Getting your chainsaw chain installation wrong means your saw will not cut wood properly. If you own a chainsaw, you need to know how to put a chainsaw chain on correctly. This guide walks you through the full process step by step so you can fit the chain safely and with confidence.
Many chainsaw owners make the same critical mistake: installing the chain backwards. When that happens, the chainsaw becomes useless because the teeth face the wrong direction. By the end of this guide, you will know exactly how to fit a chainsaw chain the right way.
Why Chain Direction Matters
Before you touch your chainsaw, you need to understand one critical rule:
The sharp end of the cutting teeth must always face forwards. This is the rule that makes the difference between a working chainsaw and one that will not cut properly.
How It Works
When your chainsaw operates, the chain moves along the metal bar. As it moves, the teeth cut into wood, but only if those teeth are facing the correct direction.
Think about a knife. If you try to cut bread using the blunt side, nothing happens. The same principle applies to your chainsaw chain. The pointed, sharp edge is what cuts. The blunt end does nothing.
If you install your chain with the teeth facing backwards:
- The blunt end moves along the bar.
- The wood does not get cut.
- Your saw is useless.
If you install your chain correctly:
- The sharp points face forwards.
- The cutting teeth bite into wood.
- Your saw works properly.
How to Check the Chain Direction Before Installation
Hold the chain up to the light and check the teeth. Sharp points should face forwards; blunt edges face backward. This direction is essential for proper operation.
Understanding Your Chainsaw Chain
- Cutting Teeth: Sharp, pointed links that cut wood. Each tooth has a specific direction.
- Drive Links: Small connecting pieces that fit into the groove of the chainsaw bar, keeping the chain aligned.
- Chainsaw Bar: The long metal guide that holds the chain and ensures smooth movement.
- Tension Adjuster: Screw at the base of the bar that controls chain tightness. Too loose = chain falls off, too tight = strain on the motor.
- Side Cover: Protective cover that bolts onto the chainsaw and needs removal to fit the chain.
How to Fit Your Chainsaw Chain: 6 Steps
Step 1: Prepare Your Chainsaw Safely
- Switch off your chainsaw completely. Never work on a running chainsaw.
- Allow the engine to cool. Wait at least 15 to 20 minutes after use.
- Inspect your new chain. Hold it up and look at the teeth. Identify which direction the sharp points face.
Check that all your tools are nearby:
- Spanner or wrench for bolts.
- Screwdriver for tension adjustment.
- Work gloves for handling the chain.
Step 2: Loosen the Side Cover Bolts & Remove Chain
- Look at the side cover on your chainsaw. You will see bolts or nuts holding it in place.
- Using your spanner, loosen these bolts by turning them counterclockwise.
- Do not remove the bolts completely. You just need to loosen them enough so the cover becomes loose.
- Loosen the bolts slowly and carefully. Once loose, the cover should move slightly when you gently push it.
- Next, remove the chainsaw bar by gently sliding it off the mounting points.
- Once the bar is free, carefully remove the chain from the bar. Ensure you do this slowly to avoid damaging the chain or bar.
Step 3: Wrap the Chain Around the Chainsaw Bar
- Before installing the new chain, inspect the guide bar. Remove any debris, dirt, or sawdust that may have built up during previous use
- Start at the back of the bar. Take your chain and begin wrapping it around the bar slowly.
- As you wrap the chain, make sure it sits in the groove that runs along the bar. The drive links must sit perfectly in this groove.
- Most importantly, make sure the sharp cutting teeth face forwards. Double-check the direction before you continue.
- Keep wrapping slowly around the bar and check for any twists or misalignments as you go.
By the time you have wrapped the entire chain, you should have:
- The chain is perfectly positioned in the groove.
- The sharp teeth facing the direction the saw cuts.
- No twists or bent sections.
- All drive links are sitting properly.
If something does not look right, unwrap and start again.
Step 4: Fit the Side Cover and Align the Tension Adjuster
- Once your chain is correctly wrapped around the bar, fit the side cover back on.
- Look at the base of the chainsaw bar. You will see the tension adjuster screw. The side cover has a hole that must align with this screw.
- Slide the side cover carefully back onto the chainsaw. Make sure the tension adjuster pokes through the hole in the cover.
- If the tension adjuster does not go through the hole, you will not be able to adjust the chain tension later.
- Once the cover is positioned correctly, insert the bolts back through the bolt holes, but do not tighten them yet.
Step 5: Adjust the Chainsaw Chain Tension
Using your screwdriver, turn the tension adjuster screw clockwise. This tightens the chain. Turn it slowly.
How to Test the Tension
Your goal is the right tension.
- Tight enough that the chain does not sag.
- Loose enough that you can move it by hand.
- Free-moving without resistance.
- Pull the middle of the chain away from the bar about one inch, then release it. It should snap back against the bar quickly and firmly.
- If the chain hangs loose and does not snap back, it is too loose. If the chain will not move when you push it, it is too tight.
- Keep adjusting until you get that quick snap-back response.
Why Tension Matters
- Too loose: The chain sags and can come off the bar during operation. This is dangerous.
- Too tight: The motor works too hard and the chain can snap or break.
Step 6: Tighten the Side Cover Bolts Firmly
- Once you are satisfied with the chain tension, tighten the bolts on the side cover. Use your spanner to tighten each bolt firmly.
- These bolts keep the cover and bar in the correct position.
- Tighten them firmly, but not so tightly that you strip the threads.
- Once all bolts are tight, your chain installation is complete.
Quick Checks Before Use
After installation, check your work before using the chainsaw.
- Visual check: Sharp teeth should face the correct direction, blunt edges mean the chain is backwards.
- Movement check: Chain should move smoothly by hand without sticking or resistance.
- Snap check: Pull and release the chain, it should snap back quickly, not hang loose or feel too tight.
- Final check: If all three are correct, the chainsaw is ready to use.
Common Mistakes When Fitting a Chainsaw Chain
- Installing the chain backwards: If the blunt side faces forward, the chainsaw will not cut properly.
- Getting the tension wrong: Too loose can slip off, too tight can strain the motor, always do the snap test.
- Not aligning the tension adjuster: If it does not fit the hole, you cannot adjust the chain properly.
- Twisting the chain in the groove: Drive links must sit straight or the chain will not move smoothly.
Learning how to put a Chainsaw chain on correctly is a simple skill that becomes much easier after the first time. The main things to remember are to keep the sharp teeth facing forwards, make sure the chain tension is neither too loose nor too tight, and always check your work before using the saw. Once fitted properly, your chainsaw will cut more effectively, run more smoothly, and stay safer to use.
FAQs
1. How often should you replace a chainsaw chain?
Chainsaw chains should be replaced when they become overly worn, damaged, or cannot be sharpened properly. Frequent users may need replacement after several sharpenings.
2. Can a chainsaw chain be sharpened instead of replaced?
Yes, most chains can be sharpened multiple times using a file or sharpener. However, once the teeth become too short, replacement is necessary.
3. Why does my chainsaw chain keep loosening?
Chains can loosen due to heat expansion, improper tensioning, or worn components. Regular checks and adjustments help maintain proper tension.
4. How do I know if my chainsaw bar is worn out?
Signs include uneven cutting, visible groove damage, or the chain not sitting properly. A worn bar can affect chain performance and safety.