16
Replace guide bar when the groove is worn,
the guide bar is bent or cracked, or when
excess heating or burring of the rails occurs.
If replacement is necessary, use only the guide
bar specified for your saw in the repair parts list
or on the decal located on the chain saw.
CHAIN SHARPENING
WARNING:
Improper chain sharp-
ening techniques and/or depth gauge mainte-
nance will increase the chance of kickback
which can result in serious injury.
WARNING:
Wear protective gloves
when handling chain. The chain is sharp and
can cut you even when it is not moving.
Conditions which indicate the need for chain
sharpening:
S
Reduction in size of wood chips. The size
of the wood chip will decrease as the chain
gets duller until it becomes more like a
powder than a chip. Note that dead or
rotted wood will not produce a good chip.
S
Saw cuts to one side or at an angle.
S
Saw has to be forced through the cut.
Tools required:
S
3/16 inch (4,5 mm) diameter round file and
file holder
S
Flat file
S
Depth gauge tool
TO SHARPEN CHAIN:
1. Move ON/STOP switch to the STOP
position.
2. Check chain for proper tension. Adjust
chain tension if necessary. See CHAIN
TENSION section.
3. Sharpen cutters.
S
To sharpen the cutters, position the
file holder level (90
˚
) so that it rests
on the top edges of the cutter and
depth gauge.
NOTE:
The chain has both left and
right hand cutters.
Depth Gauge
File
File Holder
Cutter
90
˚
S
Align the 25
˚
file holder marks paral-
lel with the bar and to the center of the
chain.
Cutter
Cutter
25
˚
File Holder Line
S
Sharpen cutters on one side of the
chain first. File from the inside of each
cutter to the outside. Then, turn the
chain saw around and repeat the pro-
cess for the other side of the chain.
S
File on the forward stroke only. Use 2
or 3 strokes per cutting edge.
S
Keep all cutters the same length
when filing.
S
File enough to remove any damage
to cutting edges (side plate and top
plate of cutter).
All Cutters
Same Length
Remove Damage
Top Plate
Side Plate
S
File chain to meet the specifications
as shown.
25
˚
60
˚
60
˚
Rounded
Corner
0.025 inch
(0.65 mm)
Right
Hook Angle
Wrong
Squared Off
Corner
Too Much Hook Angle
WARNING:
Maintain the proper
hook angle according to the manufacturer’s
specifications for the chain you are using. Im-
proper hook angle will increase the chance of
kickback which can result in serious injury.
4. Check and lower depth gauges.
Depth Gauge Tool
Depth Gauge
File
S
Place gauge tool on cutter.
S
If the depth gauge is higher than the
depth gauge tool, file it level to the top of
the depth gauge tool.
S
Maintain rounded front corner of
depth gauge with a flat file.
NOTE:
The very top of the depth
gauge should be flat with the front
half rounded off with a flat file.
If you require further assistance or are unsure
about performing this procedure, contact your
authorized service dealer or call our customer
assistance help line at 1--800--554--6723.