Cub Cadet PS59L Operator'S Manual Download Page 4

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CHAIN MAINTENANCE

For smooth and fast cutting, the chain needs to be maintained properly. The
following conditions indicate that the chain requires sharpening:

•

Wood chips are small and powdery.

•

The chain must be forced through the wood during cutting.

•

The chain cuts to one side.

During maintenance of the chain, consider the following:

•

The depth gauge (or raker clearance) setting determines the height at which the
cutter enters the wood and the size of the wood chip that is removed (Fig. 21).
Too much clearance increases the potential for kickback. Too little clearance
decreases the size of the wood chip, thus decreasing the chain's cutting ability.

•

If the cutter teeth have hit hard objects, such as nails and stones, or were
abraded by mud or sand on the wood, have a service dealer sharpen the chain.

NOTE:

Inspect the drive sprocket for wear or damage when replacing the chain.

If signs of wear or damage are present, do not use the unit.

NOTE:

If you do not fully understand the correct procedure for sharpening the

cutters after reading the instructions that follow, have the saw chain
sharpened by an authorized service center or replace the chain with a
recommended low-kickback chain.

SHARPENING THE CUTTERS

Be careful to file all cutters to the specified angles and to the same length. Fast
cutting can be obtained only when all cutters are uniform.

•

Tighten the chain tension enough so that the chain does not wobble. Do all of
the filing at the midpoint of the guide bar. Wear gloves for protection.

•

Use a round file and holder.

•

Keep the file level with the top plate of the tooth (Fig. 22). Do not let the file
dip or rock.

•

Using light but firm pressure, stroke towards the front corner of the tooth (Fig. 23).
Lift the file away from the cutter before returning the file to the beginning of the
sharpening stroke.

•

Put a few firm strokes on every tooth. File all left hand cutters in one direction
(Fig. 24). Then move to the other side and file the right hand cutters in the
opposite direction. Occasionally remove filings from the file with a wire brush.

Top Plate Filing Angle

•

CORRECT (30°) – File holders are marked with guide marks to align the file
properly and produce the correct top plate angle (Fig. 25).

•

INCORRECT (LESS THAN 30°) – For cross cutting (Fig. 26).

•

INCORRECT (MORE THAN 30°) – This creates a feathered edge that dulls quickly.

Side Plate Filing Angle

•

CORRECT (80°) – This is produced automatically if the correct diameter file is
used in the file holder (Fig. 25).

•

INCORRECT (HOOK) – This causes the chain to “grab” and dull quickly,
increasing the potential for kickback. A hook is caused by using a file with too
small a diameter or a file held too low (Fig. 26).

•

INCORRECT (BACKWARD SLOPE) – This causes a need for too much feed
pressure, producing excessive wear to the bar and chain. A backward slope
is caused by using a file with too large a diameter or a file held too high.

MAINTAINING DEPTH GAUGE CLEARANCE

•

Maintain the depth gauge at a clearance of 1/32 inch (0.6 mm) (Fig. 21). Use a
depth gauge tool for checking the depth gauge clearances.

•

Every time the chain is filed, check the depth gauge clearance.

•

Use a flat file and a depth gauge jointer to lower all gauges uniformly (Fig. 27).
Use a 1/32 inch (0.6 mm) depth gauge jointer. After lowering each depth
gauge, restore the original shape by rounding the front (Fig. 28). Be careful
not to damage adjoining drive links with the edge of the file.

•

Depth gauges must be adjusted with the flat file in the same direction the
adjoining cutter was filed with the round file.

•

Use care not to contact the cutter face with the flat file when adjusting depth
gauges.

MAINTAINING THE GUIDE BAR

After every week of use, rotate the guide bar on the saw to distribute the wear for
maximum guide bar life (Fig. 29). Frequently check the guide bar for damage.
Feathering and burring of the guide bar rails (the ridges on either side of the bar
groove) is a normal process of guide bar wear. Such faults should be smoothed
with a file as soon as they occur.

A guide bar with the following faults should be replaced:

•

Wear inside the guide bar rails that permits the chain to lay sideways.

•

Bent guide bar.

•

Cracked or broken rails.

•

Spread rails.

ADJUSTING THE CHAIN TENSION

The chain must be tensioned whenever the flats on the drive links hang out of the
bar groove (Fig. 12). Check for proper chain tension before starting the unit and
periodically during operation.

NOTE:

A new chain tends to stretch. Check the chain tension frequently and

tighten as required.

Stop the motor, make sure the lock-off button is in the locked or OFF
position and remove the battery from the unit. Refer to

Removing the Battery

in the

Assembly Instructions

section.

Slightly loosen the bar cover bolt (Fig. 13).

Rotate the chain-tensioning bolt (Fig. 14) clockwise with a hex wrench (Allen
wrench) to tension the chain. The desired tension depends on the
temperature of the chain:

•

Cold Chain Tensioning

- A cold chain is correctly tensioned when there is

no sag on the underside of the guide bar and the chain seats snugly
against the guide bar with the drive links in the bar groove.

•

Warm Chain Tensioning

- During normal operation, the temperature of the

chain will increase. The drive links of a correctly tensioned warm chain will
hang approximately 1/16 inch (1.3 mm) out of the bar groove (Fig. 15).

Once adjusted, lift the tip of the guide bar up to check for proper tension
(Fig. 16). If the chain is still too loose, release the tip of the guide bar and turn
the chain-tensioning bolt 1/2 turn clockwise. Repeat this process until the
desired tension is achieved.

NOTE:

If the chain is too tight, it will not rotate. To loosen the chain, turn the

chain-tensioning bolt 1/4 turn counterclockwise. Ensure that the chain can be
turned by hand without binding (Fig. 17).

Hold the tip of the guide bar up and rotate the bar cover bolt clockwise to secure.

REMOVING/REPLACING THE GUIDE BAR AND CHAIN

Use only a low-kickback chain on this saw. This fast-cutting chain provides
kickback reduction when properly maintained.

NOTE:

When replacing the guide bar and chain, use only manufacturer

suggested replacement parts. The use of any other parts may create a hazard
or cause product damage and will VOID the warranty.

Removing the Old Guide Bar and Chain

Make sure the lock-off button is in the locked or OFF position and remove
the battery from the unit.

Rotate the bar cover bolt counterclockwise and remove the bar cover bolt,
sleeve and bar cover (Fig. 14).

Remove the guide bar and chain from the mounting surface.

Remove the old chain from the guide bar.

Installing the New Guide Bar and Chain

Lay out the new saw chain in a loop and straighten any kinks. The cutters on
the top of the guide bar should face toward the guide bar tip in the direction
of chain rotation (Fig. 18). If they face backward, turn the loop over.

Place the chain drive links into the bar groove as shown (Fig. 19).

NOTE:

Make sure the chain is correctly installed and the cutters are facing in the

correct direction (Fig. 18).

Position the chain so there is a loop at the back of the guide bar.

Hold the chain in position on the guide bar and place the loop around the
drive sprocket.

Fit the guide bar flush against the mounting surface so that the bar stud is in
the bar stud slot.

NOTE:

When placing the guide bar on the bar stud, ensure that the chain-

tensioning pin is in the chain tension pin hole (Fig. 20).

Replace the bar cover, sleeve and bar cover bolt. To tighten, rotate the bar
cover bolt clockwise with a hex wrench (Allen wrench).

NOTE:

Tighten the bar cover bolt to finger tightness only. The guide bar should

still be free to move for chain tension adjustment.

Adjust the chain tension. Refer to the

Adjusting the Chain Tension

instructions above.

MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS

Chain Rotation

Fig. 20

Drive Sprocket

Chain

WARNING:

A dull or improperly sharpened chain can

cause excessive motor speed during cutting, which may result
in severe motor damage.

WARNING:

Improper chain sharpening increases the

potential of kickback. Failure to replace or repair a damaged
chain can cause serious injury.

Top Plate

Fig. 21

Cutting Corner

Gullet

Fig. 22

Fig. 23

Left Hand

Cutters

Fig. 24

Right Hand

Cutters

Chain Tensioning Pin

Depth

Gauge

Raker Clearance

1/32” (0.6 mm)

Side Plate

Fig. 27

Fig. 28

Fig. 29

Flat File

Depth Gauge Jointer

Restore Original

Shape by Rounding

the Front

Filing Height

Filing Angle

Fig. 25

Fig. 26

Top Plate

Less than 30˚

More than 30˚

30˚

Incorrect

Filing Angles

Hook

Backward Slope

80˚

Correct

Filing Angles

Top Plate

Side Plate

Fig. 18

Chain Drive

Links

Chain

Rotation

Cutters

Approx. 1/16”

(1.3 mm)

Fig. 15

Bar Tip

WARNING:

Before inspecting, cleaning or servicing the

unit, stop the motor, wait for all moving parts to stop and
remove the battery. Failure to follow these instructions can
result in serious personal injury or property damage.

Flats

Fig. 12

Bar Cover Bolt

Fig. 13

WARNING:

To avoid possible serious injury, never touch or

adjust the chain while the motor is running. The saw chain is
very sharp; always wear protective gloves when performing
maintenance on the chain.

CAUTION:

A chain tensioned while warm, may be too tight

upon cooling. Check the “cold tension” before the next use.

Bar Tip

Drive Sprocket