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Anyone that owns a chainsaw should make sure they know how to maintain these tools. One of the things you’ll have to learn is how to oil the bar or chain of your device. Thankfully, picking up these skills is a lot easier than you might think. Here’s how you can learn how to take care of your chainsaw.
How To Grease The Chainsaw Bar
One key tip to maintaining a chainsaw that works for the long haul is ensuring the chainsaw bar is greased. This is an extremely easy task to do with the right tools. Watch the video below to see how easy it is to do.
Some, not all chainsaw bars come with a grease hole near the end. This is a tiny hole big enough for a needle to be inserted. Using a Oregon Premium Steel Grease Gun you simply squeeze the trigger and fill the bar with grease.
This can be done with the chain still intact. Now roll the chain over the bar and let the grease spread out over the chain.
If your chainsaw bar doesn’t have a hole, you can squeeze the grease onto the tips of the chain and around the outer edge as seen in the video below. Doing this will extend the life of your bar and the sprocket on the tip, especially during cutting season.
How To Oil A Chainsaw
Oiling a chainsaw is very easy. All that is required is a funnel and some chain oil. Making sure the engine is cool you simply look for the cap which has the oil symbol on it. Open it, using a funnel pour in some quality MaxPower chain and bar oil until you reach the maximum level.
Close up the cap and wipe away any excess oil on the chainsaw and the bottle. Now you are good to go. With your chain oiled and the bar greased, your chainsaw is going to be healthier than ever before.
Read The Manual That Came With Your Chainsaw
If you haven’t read over the manual that you received when you purchased your chainsaw, you’ll want to take a look at it now. You should be able to find a wealth of information within the pages of that manual, including in-depth information on oiling your device.
Manuals aren’t exactly light reading, which means a lot of people don’t bother to give their manuals a closer look. However, if you are willing to sit down with your manual, you’ll be able to keep your tool in tip-top shape.
Remember, you don’t have to read your manual cover-to-cover in a single sitting. It’s fine to take your time with your manual. Look it over carefully so that you can see what the manual actually says.
Look For Tutorials
If you’re not able to find the guidance you need in your manual, you’ll want to start looking for tutorials. There are all kinds of tutorials that can help you oil your chainsaw. A lot of guides will walk you through the process one step at a time.
Because there are all kinds of guide out there, you may be able to find a tutorial that specifically focuses on the type of chainsaw that you own. Even if you don’t have a guide that was specifically written with your chainsaw in mind, you should be able to find a tutorial that is relevant to someone like you.
Look For Videos
Not everyone can learn new skills by reading about them. Some people are only able to learn new things if they see another person tackle the task. If you’re having a hard time learning how to oil your chainsaw bar or chain, you’ll definitely want to look for helpful video footage.
There are all kinds of videos that will show you the oil process. Some videos are designed to be guides. Other videos simply give someone the opportunity to demonstrate their technique. No matter what kind of video you wind up watching, you’ll be able to pick up a number of things.
Contact The Manufacturer Of Your Chainsaw
A lot of people don’t think to turn to the manufacturer of their tools when they are having problems with them. If you’ve purchased a chainsaw that was made by a top-grade manufacturer, it’s safe to assume that they will be willing to provide help if you need it.
The manufacturer of your chainsaw should know exactly how the tool should be cared for. They’ll be able to help you learn how to oil the bar or chain of your device. Whether you give them a call or send them an email, you should be able to get plenty of help from them.
Ask For Assistance
If this is something you’ve been struggling with for a while, you may want to reach out to other people you know that own chainsaw. See if they can provide you with any tips or guidance.
When you talk to someone that you know personally, you’ll have the opportunity to question them directly. You’ll be able to speak with them and get the specific information that you need. You can also ask them to demonstrate specific skills to you.
If you don’t know anyone that has experience with chainsaws, you don’t have to worry. There are plenty of online communities that can give you the advice that you need. Join a community that will be able to answer your questions about chainsaws. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of the knowledge and expertise of online communities.
Make Sure You Have Everything You Need
It can be hard to take care of your tools if you don’t have the right supplies. Before you start oiling your chainsaw, you should confirm that you all of the supplies that you need. If you’re missing something essential, you could run into some problems.
Of course, you shouldn’t just make sure you have all of the necessary supplies. You should also make sure you purchase high-quality supplies. Sometimes, using a different oil when you work on your chainsaw can make the process a lot easier.
Experiment And Find A Technique That Works For You
There’s more than one way to oil a chainsaw. As long as you have the basics down, you should be able to experiment with a number of oiling methods. You don’t have to stick to one single technique; you should be able to try out some other methods as well.
If you’re having a hard time oiling your chainsaw, you might want to change your approach. Sometimes, trying out a different method can make a world of difference. If you find the best way to oil your chainsaw, you’ll be able to take care of your tool with ease.
How To Know If You Have Oiled The Chain Properly
Once you have oiled up your chainsaw bar & chain you need to make sure you have done the job correctly. Doing this is fairly simple, but ensuring safety is your main concern.
To figure out if you have oiled the chain correctly, wear a glove and make sure the chainsaw is off and stationary. Now using your gloved hand, pull the chain away from you. Now grab the chain again and continue to rotate the chain over the bar away from your body. The chain should flow smoothly without any clunky jumpy sections.
Next you need to ensure you have oiled the chain enough. To do this you need a vertical surface where you can see oil clearly. Once you have a vertical surface, turn on your chainsaw. Don’t do this from a cold start tho as the oil won’t flow properly.
Some chainsaws will have a oil adjuster screw underneath, you may need to turn this up for the oil to flow properly. Now have the chainsaw about 2 inches from the vertical surface and give it some revs. Keep working the chainsaw and after a minute or two you should see a line of oil flick onto the surface. For a video demonstration, see below.
Make Sure You Know What You Are Doing
When you’re working with a potentially dangerous tool like a chainsaw, you really can’t be too safe. You should try to take every precaution you can with your chainsaw. If you’re not sure you’re taking the right approach, you should stop and gather the information you need.
You shouldn’t rely on guesswork when you’re doing something like oiling a chainsaw. While it’s perfectly fine to experiment and try out different things, you should also try to figure out what you are doing. If you feel like you’re missing an important piece of the puzzle, you should seek out more information before you start up your task.
Once you know what your chainsaw needs, you’ll be able to keep your tool in mint condition. You’ll be able to rely on your chainsaw whenever you need it. Chainsaws aren’t always easy to care for, but it is easy to get the knowledge that you need.
