I borrowed a McCullough chainsaw. It's blades stop turning and it seems to be off track.?

Question

I hear the engine humming but nothings happening. You start smelling a burnt smell. How do I get the chain back on track?

Answer 1

There could be two reasons for this the simplest woul be that your saw is equiped with a chain break. This is a safety feature on all newer saws. (Older saws may not have this feature.) Look for a "hand guard" directly in front of the top handle if it is preasant try to pull it towards you with a slight bit of force. This will release the chain break. Pushing it away from tou will re-activate it.

If that did not work remove the side cover by taking off the two nuts holding it on. This will expose the chain, sprocet, and clutching system. More than likley you will have aline the chains drive links (Bumpy parts on the inside of the loop of chain) so they sit in the sprocket. Before putting the cover back on make shure the chain is seated in the grove along the entire bar. Replace the cover. The chain may need to be adjusted for the proper tention at trhis point. If the chain is drooping out of the bar grove when chainsaw is held in the proper upright position it is to lose. It may be to tight if you can not pull the chain downwards in the center of the bar and achive about a 1/4 inch deflection.

To adjust the chain, losen (do not remove) the two nuts again and look for a screw (slot type) in that general area (or posibly where the bar first enters into the saw) adjust untill you achive the 1/4 inch deflection. Re-tight the two nuts and away you go.

(While you have che cover off clean all the built up sawdust out)

Answer 2

Check chain tension loosen if necessary but slacking off the side plate nuts and turning the adjuster screw, you should be ably to lift the chain from the bar and see the bottom of 2 links.

Also try disengaging the chain break.. it is the hand guard at the front of the saw, pull it towards you.

Failing that check to see if the saw has a chain lubrication system, most saws use oil to lubricate the chain on the bar..

hope that does the trick..

Answer 3

Take off the guard that cover the drive gear. The same place where you tighten the blade. Replace chain on gear. Put chain on bar and retighten, simple.

Answer 4

it might have a chain locking system and that burning smell is the centrfigul clutch burning up!!! mine has one, it is a saftey feature, does it have a guard on the top??? if so try and push or pull it, if it snaps back and forth thats usually it.

Answer 5

loosen the nuts on the side of the chain guide and realign the chain