How to tighten your chainsaw chain
For your chainsaw to work at its best and keep you safe, the chain must be at the correct tension. Learn how to tighten it with our guide.
02.10.2024
WHEN TO TIGHTEN YOUR CHAIN
If you can see that the saw chain no longer fits to the bottom of the guide bar, you need to tighten it – a correctly tensioned saw chain fits snug to the underside of the bar but can still be easily moved round by hand when the chain brake is released. If you have a STIHL chainsaw with QuickStop Super, you also need to press the brake lever on the lower handle to release the chain brake. Be aware that the saw chain heats up during normal operation and therefore expands; you should also tighten the saw chain if it has more play after warming up.
If you tighten the saw chain at operating temperature, remember to loosen it – reduce the tension – again once it has cooled down. If the chain tension is too high, it puts extra strain on parts of the chainsaw, which could cause damage.
We recommend you always check the chain tension before you use your chainsaw.
Note: remember to consider your own safety when you check or tighten your chain
- Never check or tighten the chain when the chainsaw engine is running.
- Wear suitable protective gloves.
- You can burn yourself on hot parts of the chainsaw engine or muffler if you try to check or tighten the chain at operating temperature.
- For a cordless or electric chainsaw, take the necessary measures to ensure that it cannot turn on (remove the battery, disconnect the plug).
- Check the saw chain for wear or mechanical damage (cracking, chipping, distortion) and do not use your chainsaw if the chain is damaged.
- Please always read the operating instructions for your device. Your STIHL dealer will also be happy to advise you.
STIHL quick chain tensioner - instructions
If you have a STIHL chainsaw with a quick chain tensioner, it is quick, easy and convenient to tighten the saw chain. You can identify which STIHL chainsaws feature a quick chain tensioner because there is a B in the model name; MS 181 C-BE, for example. Here’s how it works:
Shut off the engine. If you have a cordless chainsaw remove the battery, and for an electric one disconnect the mains plug.
Release the chain brake by pulling the chain brake handle towards you.
Pull out the handle on the wingnut for the quick chain tensioner, then loosen it without removing it – just one turn is usually enough.
Lift the chainsaw guide bar by the tip, and hold it up with one hand throughout steps 5 and 6.
Tighten the chain by turning the adjustment wheel clockwise until the chain fits closely to the underside of the guide bar.
Retighten the wingnut by hand and fold the handle back in.
After you have folded the wingnut handle back in, you can let go of the chainsaw guide bar.
To check the tension, pull the chain to see if it moves around easily – you must wear protective gloves to do this. The chain should move around the guide bar without a problem but also fit snugly to the bottom of it. Try lifting the top part of the chain at the middle of the guide bar too; it shouldn’t lift more than around 5 mm.
Rather than using your hands to pull the chain around, you can instead use the shaft of the KombiTool supplied; this reduces the risk of injury as you do not come into direct contact with the teeth of the chain.
Video instructions:
side chain tensioner – instructions
The side chain tensioner is a tried-and-tested component of most STIHL chainsaws. It provides convenient access to the chain tensioning screw and reduces the risk of contact with hot parts of the chainsaw engine.
If you have a model with QuickStop Super, remember to press the QuickStop lever on the rear handle when you try to move the chain around.
Turn off the engine. If you have a cordless chainsaw remove the battery, and for an electric model disconnect the mains plug.
Release the chain brake by pulling the chain brake handle towards you.
Use a KombiTool to loosen the fixing nut or nuts on the chain sprocket cover, but don’t unscrew the nut completely; it’s usually enough to loosen it by one or two turns.
Lift the chainsaw guide bar by the tip with one hand during steps 5 and 6.
Turn the tensioning screw clockwise with the KombiTool screwdriver until the tension is correct.
Pull or push the chain round the guide bar by hand to distribute the chain tension evenly. You may need to slightly tighten or loosen the tension after doing this.
Tighten the fixing nut or nuts with the KombiTool.
After you have tightened the fixing nut, you canlet go of the guide bar.
To check the tension, pull the chain to see if it moves around easily – you must wear protective gloves to do this. Rather than using your hands to pull the chain around, you can instead use the shaft of the KombiTool supplied; this reduces the risk of injury as you do not come into direct contact with the teeth of the chain. The chain should move around the guide bar without a problem but also fit snugly to the bottom of it. Try lifting the top part of the chain at the middle of the guide bar too; it shouldn’t lift more than around 5 mm.
front chain tensioner – instructions
Only a few STIHL chainsaws have a front chain tensioner. They work in the same way as the side chain tensioner, and are just in a different position.
Turn off the engine. If you have a cordless chainsaw remove the battery, and for an electric one disconnect the mains plug.
Release the chain brake by pulling the chain brake handle towards you.
Use the KombiTool to loosen the fixing nut or nuts on the chain sprocket cover, but don’t unscrew the nut completely; it’s usually enough to loosen it by one or two turns.
Lift the chainsaw guide bar by the tip with one hand during steps 5, 6 and 7.
Turn the tensioning screw clockwise with the KombiTool screwdriver until the tension is correct.
Pull or push the chain round the guide bar by hand to distribute the chain tension evenly. You may need to slightly tighten or loosen the tension after doing this.
Tighten the fixing nut or nuts with the KombiTool.
After you have tightened the fixing nut you can let go of the guide bar.
To check the tension, pull the chain to see if it moves around easily – you must wear protective gloves to do this. Rather than using your hands to pull the chain around, you can instead use the shaft of the KombiTool supplied; this reduces the risk of injury as you do not come into direct contact with the teeth of the chain. The chain should move around the guide bar without a problem but also fit snugly to the bottom of it. Try lifting the top part of the chain at the middle of the guide bar too; it shouldn’t lift more than around 5 mm.
Operating instructions for STIHL chainsaws
Download the operating instructions for your STIHL chainsaw here at your convenience.
Summary: how to tighten a chainsaw chain
- If your saw chain is not fitting snugly to the underside of the guide bar, it’s time to tighten it
- Turn off your chainsaw engine; remove the battery if it’s a cordless chainsaw; disconnect the power supply if it’s an electric chainsaw
- Place the chainsaw on a firm, level surface
- Release the chain brake
- Follow the instructions depending on your chainsaw tension adjustment features, and tighten the chain appropriately. Check the tension
- Don’t forget to wear safety gloves to prevent injury when working with the saw chain
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