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13

Carlton

®

 Maintenance and Safety Manual

Understanding depth gauges

The least understood part of depth gauge maintenance (aside 

from not knowing that depth gauges need to be maintained at 

all) is how much to file the depth gauges down each time the 

cutter is sharpened. If the depth gauges are not lowered enough, 

the saw chain will not cut efficiently. If depth gauges are 

lowered too much, the saw chain will cut, but cut very 

aggressively. 

Please see page 10 for filing specifications for the 

Carlton family of saw chain.

new cutter

 (1.) has a depth 

gauge setting that will feed 

into the wood efficiently. The 

depth  gauge  setting

 is the 

distance between the height 

of the depth gauge relative to 

the overall height of the cutter. 

This distance determines the 

size of the bite that a cutter can 

take. As the cutter is filed back, 

its overall height becomes 

lower. The depth gauge must 

be filed down as the cutter gets 

shorter (and lower) to keep the 

saw chain self-feeding.
The next cutter (2.) has been 

partially filed back 

without 

lowering  the  depth  gauge

This cutter cannot feed into the 

wood because it has no depth 

gauge setting. In fact, the depth 

gauge in this cutter will actually 

hold the cutter tooth away 

from the wood. This condition 

is known as “high” depth 

gauges. When the saw chain 

stops cutting effectively, many 

operators will push down, adding more feed pressure. The saw 

chain is forced into the wood, causing cutter bottoms to wear 

rapidly and makes cutting wood much more difficult.
The third cutter (3.) has the same cutter length and height as 

the second cutter, but the 

depth  gauge

 has been lowered to 

compensate for the shorter cutter height. As a result, cutter #3 

will cut as effectively as the new cutter.

1. NEW CUTTER

Factory depth gauge setting

2. FILED CUTTER

No depth gauge setting

3. FILED CUTTER

Corrected depth gauge setting

Saw Chain Maintenance

Summary of Contents for A1EP-GL

Page 1: ...Maintenance and Safety Manual An in depth manual on saw chain theory safety maintenance instructions and troubleshooting for Carlton saw chain guide bars and drive sprockets...

Page 2: ...050 1 3 mm gauge 058 1 5 mm gauge 063 1 6 mm gauge 3 8 LP N4C BL N1C BL 325 K1NK BL K1C BL K2C BL K3C BL 3 8 A1EP GL A2EP GL A3EP GL Saw chains marked with a yellow label like the one below are not l...

Page 3: ...nssawsandtheANSIstandard The ANSI standard divides all gasoline powered chain saws into two groups Chain saws smaller than 3 8 cubic inches 62 cc must meet low kickback performance requirements in the...

Page 4: ...placement guide bars the following guidelines shall be considered when determining kickback energy A Sprocket nose guide bars with the same effective length the same number of sprocket nose teeth the...

Page 5: ...re available in Europe only Wear a hard hat to protect your head Wear ear protection to protect your ears Wear safety goggles glasses or a face shield to protect your eyes Wear gloves to prevent slipp...

Page 6: ...t only wood with your chain saw Do not cut any other materials Plan for a clear retreat from a falling tree or branches CAUTION Keep yourself clear of the work Before cutting check for hazards like tr...

Page 7: ...ing Specifications 10 Carlton Maintenance Tools 11 Saw Chain Maintenance 12 Saw Chain Troubleshooting 20 Guide Bars Carlton Guide Bar Types 26 Guide Bar Components and Maintenance 29 Guide Bar Trouble...

Page 8: ...few basic tools are all you need to maintain your saw chain and guide bar By reading through this handbook you will learn How the saw chain actually cuts wood The differences between the various cutte...

Page 9: ...eset LH tie strap Cutter tooth Drive link Tie strap Rivet Tie strap Rivet hubs Flange bearing Preset tie strap Carlton Technical Tip Saw chain parts may look alike but they are not interchangeable Nev...

Page 10: ...the thickness of the drive link tangs that fit into the guide bar groove and is also measured in thousandths of an inch There are four standard gauges for hand held chain saw cutting chain 043 050 05...

Page 11: ...leading edge This greatly increases cutting efficiency without sacrificing much durability Chisel chain is designed for all out cutting performance by making the leading edge a pointed square corner C...

Page 12: ...m the underside of the cutter 4 The cutter then returns to its original position 5 Any condition that upsets this smooth and efficient rocking motion will have a negative effect on the durability perf...

Page 13: ...l Chipper Bumper link Guard link Narrow kerf Yes No Ripping chain Consumer chain Semi pro chain Pro use chain File diameter ANSI P N ANSI E1MC BL 1 4 050 1 3 mm 5 32 4 0 mm N4C 3 8 LP 043 1 1 mm 5 32...

Page 14: ...mm 058 1 5 mm 063 1 6 mm 3 16 4 8 mm K1C BL K2C BL K3C BL 325 050 1 3 mm 058 1 5 mm 063 1 6 mm 3 16 4 8 mm A1LM A1LMSK A2LM A3LM A3LMSK 3 8 050 1 3 mm 050 1 3 mm 058 1 5 mm 063 1 6 mm 063 1 6 mm 7 32...

Page 15: ...Manual Carlton Saw Chain Line P N ANSI B2EP 404 058 1 5 mm 7 32 5 5 mm B3EP 404 063 1 6 mm 7 32 5 5 mm B3S 404 063 1 6 mm 7 32 5 5 mm B3LM 404 063 1 6 mm 7 32 5 5 mm B3H RP 404 063 1 6 mm 7 32 5 5 mm...

Page 16: ...mm 35 90 025 N1C 5 32 4 0 mm 35 90 025 K1NK BL K1C BL K2C BL K3C BL 3 16 4 8 mm 30 90 025 K1C K2C K3C 3 16 4 8 mm 30 90 025 K1L K2L K3L 11 64 4 5 mm 30 10 025 A1EP GL A2EP GL A3EP GL 7 32 5 5 mm 35 90...

Page 17: ...ce Tools Filing tools Filing kit Round file Flat file File handle Stump vise Bar mounted sharpener Grinders Electric bench saw chain grinder 12V electric saw chain sharpener Grinding wheels Sharpening...

Page 18: ...wood sand ashes grit or from hitting foreign objects such as dirt nails rocks and pavement A good sharpening job restores each cutter s leading edge with specific filing angles recommended by the fact...

Page 19: ...overall height becomes lower The depth gauge must be filed down as the cutter gets shorter and lower to keep the saw chain self feeding The next cutter 2 has been partially filed back without lowerin...

Page 20: ...lot file the depth gauge down level with the top of the tool using a flat file Never file the depth gauge down enough to exceed the depth gauge setting specified in this manual for your Carlton saw ch...

Page 21: ...position 2 Keep the correct top plate filing angle line on your file guide parallel with your saw chain 3 Sharpen cutters on one side of the saw chain first File from the inside of each cutter to the...

Page 22: ...r rail A properly tensioned saw chain should have a small amount of sag at the mid point of a solid nose guide bar For a sprocket nose guide bar Tension must be tighter than on a solid nose guide bar...

Page 23: ...ks Place the preset tie strap on a flat outer surface of a saw chain breaker anvil Be sure the rivets are pointing up Assemble the saw chain to the preset tie strap be sure to assemble the regular tie...

Page 24: ...ing into the adjustable jaw Push the chain forward until the bottom tie strap is flush with the far side of the jaw Tighten the jaw until it clinches both sides of the bottom tie strap and the drive l...

Page 25: ...er to allow oil to reach all parts of the guide bar and saw chain Allow the chain saw and the cutting system to warm up fully Also recommended Dipping the saw chain in guide bar oil or drizzling oil d...

Page 26: ...age on side plates Severe abrasive damage on side plates Abrasive or impact damage to top plate or working corner Remedy File cutter back until all damage is removed Too much top plate filing angle To...

Page 27: ...w Replace the saw chain High depth gauges Remedy File depth gauges down to their correct height Square or blunt depth gauges Remedy File the front corners of depth gauges parallel to their original ro...

Page 28: ...uce the amount of depth gauge setting may require replacement of the saw chain 4 Do not force dull saw chain to cut 5 Do not force saw chain through frozen wood 6 Keep cutters sharp 7 Always maintain...

Page 29: ...place saw chain Do not attempt to run a new saw chain on an old drive sprocket or an old saw chain on a new drive sprocket Drive link tang is turned up Remedy Drive link has worn down until drive link...

Page 30: ...ut drive sprocket Look closely at your saw chain s chassis Peening on bottoms of cutters and tie straps Peening on front corners of cutters and tie straps Remedy Saw chain with tight joints cannot be...

Page 31: ...back enough to remove all damage and incorrect angles Keep cutter lengths and depth gauge settings equal Carlton Technical Tip If you ve tried everything and your saw chain still fails to cut properly...

Page 32: ...Consumer Bar Safe Tip Laminated SAFE TIP TM Semi Pro Bars Semi Pro Tip Laminated Small radius 3 8LP 9T SEMI PRO TIP TM Semi Pro Tip Laminated Small radius 325 10T SEMI PRO TIP TM Semi Pro Tip Laminat...

Page 33: ...Manual Guide Bar Types Pro Bars Super Pro Laminated Small radius 325 10T SUPER PRO TM Super Pro Laminated Large radius 325 12T 3 8 11T SUPER PRO TM Speed Tip Solid Large radius 325 12T 3 8 11T SPEED...

Page 34: ...e no bearing in the tip They are more expensive to replace so avoid using them where the tip of the guide bar is used extensively Sprocket nose guide bars professional use Sprocket nose guide bars are...

Page 35: ...several saw chains Guide bar maintenance Although guide bars require very little maintenance it is essential to periodically inspect the guide bar to ensure the rails are square no burrs appear on the...

Page 36: ...e links and rivets see illustration can be avoided by proper saw chain and guide bar maintenance and lubrication When operating properly the chain saw should pump enough oil to have some sling off the...

Page 37: ...with minor wear install a new nose and file down the nose s rails for smooth saw chain flow If wear is extensive on either kind of bar replace the guide bar Guide bar mount section Guide bar bent twis...

Page 38: ...s Rim drive sprocket systems and spur drive sprockets A rim drive sprocket is a two piece unit that allows you to replace the rim on the drum adaptor assembly as the rim wears out A spur drive sprocke...

Page 39: ...saw chain and guide bar sprocket nose guide bars 2 The drive sprocket must be replaced when it s worn out The saw chain and drive sprocket are a matched set just like two gears working together As th...

Page 40: ...spur drive sprocket Check the wear on your drive sprocket before each session use If worn replace the drive sprocket before installing a new saw chain In abrasive conditions wear will increase Here s...

Page 41: ...h 2 Periodically check drive sprockets for wear 3 Replace drive sprockets at the first sign of wear see above 4 A damaged drive sprocket no matter the amount of wear cannot be repaired It must be repl...

Page 42: ...sene or diesel oil Use twice as much of this diluted oil during operation and be certain your saw chain is receiving oil from the chain saw Tension Keep your saw chain correctly tensioned Check and ad...

Page 43: ...37 Carlton Maintenance and Safety Manual Notes Saw chain part number Saw chain pitch Saw chain drive link count Guide bar part number Drive sprocket pitch Drive sprocket tooth count...

Page 44: ...38 Carlton Maintenance and Safety Manual Notes...

Page 45: ...39 Carlton Maintenance and Safety Manual Notes...

Page 46: ...40 Carlton Maintenance and Safety Manual Notes...

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Page 48: ...ARLTON Blount Inc Corporate Headquarters P O Box 22127 Portland Oregon 97269 2127 USA carltonproducts com 800 223 5168 Copyright 2013 Blount Inc F N 556740 Rev AA 3 13 Maint Safety An i safe trou guid...

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