Have you ever wondered what makes your chainsaw chain break, or what leads to the trouble you have when just trying to maintain your chainsaw? Do you often have to deal with your chainsaw chain breaking? If these are some of the issues you have recently had with your chainsaw, then continue reading.
It can take time, effort and money to properly maintain a chainsaw chain. People new to using a chainsaw often don’t know how to maintain one as it should be maintained. The key thing is to first get yourself a high-quality chainsaw that comes with good quality parts. This chainsaw comparison table will help you decide on what chainsaw is right for you,
The chain bar is the most important part of any chainsaw. If that is not good quality then there is no use of using it. Using a chainsaw that has the wrong length bar for the job at hand can also lead to severe injury.
Now let’s look at the factors which can lead to a chainsaw chain break and what to do to avoid it.
Why did my chainsaw chain break?
Below are some factors that can lead to a chainsaw chain break while in use.
- Not Maintaining your Chainsaw Regularly
- Low-Quality Chain
- Chain Rust
- No maintenance of Guide Bar
- Lack of Lubrication
- Incorrect Chain Tension
- Low oil levels in the oil chamber
- Hitting a nail while cutting a tree
- Incorrect Chain Angles
- Alteration of chain
- Incorrectly installed chain parts
- Loose Rivets
- Chain Touching the Ground While Starting
- New Chainsaw User
All the above factors will be looked at in more detail, focusing on chainsaw maintenance parameters in order to avoid a chain break.
Daily Chainsaw Maintenance
Maintaining your chainsaw is all the more important if you use it on a daily basis or often enough. You should go over your saw and check everything is in working order before attempting to start it up. If you hear any weird sounds you should stop it immediately as it can lead to chain breaking. Sort out what the issue is and then continue with your work. Check every single part of the chainsaw that could be causing the problem. So maintain your chainsaw and be safer whenever you use it.
Low-Quality Chain
Using a low-quality chain bar with your saw is one the biggest issues that causes a chain break. People often buy them in the hope that it will save them some money. You should consider buying a high-quality chainsaw because it can prevent you from getting an injury. It will also help you cut down more trees for a longer period due to its quality and efficient use.
Chain Rust
Another important factor to look out for is chain rust. Rust can literally degrade the quality of your chain. When you haven’t used your chainsaw in a while, and it is not properly stored, then this can happen. Always crosscheck your appliance before using it again. Look closely for any any rust particles appearing on the chainsaw chain. If anything suspicious is visible, safely remove the chain and maintain it properly using oil.
Maintenance of Guide Bar
Guide bar plays an important role in a chainsaw. Without it, you cannot even use it. See for the signs if the guide bar is attached properly. If you see any bent in the guide bar correct that first. These conditions should be corrected early in order to avoid a chain break. Guide bar and the chain work together. If one of them is in bad condition the other one could snap.
Lack of Lubrication
If you have correctly maintained your chainsaw and still facing a chain break problem than it could be the issue of oil lubrication. The most chainsaw comes with a pre-attached chain lubrication chamber. See if there is any problem with the lubrication chamber. Maybe there could be a blockage at the nozzle of the chamber that is causing the problem and not lubricating the chain properly.
Chain Tension
Adjust the chain tension properly. If the chain is too tight or too lose it can cause a chain break. So how you can properly tension a chain? Make sure to turn off the chainsaw and let the chain to cool down. Because heat causes the bar and chain to expand. If you do it while the chain is hot, it could be too tight when the chain is cooled down and can damage the bar. So tension a chainsaw whenever it is cooled down.
Hitting a Nail
Hitting could be a big problem for your chainsaw. Whenever you cut down a tree make sure that a nail is not present in it. If it is, remove it before cutting it. It can not only break your chain but can also injure you badly.
Incorrect Chain Angles
Incorrect chain angles are generally caused by improper chain filings. If the filing does not have a proper diameter for the chainsaw it can cause breaking of it. Make sure that when you have selected the proper filing. Restore the angles that may have changed during hand filings.
Loose Rivets
A single loose rivet on a chain can cause a whole chain to break. Whenever starting a chainsaw check every rivet installed on the chain. If you see any cracks or breaks on any part of the chain do not use it. Maintain the chain first before using it.
Chain Touching Ground
Before starting a chainsaw make sure that the chain is not touching the ground. If that happens it can cause a very serious kickback or even snap the chain in two pieces. Seriously, it can injure you or a person standing nearby badly.
New Chainsaw User
If you are new to using a chainsaw or never held a chainsaw in your entire life, then the safest thing to do is to get some training first. New users often face more problems than an experienced operator. If you don’t want your chainsaw chain to break you should get some training first because you don’t know what can happen if you use it incorrectly.
We have discussed all the important points that can cause a chainsaw chain to break. If you use a chainsaw on a daily basis make sure to follow every point mentioned above. It will not only help you save money on your chains but also your life. Many accidents happen with persons who do not maintain their chainsaw properly. So follow each and every step carefully for your own safety.
