23
REMOVING AND INSTALLING THE GUIDE BAR AND SAW
CHAIN
The guide bar and saw chain need to be removed when certain
maintenance procedures are performed, such as when rotating the
guide bar. When replacing old guide bars and saw chains with new
parts, always use the manufacturer’s specified replacement parts.
Refer to Replacing the Guide Bar and Saw Chain.
Removing the Guide Bar and Saw Chain
1. Use a 1/2 inch (13 mm) wrench to remove the bar-retaining nuts
(Fig. 27).
2. Remove the bar cover (Fig. 27).
3. Loosen the saw chain. Refer to Adjusting the Chain Tension.
4. Remove the saw chain from the guide bar.
5. Carefully use a small flat-head screwdriver to remove the E-ring
from the drive sprocket (Fig. 28).
6. Remove the sprocket support from the drive sprocket (Fig. 28).
7. Remove the guide bar from the guide bar bolts (Fig. 28).
Installing the Guide Bar and Saw Chain
1. Align the slot in the guide bar with the guide bar bolts (Fig. 28).
Slide the guide bar completely onto the guide bar bolts (Fig. 28).
Make sure the guide bar is flush against the mounting surface.
2. Place the sprocket support onto the drive sprocket (Fig. 28).
3. Carefully install the E-ring onto the drive sprocket (Fig. 28).
4. Set the saw chain on a clean, flat surface and straighten out any
kinks.
5. Loop the saw chain around the drive sprocket and fit the saw
chain into the guide bar groove (Fig. 29). Make sure the flats on
the saw chain are in the grooves on the drive sprocket. Make
sure the cutters point in the correct direction of rotation (Fig. 29).
6. Place the bar cover onto the saw housing (Fig. 27). Insert the tab
on the bar cover into the slot on the saw housing (Fig. 27). The
guide bar bolts should protrude from the holes in the bar cover.
7. Make sure the chain-tensioning pin is in the pin hole on the
guide bar (Fig. 30). If necessary, turn the chain-tensioning knob
to move the chain-tensioning pin (Fig. 24).
• Turn the chain-tensioning knob clockwise to move the chain-
tensioning pin toward the front of the unit.
• Turn the chain-tensioning knob counterclockwise to move the
chain-tensioning pin toward the rear of the unit.
8. Place the bar-retaining nuts onto the guide bar bolts. Tighten the
bar-retaining nuts hand tight.
DO NOT tighten the bar-retaining
nuts completely.
9. Make sure the saw chain is still in the guide bar groove, then
tighten the saw chain. Refer to Adjusting the Chain Tension.
10. Hold the guide bar tip up and securely tighten the bar-retaining nuts.
WARNING:
The saw chain is very sharp. Always wear
heavy-duty protective gloves when handling or performing
maintenance on the saw chain.
Fig. 30
Pin Hole
Chain-Tensioning Pin
Fig. 28
Guide Bar Bolts
Guide Bar
Sprocket Support
Mounting
Surface
E-Ring
Drive
Sprocket
Fig. 27
Bar Cover
Saw Housing
Bar-Retaining
Nuts
Fig. 29
Guide Bar
Groove
Direction of
Rotation
Saw
Chain
Flat
Drive
Sprocket
Cutter
