Sharp Advice for Chainsaw Owners - Saw Chain
Contents
1. Quick Summary of Maintenance Instructions S Ta a n When assembling the bar and chain it is necessary to observe important but partially different procedures for each powerhead Therefore the instructions outlined in the Instruction Manual for the specific unit must be followed In order to increase the service life of the saw chain sprocket and guide bar two new chains should always be used in rotation with a new sprocket Service life of the saw chain and guide bar depends on the quality of the lubricant It is therefore essential to use a specially formulated chain lubricant N kd lt A chain should be tensioned correctly and run without load at partial throttle for about 3 minutes to break it in Ample lubrication is essential during this period If the saw is equipped with an adjustable bar and chain oiler the maximum flow should be set for the first hour of operation Correct chain tension and lubrication are critical for both the cutting results and the service life of the cutting attachments Chain lubrication must be checked before starting work Chain tension should be visually checked with the engine switched off both before and during cutting and corrected as necessary Correct sharpening requires not only sharpening of the cutters but also correct depth gauge settings Filed back cutters lead to lower depth gauge settings if not adjusted low depth gauge settings caused by filing only cutters2. and not depth gauges may lead to lower cutting efficiency Higher feeding force would be required which can cause operator fatique and further wear on chain guidebar sprocket and anti vibration system The guide bar should be turned over every time the chain is sharpened or changed The guide bar groove and the oil inlet hole must be cleaned at regular intervals The operator should never cut with a dull chain The chain should always be sharpened as necessary according to instructions supplied in the Instruction Manual or the instructions supplied with the chain Only STIHL sharpening aids should be used and the detailed sharpening instructions in the Instruction Manual or the instructions supplied with the sharpener must be followed The operator should always observe the safety precautions and warnings given in the Instruction Manual when operating the saw or sharpening the saw chain Important Information The occurrence called kickback can cause serious or fatal injuries Always read your Instruction Manual carefully before using your saw In the U S A STIHL has developed a color code system using green and yellow to helo you select a powerhead bar and chain combination that complies with the kickback requirements of ANSI Standard B 175 1 Ask your STIHL dealer about safe operating procedures and the advantages of the STIHL Quickstop chain brake STIHL reduced kickback bars and STIHL low kickback saw chains In Canad
3. fit different gauges of saw chain are available from your STIHL dealer 16 Guide Bar Care Guide Bars In General Guide bars wear faster in the area where most of the cutting Is done on the underside of the bar You should check the guide bar often for bent or worn guide rails and cracked burred edges Badly damaged bars must be replaced With proper lubrication and light filing you can prevent most damage and make the bar last longer Appearance a Evenly worn bar rails minimum depth has been reached Instructions Clean the bar grooves often Whenever you remove the bar turn it over so that it will wear evenly Check the groove depth after a bar has been used for a while Old guide bar rails wear and the groove can become too shallow for saw chain drive links to pass through the groove properly On solid nose guide bars measure the groove depth where the heaviest cutting is done On sprocket nose bars measure the depth at the nose If the depth is less than it should be the nose should be replaced Inspect chain often to make sure that the tie straps are riding evenly on the guard rails of the guide bar Lightly file burrs to remove them Appearance Splayed bar rails groove spread Appearance Pinched bar groove b Unevenly worn bar rails Drive Sprocket Care Drive sprockets must always match the saw chain pitch which is being used A servicing dealer is best equipp
4. A guide to the care and maintenance of saw chain and guide bars Sharp Advice For Chain Saw Owners 0000 000 3409 M_ G10 BP Printed in USA 2010 STIHL Incorporated www stihlusa com Important Information Any chain saw no matter what make is only as good as its saw chain Never ignore chain maintenance if you do poor cutting is just one result An improperly cared for chain will eventually ruin the bar the sprocket and other engine parts Poorly maintained chain is also a potential safety hazard since it can contribute to a reaction known as kickback see page 22 for definition and hints on how to reduce the risk of kickback Keeping a chain in good repair will save both money and cutting time This brochure is designed to cover only chain bar and sprocket maintenance For general chain saw care always refer to the Instruction Manual and your servicing chain saw dealer Please visit stihlusa com to download Chain Saw Instruction and Safety Manuals and to view or order a DVD of the Chain Saw Safety Operation amp Maintenance video The following trademarks used in this booklet are among those owned by ANDREAS STIHL AG amp Co KG Waiblingen November 3 2009 Some of STIHL s Registered Trademarks 1 STIHL 2 STIHL 3 Gh 4 The color combinations U S Registrations 2 821 860 3 010 057 3 010 058 3 400 477 and 3 400 476 5 OILOMATIC 6 STIHL DUROMATIC 7 STIHL Quickstop 8 ST
5. IHL ROLLOMATIC Some of STIH s Common Law Trademarks 9 BioPlus 10 Ematic 11 Micro 12 STIHL Compact 13 STIHL PICCO 14 STIHL RAPID This listing of trademarks is subject to change Any unauthorized use of these trademarks without the express written consent of ANDREAS STIHL AG amp Co KG Wailblingen is strictly prohibited Contents Quick Summary of Maintenance Instructions 2 Important Information ANSI CSA cc cece cccccccce eee eeeeeees 4 Ena Cans MUIS Siseseinte Aa iin 4 It s Time To Sharpen When cccccccccceesseeseceeeeeeeeaeeean ees 5 EEEE E EE E E E T 5 STIR L OILOMIAIIC Saw Chali snssescspnnspsesnindi 6 WGI ICOM EENEN AAEE E TEA 8 ANT Cale seesi napaa n iaoi 11 Tensioning Saw Chain ssississrercisieierniseciiieiideneninre iieiea 11 Breaking IN Saw Chain cccccccccccccccceeesseeeeeeeeeeeeeesaeeeeees 12 Sharpening Saw CHEM isdisecspersatsisdsiesspacsaldieataoncpencatunsataeds 13 Gude Bar A Ss aie ac tcargeiypricrs seine darts arse cteieateaddettoegtensncicarteaeets 16 Drive Sprocket Cal Sic idncisacssnestdsdannssausnestiaddotiecatnesddsidentutds V7 Troubleshooting Chain Wear cccccccccseeccccceceeeeeeeeeeeees 18 Special Cold Weather Care ccccccccecccccccceeeeeeseeeeseeeeees 22 Kickback VWVafmning essaiera enpr 22 File FG COMIMGENGATONS sasarean ea 23 NOIE S ora E ienbeomneatareuantaanees 24 Date of Chain Sprocket and Bar Replacement 25
6. a STIHL saw chain meets kickback requirements of CSA Standard Z62 3 M1990 when tested on a representative sample of chain saws Chain Care Rules 1 Avoid hitting dirt rocks or any other abrasive material while cutting 2 Check the chain tension often Never allow the chain to sag See page 11 3 Never force a dull chain to cut it increases the risk of Injury and will damage the bar and chain 4 Never install a new chain without inspecting the sprocket and replacing a worn sprocket 5 Always sharpen chain cutters to correct angles See pages 13 15 6 Measure the depth gauges with every sharpening lower and re profile as necessary See page 15 7 Check the entire chain often for visible wear or damage See pages 18 21 for common wear problems 8 Check the depth of the bar groove for proper drive link clearance examine the bar rails for even wear and clean the bar groove 9 Always wear gloves when handling saw chain 10 Keep a protective scabbard on the bar when the saw is not in use 11 Make sure that your chain is always properly lubricated See page 10 Use a quality brand of bar and chain lubricant Its Time To Sharpen when e You are getting fine sawdust instead of wood chips e The saw does not cut in a Straight line e The cutters are not properly sharpened e The chain chatters and jumps the depth gauge needs adjustment Chip Removal The following description of the chip remo
7. aler after sharpening it about five times yourself Even with the correct hand tools you run the risk of Tiling incorrect angles A dealer has the equipment to precisely file chain and a professional sharpening will make the chain last longer Instructions File your chain frequently yet take away as little material as possible each time If the chain is damaged file back beyond the damaged area Looking at the top of the bar Sharpening cutters Start by finding the cutter with the shortest top length the master cutter Sharpen it to the correct angle and then file all the other cutters to match its length Use a caliper to measure the cutters File all the cutters on one side of the chain first then file the cutters facing the opposite direction When filing the cutter be sure to use the correct round file and always direct it from the inside to the outside of the cutter That is sharpen only on the forward stroke lift the file off during the backward stroke Filing depth gauges Check the depth gauge for the correct height every time you sharpen the cutters If the depth gauge sticks up above the filing gauge first file it level with a flat file Then make sure that all the other depth gauges are filed to the same height Finally slightly file each leading edge to round the corner back to its original shape Use a depth gauge tool for accurate measurement and fil ing These tools to
8. bar oil needed Perform a lubrication checkup Check the oil level every time you refuel the engine To check chain lubrication before and during cutting position the bar nose over a light background tree stump sawdust etc and run the engine at half throttle making sure It throws out an increasing trace of oll Be careful not to allow the tip of the bar to contact any surface If you do kickback may result Keep the oil inlet holes and bar groove open and free from dirt Use STIHL Bar amp Chain Oil Do not use old engine oil or other oil not designed for bar and chain lubrication STIHL bar and chain oil has special additives that help it adhere to the bar and chain as well as keep tree pitch from gumming up moving parts There are also formulations for working in cold conditions A STIHL biodegradeable bar and chain oil is also available from your local STIHL dealer Saw Chain Care Tensioning Saw Chain Never attempt to adjust the tension while the engine IS running Saw chain should not be tight when you re done cutting since the chain will shrink as it cools off Loosen it slightly so it doesn t tighten on the bar Wearing work gloves loosen bar mounting nuts enough for the nose of the bar to slightly move up and down Hold up the nose of the bar Tighten the chain adjusting screw 1 until the chain will move freely without binding when pulled by hand To make sure n
9. e Flat Filing Gauge 1 85 sighting edge for Micro cutter RM RC PM PMN PMM 2 60 sighting edge for Super cutter RS 3 80 sighting edge for special ripping chain 4 Sighting edge for 30 filing angle 5 Sighting edge for 35 filing angle 6 Sighting edge for 10 filing angle 7 Cut out for depth gauge setting 8 Bar groove cleaner and scale for groove depth mm Guide Bar Dressing Tool 23 Date of Chain Sprocket Notes and Bar Replacement Chain Saw Model Chain Chain Sprocket Bar Equipped with Saw Chain Type Guide Bar
10. ed to match and replace corresponding chains and sprockets If the wear marks on the sprocket are significantly more than 02 inch or 5 mm you should replace the sprocket Never install a new chain on a worn sprocket A properly maintained sprocket will usually last through two chains TIP A general rule of thumb is to replace one sprocket for every two chains one bar for every two sprockets and every four Appearance Excessive wear chains 4 2 1 on teeth 4 chains 2 sprockets 1 bar Troubleshooting Chain Wear Following are some of the most common problems Condition Damaged top and or side on cutter Chain won t cut Straight Cause Cutter has hit material other than wood Remedy File cutter to remove the damage File other cutters to same size Condition Cutter angle blunt on top edge or sloping back on side edge Chain must be forced to cut Cause File too large or held too high Remedy File to correct angle with proper file Condition Hook in side cutting edge or top cutting edge feathered Cutters dulling quickly Cause File held too low or diameter of file too small Remedy File to correct angle with proper file Condition Blunt depth gauge Chain cuts rough excess vibration Cause Improperly filed depth gauge Remedy Round off front edge of depth gauge to original shape and check height 20 Condition Damage or broken drive link
11. o kinks are in the chain snap it by pulling it out from the bar and letting go Then check the tension again Lift the chain from the top middle of the bar The drive links should remain in the bar groove Retighten bar mounting nuts while still holding up the bar nose and then make a final tension check Breaking In Saw Chain Even though STIHL OILOMATIC saw chain is pre stretched at the factory new saw chain needs a first run just to break in The break in smooths out tiny irregularities on the friction faces and allows the chain to properly seat the rivets The tension should be readjusted just before the chain actually goes to work Run the saw at low speed for approximately three minutes If your automatic oiler is adjustable initially increase the flow for a short time Geometry of the Cutter The cutter consists of 1 Basic tooth body 2 lop plate 3 Depth gauge 4 Side plate cutting edge 5 Top plate cutting edge Clearance Angle of the Top Plate The top plate is inclined to the rear to form the clearance angle that is essential for the top plate cutting edge to feed into the wood Clearance Angle of the Side Plate The top plate is tapered to the a At rear to form the clearance angle for 4 the side plate cutting edge This angle is necessary to separate the side of the chip from the wall of the cut Top Plate Cutting Angle The top plate cutting angle is the forward slope of the
12. od increases friction on both the cutters and tie straps and can cause them to wear or break WARNING A Kickback Kickback may occur when the moving saw chain near the upper quadrant of the bar nose contacts a solid object or is pinched The reaction of the cutting force of the chain causes a rotational force on the chain saw in the direction opposite to the chain movement This may fling the bar up and Zt back in an uncontrolled arc mainly at in the plane of the bar Under some cutting circumstances the bar moves towards the operator who may suffer severe or fatal injury Kickback may occur when the nose of the guide bar is pinched unexpectedly unintentionally contacts solid material in the wood or is incorrectly used to begin a plunge or boring cut It may also occur during limbing The greater the force of the kickback reaction the more difficult it becomes for the operator to control the saw Many factors influence the occurence and force of the kickback reaction These include chain speed the speed at which the bar and chain contact the object the angle of contact the condition of the chain and other factors File Recommendations Chain Pitch Type File File Profile 1 4 5 32 4 0mm Round 3 8 5 32 4 0mm Round 320 3 16 4 8mm Round 3 8 13 64 5 2mm Round 404 7 32 5 5mm Round 3 8 Square Ground Cutter Tapered or Triangular 404 Super Square Ground Cutter Tapered or Triangular Depth Gauge Fil
13. of any three rivets divided by two The result is the pitch in inches Example 3 8 The pitch size in inches is stamped on each depth gauge The drive link gauge must match the width of the guide bar groove so that the chain fits the bar exactly This measurement is quoted in inches or millimeters There are chains with drive link gauges of 043 1 1 mm 050 1 3 mm 058 1 5 mm 063 1 6 mm and 080 2 0 mm for harvester chain only The last digit of the measurement in millimeters is stamped on every drive link The chain length is quoted in terms of the numbers of drive links The complete marketing numbers of STIHL saw chains give all the details regarding the chain pitch drive link gauge and the number of drive links For illustrative purposes this diagram contains both green and yellow tie strap compnents Standard tie strap Green Low kickback chains Standard tie strap Yellow Chains other than Low kickback chain Right hand cutter Zz _ Standard tie strap Left hand cutter Drive link with channel Green Low Kickback chains Yellow Chains other than Low Kickback chains UU ten one 3003 000 6813 ji A Chain length depends on the length of the bar and is measured by drive links Each STIHL bar has the number of required drive links stamped into the tail of the bar Tie straps connect the cutters and the drive links together with rivets A tie strap
14. s own saw chains You can be assured the same quality engineering and innovative technology that have made our chain saws famous goes into every component of long life STIHL OILOMATIC saw chain STIHL produces saw chains for all tyoes of wood cutting and for most makes of chain saws Every saw chain manufactured by STIHL incorporates the exclusive patented OILOMATIC lubricating feature The Ematic Bar Lubrication System When used with STIHL OILOMATIC saw chain it will provide optimal lubrication longer wear and less oll consumption than conventional methods Two ramps strategically placed in the guide bar rail helo contain the flow of oil and direct all lubrication to where it is needed The Ematic system can reduce bar oil consumption up to 50 Prestretched Chain Chromed Cutters e Prestretched before leaving the e Sharpened before assembly factory e Stay sharp longer with less filing e Helps eliminate excessive chain e Filing angle indicator mark on stretching during break in period depth gauge e Reduces maintenance time and e Wear indicators on cutters 3 component wear Hardened Rivets 4 OILOMATIC Drive Links 1 e Enable rivets to withstand high e OILOMATIC channel funnels oil loads directly to rivets reducing friction and wear e Reduces volume of bar oil needed Chamfered Rivet Holes 2 e Special machining process ensures smooth rivet holes with no 3 microscopic cracks e Reduces volume of
15. tangs Cause Chain runs too loose or has jumped off bar Remedy File off burrs Tighten chain tension Replace broken parts if damaged too much to file Inspect guide bar and drive sprocket Condition Front or back of drive link peened battered around the edge Cause Worn sprocket sprocket pitch does not match chain pitch insufficient chain tension Remedy Replace sprocket Replace saw chain and tension correctly an Condition Peening or premature flattening on bottom of cutters and tie straps Cause Loose chain tension Dull cutters Lack of lubrication Chain has been forced to cut Remedy Chain must be replaced if badly worn Check chain tension and cutter sharoness more frequently Check guide bar for wear or damage Condition Burring and peening in notch of tie strap Cause Worn chain sprocket Remedy Replace sprocket and chain 21 22 Special Cold Weather Care If a chain is tensioned in very cold weather it will sag when it reaches the normal operating temperature Always keep the chain tension tight while cutting and loosen it after operation or it will cool contract and break possibly damaging the bar the crankshaft and the bearings on the crankshaft At extremely low temperatures normal chain oil will set become too thick to flow A winter grade bar and chain oil should be used Increase the oil flow while cutting in cold weather Cutting frozen wo
16. top plate cutting edge relative to the bottom of the cutter Depending on the chain type it is 50 to 60 The top plate cutting edge is the main cutting edge on the cutter and Its angle is therefore the most important of all It must be maintained exactly Although it is difficult to measure the angle will automatically be correct if the other specified angles are observed Filing Angle The filing angle is measured from a line at right angles to the guide bar to the top plate cutting edge Sharpening Saw Chain Trying to cut wood with a dull chain means a loss of power and cutting speed higher fuel consumption an excessive rate of wear on the guide bar the sprocket and the engine and fatigue for the operator A properly sharpened chain will feed itself into a cut when only slight pressure is applied If a chain has to be forced into a cut by bearing down on the saw the cutters either are too dull or have been damaged Dull chain is also evident when only fine sawdust is pulled from the cut rather than chips of wood Make sure your chain is always correctly tensioned if you sharpen it on the saw It is difficult to accurately file a loose chain Use only the correct file size guide and file gauges recommended for specific types of chain See the chart in the back of this booklet 14 Always file to the correct angles recommended for specific types of chain Have your chain resharpened by a servicing de
17. ving process refers to the action of a single random cutter The guide bar is parallel to the bottom of the kerf The feed force is transmitted via the guide bar and toe and heel of the cutter edge into the bottom of the kerf As a result of the top plate clearance angle and the acute angle of the cutting edge the cutter plunges into the wood as the chain moves forward When the depth gauge touches the bottom of the cut the cutting edge levels out and continues running parallel to the bottom of the cut It is at this point that chip removal takes place The depth gauge setting determines the thickness of the chip removed The side plate cutting edge separates the chip from the wall of the cut As the saw chain has alternate right and left hand cutters chip separation is performaed at each side of the cut with every second cutter The chip removed in this way passes through the chip channel under the top plate and into the chip space between the cutters where it remains until the cutters emerge from the kerf The chip is then ejected STIHL OILOMATIC Saw Chain Design of STIHL Saw Chain STIHL saw chains are always assembled in the same basic pattern The illustration shows the component parts of a STIHL RAPID chain The important characteristics which define a chain are the chain pitch the drive link gauge drive link count and chain length The pitch is the distance in inches between the centers
18. with rivets already mounted is called a preset tie strap 1 basic tooth body 2 top plate 3 depth gauge 4 side plate cutting edge 5 top plate cutting edge Cutters Each cutter has the cutting edge itself and the ramp in front of the cutting edge called the depth gauge which leads the cutter into the wood and determines how large a bite the cutter will take If the depth gauge is too high the chain will cut very slowly if the depth gauge is too low the cutter will grab too much wood and jam perhaps causing kickback On saw chains cutters are positioned so that each right hand cutter alternates with a left hand cutter Lubrication In General Saw chain revolves around the bar at approximately 50 feet per second depending on engine type size and bar length That means extreme friction wherever any two parts rub rivets against drive links tie straps against drive links drive links against cutters and the entire chain against the guide bar Without proper lubrication between the friction faces the parts will rapidly deteriorate and eventually wear themselves out All STIHL chain saws have automatic chain oiling systems Some chain saws have adjustable automatic chain oiling systems With either the oil is pumped into the bar groove where it is scooped up by the passing drive link STIHL OILOMATIC Saw Chain STIHL is the only chain saw manufacturer worldwide that designs and manufactures it
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