What is the correct tension of a chainsaw chain. How slack should it be?

Question

Ive bought a new 455mm bar petrol chainsaw but the instruction manual is poor.
I know how to adjust the chain, but how do i know if its at the correct tension?.

How slack should it be

Answer 1

when you pull up FIRMLY on the chain at the middle of the top of blade the bottom tip of the links should just stay in the track at its highest point. [ie. the gap should be about 3/16" to 1/4" between track and the chain]. with the chain brake off it should spin freely.

check it after a few minutes of cutting and several times in the first hour because the chain will grow as it breaks in. adjust as you go...

good luck and be safe.

comment to "Denny" below, by "grow" I mean that the chain lengthens slightly as the link pins set into place from the load applied to the chain. this process continues thru the life of the chain as they slowly wear.

Answer 2

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RE:
What is the correct tension of a chainsaw chain. How slack should it be?
Ive bought a new 455mm bar petrol chainsaw but the instruction manual is poor.
I know how to adjust the chain, but how do i know if its at the correct tension?.

How slack should it be

Answer 3

You should be able to pull the chain up high enough that the drive teeth don't come above the groove but almost. Spin the chain by hand if it rolls easy it's good. As you you'se it it will loosen and if to loose will come off the bar so retighten about every tank full of gas or if at idle the chain hangs loose at the bottom. A new chain will strech some so it will loosen quite often

Answer 4

Buzzards was close, but chainsaw chains do not "grow" as they break in, they wear out. No matter how well lubricated a chain may be, every time the saw is used, every pivot point on the chain wears a little more. And, again, no matter how well lubricated a chain may be, its going to heat when you use it. Meaning its going to expand and subsequently loosen up. So, I always start with the guide teeth just slightly more than half out of the track. The best thing to do is , check the chain tension EVERY time you start the saw. Even if you only took a 5 min. bathroom break. That is a lesson my grandfather taught me many years ago. Here are 2 more, #1 eye protection and # 2 the most dangerous saw is the one with the dullest blade.

Answer 5

the chain, if you grab it in the middle of the bar say on the top edge and lift it so that the saw blade lifts up partly, the chain guide teeth should just about clear the bar. In otherwords, a little bit of slop, but not enough that the chain run afoul of the groove in the bar. Too tight and as the chain heats up it will shrink onto the bar. and make the engine work harder just to move it.

Answer 6

You have gotten plenty of good advice but here is one other thing. Never run the saw without chain oil in it. you may say well, I just have to make one little cut. I don't have to check the oil. But then you see something else that needs cutting while you have the saw out. And every now and then while cutting, hold the tip of the blade close to something and see if it is spitting oil on it.

Answer 7

I think that when your chain popped off before it got turned inside out. Just put some gloves on and twist the chain until it turns right side out again. If you do it the teeth will be on the outside again. Good luck.

Answer 8

everyone got a little right, but denny has a handle on it with grandads advise. the reason the dullest blade is the worst is because we always tend to force it through the log and either slip off the handle or force the blade to break or get stuck.
the chain grows because of wear a little, but not that fast; the fastest loosener of the blade is the heat. just continue to check the blade/chain each time you use it and keep it in the channel but loose.
oil and care for your saw and your safety.

Answer 9

If the teeth of the chain come out of the groove in the bar then you need to tighten it. Pull from the top.

Answer 10

Denny gave you the best answer, then buzzard. Our neighbor has his own business repairing chain saws and lawn mowers, your basic repair shop. He's been doing this for over 25 years. Good luck and yes remember the dullest blade/chain is the most dangerous.