as far as you can. In case you aren’t able to pull the chain away, it is too tight and needs to be adjusted. If you succeed in pulling the chain away, and it fits back on the guide bar grooves, the tension is correct. If it limbs down, it needs to be tightened.
The Pull Test: In this test, you will again need to pull the chain away from the bar. If the drive links clear of the groove completely, conclude that the chain is loose. If the drive links do pull a little, but the ends remain within the groove bar, the tension is fine.
The above tests will help you establish the current state of chain tension.
How Tight Should the Chain be – A Technical Analysis
The appropriate tension means that your chain must not be too loose and not too tight. Either way, your saw will not work as you expect it to. Improper tension is also a hazard to work with. The right tension also depends upon the saw’s temperature. If you measure the tension on a cold saw, the chain must fit closely to the guide bar. When the saw is hot, the chain is a bit loose. The drive links will hang around 1/16th of an inch below the guide bar grooves. You can use a small measuring scale to measure this. Another way to check the chain tension is to rotate a cold saw guide bar with your hand. If it moves freely, the chain tension is perfect. In this way, you can check the tightness of your chain for both hot and cold saws.
How to Tighten the Chain?
The next step in getting the right chain tension is tensioning a loose chain. You don’t need to run to a technician to get the right chain tension for your saw. It is an easy process, and you can tighten the chain yourself. The following procedure will guide you through the chain tensioning procedure. Before you start adjusting the chain, make sure you follow all the safety precautions.
Step 1: To adjust the chain tension, begin by loosening the side cover nuts. Don’t take them out from the holes.
Step 2: Hold the tip of the bar up and adjust the tensioning screw clockwise to increase the tension and counterclockwise to loosen it. The chain tensioning screw or knob is usually located near the guide bar nuts or on the other side. If you can’t find it, refer to the instruction manual to locate it. Don’t release the guide bar tip while adjusting the tensioning screw.
Step 3: Once you feel like the chain links are at the right place, tighten the nuts you loosened in the first step. Check the chain by moving the guide bar. If it moves freely, you have achieved the right tension. The side cover nuts hold the bar in position. Tighten them firmly but don’t put in too much strength. We don’t want you to crack the guide bar cover.
That’s all. You can achieve the right tensioning on the chain in just three simple steps.
Safety Precautions
While working with the chain, you must take the safety measures listed below.
- The chainsaw must be turned off and must not be hot when you are working on it.
- It must be placed on a flat surface, preferably at waist height.
- You must wear work gloves and avoid wearing loose clothing such as bracelets, mufflers, rings, or any clothing item which can get stuck in the chain.
- Keep children away from the worksite.
- Work in a properly lit area.
- For electric chainsaws, make sure that the plug is removed from the saw before starting the sharpening process. For battery-operated saws, the battery must be removed from the saw.
Dangers of Running a Chainsaw with Improper Tension
- A loose chain can damage the guide bar and reduce the lifespan of the chain.
- An improperly tensioned chain can hurt the operator.
- Too much tension will force the saw to work more. The majority of the saw’s power will be used for moving the guide bar, and you will not get good results. It will increase energy consumption and will not give good results.
- Improper tension can also increase bar and chain oil consumption.