5
In General:
Saw chain revolves around the bar at approximately
50 feet per second, depending on engine type, size and
bar length. That means extreme friction wherever any
two parts rub: rivets against drive links, tie straps against
drive links, drive links against cutters, and the entire chain
against the guide bar. Without proper lubrication between
the friction faces, the parts will rapidly deteriorate and
eventually wear themselves out.
All STIHL chain saws have chain oiling systems.
Some are automatic and some are adjustable automatic.
With either the oil is pumped into the bar groove, where
it is “scooped” up by the passing drive link.
The Advantages of OILOMATIC
®
Chain:
STIHL saw chain has the patented OILOMATIC
®
system. An oil channel incorporated into each drive link
allows the oil to flow directly between the friction faces
and lubricate the most critical flexing components.
OILOMATIC
®
means longer life for both the bar and the
chain, and also less frequent sharpening.
A further development of the OILOMATIC
®
system is
the oil reservoir
next to the channel
on 3/8” extended
pitch, .325” .063”,
3/8” .063 chain
provides more oil
to distribute along
the chain groove
and guide rails as
the chain travels
along the bottom
of the bar.
Lubrication
4
Chain length
depends on the length of the bar and is
measured by drive links. Each STIHL bar has the number
of required drive links stamped into the tail of the bar.
Tie straps
connect the cutters and the drive links
together with rivets. A tie strap with rivets already
mounted is called a preset tie strap.
Cutters:
Each cutter has the cutting edge itself and the
ramp in front of the cutting edge, called the
depth
gauge,
which leads the cutter into the wood and
determines how large a “bite” the cutter will take. If the
depth gauge is too high, the chain will cut very slowly; if
the depth gauge is too low, the cutter will grab too much
wood and jam, perhaps causing kickback. On saw chains,
cutters are positioned so that each right-hand cutter
alternates with a left-hand cutter.
1 = basic tooth body
2 = top plate
3 = depth gauge
4 = side plate cutting edge
5 = top plate cutting edge
STIHL Sharp Advice rdsp 110606 11/6/06 4:16 PM Page 7
