CHAIN TENSION AND MAINTENANCE
CHAIN TENSION
Stop the motor before setting the chain tension. Make sure the
guide bar screw is loosened to finger tight, turn the chain tensioner
clockwise to tension the chain. A cold chain will be correctly
tensioned when there is no slack on the underside of the guide
bar, the chain is snug, but it can be turned by hand without
binding.
Chain must be re-tensioned whenever the flats on the drive
links hang out of the bar groove.
During normal saw operation, the temperature of the chain will
increase. The drive links of a correctly tensioned warm chain will
hang approximately .050 in. (1.25mm) out of the bar groove. Be
aware that chain tensioned while warm, may be too tight upon
cooling. Check the “cold tension” before next use.
NOTE: A new chain tends to stretch, check chain tension
frequently and tension as required.
CHAIN MAINTENANCE
CAUTION:
Remove the battery pack and make sure the chain
has stopped before you do any work on the saw.
For smooth and fast cutting, chain needs to be maintained properly.
The chain requires sharpening when the wood chips are small and
powdery, the chain must be forced through the wood during cutting,
or the chain cuts to one side. During maintenance of your chain
remember:
- Improper filing angle of the side plate can increase the risk of
severe kickback.
- Raker (depth gauge) clearance.
- Too low increases the potential for kickback.
- Not low enough decreases cutting ability.
- If cutter teeth have hit hard objects such as nails and stones,
or have been abraded by mud or sand on the wood, have
service dealer sharpen chain.
NOTE: Inspect the drive sprocket for wear or damage when
replacing the chain. If signs of wear or damage are present in
the areas indicated, have the drive sprocket replaced by an
authorized service dealer.
HOW TO SHARPEN THE CUTTERS
Be careful to file all cutters to the specified angles and to the
same length, as fast cutting can be obtained only when all
cutters are uniform.
Wear gloves for protection. Properly tension the chain prior to
sharpening. Refer to “Chain Tension Section” earlier in this
manual. Do all of your filing at the midpoint of the bar.
Use a 5/32 in. diameter round file and holder.
Keep the file level with the top plate of the tooth. Do not let the
file dip or rock. Using light but firm pressure, stroke towards the
front corner of the tooth.
Lift file away from the steel on each return stroke.
Put a few firm strokes on every tooth. File all left hand cutters
in one direction. 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.
WARNING:
Improper chain
sharpening increases the
potential of kickback.
WARNING:
Failure to replace
or repair damaged chain can
cause serious injury.
WARNING:
The pole saw chain
is very sharp, always wear protective gloves when performing
maintenance to the chain.
TOP PLATE FILING ANGLE
Correct 30 degrees – File holders are marked with guide
marks to align file properly to produce top plate angle.
Less than 30 degrees
– for cross cutting.
More than 30 degrees
– feathered edge
dulls quickly.
SIDE PLATE ANGLE
Correct – 80 degrees produced automatically if correct diame-
ter file is used in file holder.
Hook – “Grabs” and dulls quickly. Increases potential of kick-
back. Results from using a file with a diameter too small, or file
held too low.
Backward Slope –
Needs too much
feed pressure, causes
excessive wear to bar
and chain. Results
from using a file with
a diameter too large,
or file held too high.
DEPTH GAUGE CLEARANCE
The depth gauge should be maintained at a clearance of .025
in. (0.6 mm). 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. Depth gauge jointers are available in .020 in. to .035
in. (0.5 mm to 0.9 mm). Use a .025 in. (0.6 mm) depth gauge
jointer. After lowering each depth gauge, restore original
shape by rounding the front. Be careful not to damage adjoin-
ing 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 cutter face with flat file when adjusting depth
gauges.
5
HEX KEY
APPROX .050 (1.25mm)
