How to shorten a chainsaw chain with your own hands: sequence of actions, nuances of the process and video instructions. What do you need to know to choose the right cutting chain? How to rivet a chainsaw chain at home

The chain is the main part of the bike drivetrain assembly. Passing through the sprocket teeth, the chain transfers torque to the rear wheel. This explains the fact that the bike is moving. The dynamic loads on the unit are large enough, therefore, during operation, the chain mechanism is worn out. In this article, we will look at how to remove the chain from the bike and how to put it back.

The working resource of the singlespeed chain mechanism is designed for the entire life of the bike. The bicycle chain runs smoothly, without deviating. The situation is somewhat more complicated with the bikes, designed for several speeds. The load on the chain mechanism is greater in relation to parallel gears, since the bike chain is angled with respect to the bike frame. Compared to parallel transmission, the impact on the links is several times greater. To avoid damage to the entire transmission mechanism, the chain must be timely replaced.

Do not think that you cannot remove the bike chain from a single speed bike. It is removed in order to be cleaned or repaired.

When do you need to remove the chain from the bike?

Let's figure out how to know if the chain assembly of a multi-speed bike is faulty. You can estimate the mileage of a two-wheeler, but other factors also affect the health of the cycle.

Correct selection of gears;
The quality of the roads;
Riding speed.

The appearance of suspicious sounds (provided that the lubrication is in order) and difficulty with shifting gears are the first signs of a malfunctioning chain assembly. The simplest way to assess the health of the links is as follows:

Peel back the bike chain from the largest sprocket;
If it leaves freely from 3 or more teeth, then the bicycle chain must be replaced. Two prongs are a kind of warning. You can still travel for some time, but it will have to be removed soon.

The same method works for single speed bicycles as well.

An informative method is measuring the length of the bike chain.

30.5 cm is the best length;
30.6-30.8 cm - medium wear, high maintainability;
More than 30.8 cm - the links and sprockets are badly worn. The entire transmission is damaged.

To correctly measure the relative elongation, the chain must be completely removed from the bike.

Types of bike chains

Consider the 2 main types of bike chains:

Lock;
Solid.

Its peculiarity is that it has a special clamping device. Removing one from the stars, as well as putting it back on, is not difficult. To do this, you just need to disconnect the lock.

You can locate the detachable link by visual inspection. If the links are clean, finding the connector is easy. As a rule, the manufacturer's brand is stamped on the connector.

Solid

It is impossible to completely remove such a cycle. If you remove it completely from the sprockets, it simply hangs on the frame. Of course, compared to the version equipped with a lock, the solid construction is less convenient. However, there are also advantages. The lock can loosen, the connecting pliers can get lost. The links are disengaged. There are no such problems with a continuous chain. If it burst, then this is exclusively a quality cost.

This is not difficult. Follow the algorithm.

Pry the clip with a screwdriver or knitting needle. In this case, it is important not to break the clamp, since it will not be possible to connect everything back without it;
Disengage the link.

Now you can freely remove the bike chain and perform the necessary manipulations over it: shorten, clean or, if it is hopelessly damaged, throw it away.

To disconnect a solid structure, you will need a special tool called a squeeze. Using this device will allow you to remove the link without damaging it. The algorithm is as follows.

Select the link to be disassembled;
Place the bicycle chain in the position for pressing out and pressing in the link axle, or pin;
Tighten the screw and pull the axle out towards you.

You do not need to completely pull out the pin, as it will not be easy to insert it back into place. Manipulations with squeezing loosen the axis somewhat. Select another link to re-decouple. Press in the axle in reverse order.

Connect adjacent links together;
Press in the pin with the screw.

Bicycle chain repair

The most common defect in a bicycle chain is sagging due to an increase in length. Of course, you can remove the stretched bike chain and replace it with a new one, but you can try and restore it. Due to the loosening of the axles, the bicycle chain expands in the transverse and longitudinal directions. It is impossible to eliminate the transverse expansion, but with the longitudinal expansion, it is possible that something will work out.

It is necessary to remove excess links in such a way that the bicycle chain passes freely, without excessive tension, along the large sprocket. Also use squeeze when shortening. It is important here not to overdo it by pulling out the extra links.

The installation of the so-called stabilizers on the bicycle, which does not allow the chain to fly off the sprocket when riding, helps. Of course, if you put a pacifier as a temporary measure is a good solution, but you must not forget about replacing the bike chain.

Putting a bike chain on a singlespield is quite simple:

Hang the bike chain on both sprockets;
Snap the lock (as an option - press in the pin).

A high-speed bike will take a little longer.

Almost every owner of suburban housing has a chainsaw in stock. And we don't even have to talk about the inhabitants of rural areas: such a tool is a vital necessity for them. And it requires a chainsaw to respect itself and timely maintenance. All service rules are clearly spelled out in the instructions.

Package contents and rules of use

The saw kit should include several chains (minimum - 3) plus 2 bars. It is recommended to turn the tire over after 3 hours of operation. After another 3 hours, the chain is replaced. Such simple rules can significantly extend the life of all the elements of the chainsaw. And in life, we practically do not adhere to recommendations and are guided by our own ideas about expediency.

After a certain time of operation of the chainsaw, we simply tighten the chain. And at a certain moment, we notice that the tensioning system no longer allows the chain to tighten. The chain is stretched to the limit. It is impossible to work with it further, since the stretched chain will begin to break the drive sprocket, as a result of which the tire wear will greatly increase. The chain must be shortened.

Another reason why you have to shorten the chain is to "fit" a longer chain from another chainsaw to your tire. This is also common, as there is an opinion among users that better chains are made for "professional" chainsaws.

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Required tools

Chainsaw manufacturers claim that it is impossible to shorten the chain at home, since the technology of their manufacture is very complex and requires high-precision equipment. Practice shows that nothing is impossible. In order to shorten the chain, you need:

vice;
hammer;
file;
beard;
pliers;
electric welding machine (in some cases, you can do without it).

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How to remove rivets?

Chainsaw chain is difficult to disconnect. The rivets are made of high quality steel and have a geometric shape that does not allow you to simply knock the rivets out of the link. The inner part of the rivet has a larger radius. On this thickening, the link turns, and the outer parts of the rivets have only a connecting function, therefore, it is enough to simply securely fix them on the outside of the chain. The rivet is removed as follows: the chain is fixed in a vise, and the protruding part is grinded. When sewing, try not to damage the side parts of the links.

It is not recommended to use a grinder, since the parts will heat up very quickly, which will lead to a change in the physical properties of the metal. It is better to use a file or file for grinding. Seam is performed on both sides of the link. Now the rivets can be knocked out of the chain using a barb, slightly bending the side parts of the links.

The chain was disconnected. Do not rush to throw away the rivet removed from the chain. You may not be able to find a suitable replacement for it. Chainsaw manufacturers do not assume that an independent repair of the chain will be carried out, therefore they do not release such rivets on the market.

It is also profitable for trading organizations to sell chains in their finished version than small parts for repair. For these reasons, it will be very difficult to find a suitable rivet with the required geometry. It will be even harder to make it at home, so you will have to use an old rivet.

As you may have guessed, the chainsaw chain will have to be disconnected twice. Do not forget to count so that the number of guide lugs on the inner side of the chain and the distance between these lugs match with the chain saw drive sprocket. If you are shortening the original chain, then this is not necessary. And if this is a chain from another model of a chainsaw, then everything must be measured and calculated very well. A deviation in the chain pitch (even a small one) from the parameters set by the design will lead to the fact that the chain will stretch again in the shortest possible time (at best) or break the chain saw sprocket. The tire will come to an end, as the driven sprocket will quickly overheat.

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Linking links

If all the parameters of the chain are combined with the parts of your chainsaw, then you can start connecting the links. We connect the links to a rivet, pressing their side parts tightly. It will no longer be possible to rivet the protrusions, since they are grinded flush with the links. We'll have to use electric welding. For this, the electrode must be taken of the smallest diameter.

Determination of chain wear: a - wear of teeth, b - installation of an additional fixing plate on the key link.

It is not recommended to start welding immediately, as it is a very delicate job. Practice doing this on other details first. So you will at least roughly understand at what current you need to cook and what welding time to choose. And the electrode will become shorter, which will allow you to weld more accurately. After all, a very short period of time is enough to "grab" the rivet. After training, we weld the rivets to the lateral parts of the link. It remains only to grind off excess metal on both sides with a file and the chain can be considered ready for use.

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Negative consequences of improper chain repair

The considered option of repairing the chain is not the most reliable, since no one guarantees you the high quality of the final product. The following consequences of such a repair are possible:

During welding (especially at a low current), excessive heating of the circuit elements was made, which caused a change in the physical properties of the metal. The soft metal will allow the chain to stretch not along its entire length, but at the point of welding. The chain guides will shift, and other elements of the chainsaw (sprocket, tire) will quickly fail.
The welding depth is greater than planned. The inner part of the rivet was welded to one (or more) parts of the link, which became a violation of the mobility of the links. The consequences will be the same as described in the first case.
Welding quality is poor. In this case, a circuit breakdown may occur during its operation. The fact is that the chain in operation experiences very high lateral loads, so unreliable welding will quickly "work out". The potential for injury will be very high.

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Consult an experienced welder

The question may arise about the advisability of repairing the chainsaw chain, since the consequences of its repair can be so serious. But all this is only due to inept welding. An experienced welder will do this work quickly and efficiently, which will reduce the likelihood of negative consequences to almost zero. And when rivets are used without subsequent welding, the previously mentioned moments simply disappear. The only question is where to get such rivets. But making them is not so difficult if you have a lathe available.

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How to make the correct rivets with an electric drill?

Do not be afraid: no one offers you to buy a machine. Use a conventional drill. The whole process of making rivets using an electric drill and a conventional file will be described as follows. From a nail, the diameter of which is equal to the diameter of the inner part of the rivets (check with a caliper), a workpiece is cut out - a piece about 7 cm long. This workpiece is fixed in the head of the electric drill. The drill itself must also be securely fixed.

Two files are fixed on a wooden beam, the distance between which will be equal to the width of the inner part of the rivet. You may not be able to do this quickly, but you must be absolutely precise. It remains only to organize a uniform supply of the bar to the workpiece. We recommend using a piece of board, one end of which is fixed to the stationary part of the workbench using a wide door hinge, and on the second end of the board we fix a block with files.

We check the perpendicularity of the location of the files and the workpiece - and you can start working. We turn on the electric drill and smoothly lower the files. They will make grooves on the workpiece. It is not recommended to make rivets in one go, since it is not worth overheating the metal, but it is necessary to control the thickness of the workpiece on the machined part. A too thin part of the rivet can damage you too, so you need to achieve maximum accuracy. If you can do everything right, then all that remains is to cut off the rivet and use it to connect the chain links.

It is better to cut the rivet by hand, without using a grinder. Do not forget that when cutting metal at high tool speeds, a significant increase in the temperature of the material will occur, which is very undesirable. The finished rivet is in no way inferior to the factory product in quality, so the restored chain will serve for a long time. Negative moments when using homemade rivets will be practically eliminated. The main thing is that when installing the rivets, you do not forget to align the side parts of the links (after all, they had to be unbent when the chain was split). Even a slight protrusion of these elements from the design standard will lead to premature wear of the drive sprocket.

It is recommended to make several rivets at once using the method described earlier. The point here is not only to stock up on such necessary elements for future use (although this is also important). The most important thing from the whole number of products is to choose the most suitable size: any deviation from the norm will make the chain vulnerable at high loads.

How to shorten a chainsaw chain if it is stretched

For the correct operation of the chainsaw, it is important not only the condition of its main components, engine, carburetor, oil pump, but also the condition of the saw chain. Every saw owner should know how to maintain and repair a chain. In this article, we will talk about what to do if the chain on the chainsaw is stretched and how to shorten it.

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Can i cut

The chain has been severed by a saw, this is a common thing and you shouldn't be upset. The manufacturers made sure that the chain could be rebuilt and shortened. There are spare links on sale for different types and sizes of chains, chain rivets, riveting and riveting machines.

Using machines to glue a chainsaw at home, you can even those who have never done anything like it.

Important: repairing a chain, even the best, does not guarantee that it will last forever. Bundles wear evenly, so at any time the chain can come off elsewhere.

There are chains on sale in rolls of 50-100 meters, which you can buy and rivet yourself.

Coves are beneficial for professionals who work with a chainsaw every day, such as lumberjacks or sawmill workers.

When to cut

Chain the chainsaw can be shortened when it is stretched so far that the adjusting screw is not enough to tighten correctly. You don't need to remove more than two working links. It is also possible to reduce the chain if for any reason a longer bar is changed to a shorter one. If necessary, enlargement is allowed, additional links can be bought in a specialty store or used from a donor suitable for all characteristics, pitch, shape of incisal teeth.

Why stretch

Saw owners often ask the question, "Why is the chain tensioned on the chainsaw?" We will try to answer it. The saw headset can be stretched for several reasons.

Oil pump defective or incorrectly installed. Limited or no oil supply will result in excessive heat during operation. The hot chain stretches several times faster.
Work in adverse conditions. Dust, dirt, earth falls on the headset during operation. The dirt particles act as abrasive substances and gradually wipe the joints of the joints, causing them to stretch.
Use of poor quality chain lubricant. Often used for chain lubrication is not recommended by the manufacturer of the oil and used oil from the car engine. In "working off" there are metal particles, which can also give the effect of an abrasive material.
The chain is new. Chainsaw manufacturers specifically make adjusting screws for the saw, because the stretching process is inevitable.
Natural stretching as a result of long-term work.

Stretching is inevitable, the question is how quickly it happens. The service life can be extended by using quality lubricants for lubrication, timely oil pump diagnostics and service interruptions.

Such measures can significantly reduce the chance of stretching, but not completely eliminate it.

The chain is stretched, what to do

If the chain is stretched but the link wear still allows it to be used, you can rivet it and keep running. Determining the number of links to remove is not difficult. To do this, a tire is installed on the chainsaw, the tension screw is twisted to the extreme position and measurements are taken. Having determined the required length, you can proceed to riveting.

The chain saw chain is made with auxiliary tools and special machines. Let us consider in more detail what tools are needed to reduce or increase the length of the chain.

Tools required for the job

Once the rivets are started, the first step is to remove the link from the chain, this will require riveting rivets. For riveting, you will need an anvil, hammer, thin beard, vise, grinder with grinding wheel, or emery. These tools do not allow you to do quality work, but they will be found by everyone. More cultured and gentle way, remove the rivets with a special blow.

There are several samples of strikes, we will tell you about the most popular.

Rivet rivet

A punch is a machine that is used to remove rivets.

It is mechanical, it works on the principle of printing. The set includes a special anvil in which grooves are selected to install the headset with different pitches. There are also interchangeable tips that are used to extrude the rivets.

How to cut chain chainsaws

video how Cut the chain saw chain with your own hands.

Chinese chainsaw how to cut a chain!

How can shorten the chain on chainsaw.

Important: The size of the rivets is different for different types of chains, so when purchasing a breaker machine, make sure the kit contains a few tips that are used for different types of fittings.

We suggest watching a video that shows how to glue a saw chain with mechanical shock.

After the chain is glued, you need to remove the old link, install a new one and rivet it. For this, a riveting machine is used. It's electric, so it costs a lot more than a breakdown car.

Riveting / rolling machines

The machine is equipped with a high torque gear motor.

It is used to rivet and roll headset in increments from 1/4 "to 0.404". The depth of the saw chains that can be glued with this machine is from 1.1 mm to 2 mm (0.043 "- 0.080"). Special rotating inserts and anvils for different types are supplied with the machine. Liners and anvils are marked. The 'A' mark indicates that the inserts are for headset in 3/8 "and 0.404" pitch. "B" is for 1/4 "and 0.325".

The machine works as follows. A saw chain with a new link and rivets is installed in the guide inserts. The repair link with rivets fixed in it is pressed by the working roller to the anvil, then the engine starts, and the roller begins to rotate, gradually crushing the rivet. At this point, the machine operator slightly increases the roller pressure by twisting the adjusting screw. For clarity, we suggest that you watch a video about the operation of the riveting machine.

It is not profitable to use such a riveting machine at home because it is expensive. If you need to re-rivet regularly, you can do without it. Consider how to cut your chains with your own hands without using expensive machines. You need to start with the rivet and remove the link.

The advantages of the machine are that rivets riveted with its help practically do not differ in quality from rivets in the factory.

How to remove a link without using a machine

There are several ways to remove rivets.

Emery printing. Work carefully, being careful not to damage the adjacent, entire link.
Stoch with the help of the Bulgarians.
Chop off the chisel. To do this, the chain must be clamped in a vice by the guides so that the rivets on the connecting link can be riveted.

After the rivet heads are grouped or cut off, the following steps need to be taken to disconnect the link. Place the beard between the connecting rod plates and hit it with a hard hammer. The slabs must come loose from the riveted body that passes through them.

Important: if it is necessary to replace the working tooth, then it is necessary to glue the connecting links to the left and right of it.

Now let's see how to peel back.

How to rivet

Connection requires a connection. Replacement links can be found at any store that sells chainsaws and accessories. When purchasing replacement links, the chain type, pitch and profile must be considered. Links from different typefaces are not interchangeable. It is not recommended to use the donor link from the old one. The rivets on it are already worn out and for a normal connection it is necessary to undermine the top plate.

The rivet stud is mounted on a chain and placed on the anvil with the open side up. After that, the top plate is placed over the rivets and lightly taped with a hammer so that it can sit as tightly as possible. After that, you can continue smoothing the rivets. For this, an anvil, a rod and a hammer are used.

The headset is mounted on an anvil, the beard is mounted on a rivet and a sharp blow is made with a hammer. The second rivet was riveted in the same way. As a result, a bulge should be obtained in the protruding part of the rivet, which securely holds the upper engagement plate, not allowing it to come off.

The last step is to check that the chain link moves and is not caught in the rivet.

Important: if the work is done incorrectly, and the link to repair does not go, it is impossible to install such a chain on a chainsaw.

Consider what might happen if the rivet is wrong.

Consequences of poor renovation

The consequences of a poor repair can be very unfortunate, as the chain breaks can damage the operator. Of course, modern saws are equipped with all kinds of protection. For example, they set traps that are designed to protect the operator in an emergency, and the right hand, which is on the chain line, is hidden behind the body.

But protection does not give a 100% guarantee, therefore, before using a repair chain with a maximum load, it is necessary to test it on light work, cut a couple of branches or planks.

In addition, the consequences of poor repairs can affect the performance of your chainsaw. See what mistakes can be made during repairs and how they will affect saw performance.

Errors in chain repair

Doesn't match the stage. The reason is that the working link is not suitable for the basic parameters: pitch, link thickness. If you use this headset for work, the result will be a replacement of the drive sprocket and saw blade, as the sprocket on the bar will break.
Another option for pitch mismatch is to set the working tooth in the opposite direction. This is very rare, but it does happen, especially with those who fix it the first time. The consequences are similar to the first.
The chain is longer than the tire. In this case, everything is clear, the adjusting screw is not enough for tension, the chain will dangle, and the wear of the drive sprocket will increase.
In short. Such a headset cannot be installed, it will be necessary to rivet and lengthen.
The connecting link is slightly longer. Similar to the first point, the pitch will change, which will destroy the leading and driven sprockets.

In conclusion, I want to draw particular attention to the quality of the articles on this topic. On the Internet pages there is information on how to repair a saw chain by welding. Such instructions are written by incompetent authors who do not understand what they are writing about.

It can be repaired by welding, but these are not saw chains, but gear chains designed to transfer forces from one sprocket to another.

These can be found in the mechanisms of agricultural machines, conveyors and other units.

Output

We considered all the issues related to self-adhesive riveting, paid attention to tools and machines. We advise you to buy expensive repair equipment only if you are constantly working with saws. Please note that an improperly secured chain can harm not only the tool, but also the operator.

If after reading you still have questions on the topic of the article, you can write them in the comments, we will answer them.

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The chain is an integral part of the chainsaw, responsible for cutting and sawing wood. Today there are many types of saw chains, each of which has its own design and parameters. We propose to study the classification of circuits, the rules for their installation and maintenance at home.

What are chains for chainsaws - types and features

Today on the market there is a wide selection of chains, which are usually distinguished according to a number of criteria. Depending on the direction of sawing, chains are divided into the following types:

Longitudinal - the use of such sawing elements during operation increases the performance of the chainsaw;
Transverse - the use of chains of this type allows you to smooth out the "aggressiveness" of the saw, which significantly reduces vibration on its handle and the load on the tool motor.

In addition, the saw chains are divided among themselves according to such a parameter as the chain pitch of a chainsaw - this is the distance between three links connected to each other, divided by 2. Depending on this value, chains with the following markings can be found on sale:

¼ “or 0.25 - chains with this pitch are installed on one-hand chainsaws that do not have high power, but are used for precise sawing of wood and for working in hard-to-reach places;
3/8 “or 0.325 - These saw blades are the most commonly used. More than 80% of the chainsaws produced today are equipped with just such chains;
¾ inch or 0.404 are fairly large chains that are mounted on professional chainsaws for working on aerated concrete and other hard materials.

It should be remembered that the larger the chain pitch, the higher its performance. It should be borne in mind that with an increase in the step, the width of the cut increases, therefore, in order to overcome the resistance of the wood, a large and powerful tool is required.
The next criterion by which sawing elements are divided is the thickness of the shank. This parameter must match the size of the groove of the chainsaw tire. This condition will increase the reliability of fixing the chain on the bar and reduce the risk of the saw element slipping off when working with the tool. According to this parameter, the chains are divided into the following types:

With a shank thickness of 1.1 mm - chains of this standard size are used to equip household mini-saws;
With a shank thickness of 1.3 mm - semi-professional chainsaws are equipped with these chains;
With a shank thickness of 1.5 mm - chains with this standard size are used to equip powerful household chainsaws;
With a shank thickness of 1.6–2 mm - they are used exclusively for mounting on professional and industrial chainsaws for working on concrete.

A few more important parameters that are used to classify chainsaws are the profile height of the saw element and its cutting depth. By the height of the profile, chainsaws are divided into the following types:

Low-profile - increase the bearing area of the cutting link, which, if necessary, allows you to obtain thin chips. Chains of this type are considered the safest for the operator;
High-profile - such chains significantly increase the performance of the chainsaw, but are more dangerous for the operator.

Depth of cut is the size of the gap between the kerf stop and the top edge of the tool. The most demanded on the market are chains with the following cutting depths:

0.025 "- used to equip small household chainsaws;
0.03 "- used mainly for working with semi-professional tools;
0.07 "- chains with this cutting depth are mainly used to equip chainsaws for felling.

The performance of the chainsaw largely depends on the depth of cut. But do not forget that the larger this parameter, the more the chainsaw will vibrate.

Many novice gardeners sometimes wonder which chainsaw chain is best. Despite the many factors by which the sawing elements are divided, in practice it is quite simple to choose a chain for a chainsaw. First of all, you will need to study a number of rules:

Choose the chain that best suits your particular chainsaw model. In this case, take into account the power of the saw and the recommendations in its operating instructions;
Pay attention to the material from which the saw blade is made. Remember that a diamond chain is much more reliable than a steel product;
When choosing, you will need to determine the pitch of the chainsaw - for regular felling work, you should choose chains with a pitch of 3/8 ", and for irregular use, it is better to give preference to a chain with a pitch of ¼";
Pay attention to the sharpening angle of the chain - for cutting dry trees it is better to buy a chain with an angle of 30 °, and for sawing wet logs, you can purchase a saw element with an angle of 10 °. The marking of this parameter is indicated on the packaging of each chain;
Make sure the length of the chain matches the dimensions of the bar - otherwise the saw element will sag, or you simply will not be able to install it on the chainsaw bar;
Be sure to learn the number of chain links. The more of them, the more productive work with a chainsaw will be.
Best of all, if you get your hands on a self-sharpening chain - it is easier to use, although it costs a little more.

In any case, if you are afraid of making a mistake, or do not want to deal with each of the parameters, then you can turn to for help.
With its help, you can accurately select a chain specifically for your model of chainsaw.

How to properly tension the chain on a chainsaw?

Fitting a chain to a chainsaw can seem like a daunting task for beginners. However, you should not be afraid, because everyone can put on a chain correctly on a chainsaw. First of all, you need to remember that putting the chain on the chainsaw with which you just finished cutting down the trees will not work. In this case, the saw element will be compressed, which will cause the tire to contract and deform. It is best to install the chain on a cold chain saw. In this case, you need to adhere to a certain order of actions:

Before installing the chain on the chainsaw, make sure that the tool is turned off and it will not start unauthorized;
After that, you need to remove the protective plastic cover on the side of the chainsaw and loosen the bolts;
Next, you need to decide which side to put the chain on the chainsaw. The saw element must be installed so that the cutter located on the top of the bar is directed in the direction of the chain movement;
Then put on protective gloves, fasten the tire to the chainsaw and start rotating the chain along the tire;
If the chain slack, then the chain is tensioned on the chainsaw. To tighten the saw element, you must use the tensioner, which is located on the right side under the protective strip. Most often, this mechanism is in the form of an ordinary bolt;
Next, slightly unscrew the side hardware that is used to fasten the tire;
Select the optimum tension using the adjusting screw. Having done this, screw the hardware to the end. Then refit the protective strip.

If you did everything correctly, the chain on the bar will rotate smoothly and without creaking sounds. If you make a mistake during installation, then during rotation the chain will quickly stop, and sometimes jam.

How does the chain lubrication system work?

Chainsaw chain lubrication is carried out by means of a lubrication system, the main element of which is an oil pump. The lubrication system works according to a certain principle: with an increase in the number of revolutions of the motor, the gear located on the main shaft makes the pump shaft move, using a worm gear for this. At this time, the shaft, by its rotation, creates pressure inside the oil line, which pushes the oil towards the tire.

The oil line ends in the area where the longitudinal groove is located, where the tire comes into contact with the crankcase of the chainsaw. When mounted on a chainsaw, the groove of the tire comes into contact with the oil channel, thus obtaining the oil necessary for operation.

How is a chainsaw chain lubricated?

It should be noted that when the chainsaw is operating, oil is received not only by the tire, but also by the tool chain. After oil gets on the tire, the saw element is switched on, the links of which are also equipped with grooves or holes. As the number of engine revolutions increases, the speed at which the oil travels along the tire and chain also increases.
Some models of modern chainsaws are equipped with special mechanisms that allow you to increase or decrease the amount of oil required for the proper operation of the chain. Chainsaw lubrication with this function is quite convenient, as it saves oil and prevents the chain from slipping on the tire from an excess of lubricant.
Very often, beginners do not know how to lubricate the needle bearing of a chainsaw. This element requires as much lubrication as the bar and chain. Experts advise using special greases from Stihl and Husqvarna as a lubricant. To add grease, use a syringe so that all the agent gets into the bearing.
If you ignore the need to lubricate the needle bearing, then the result will be the replacement of the drive roller and a number of other important parts of the chainsaw.

How to shorten a chainsaw chain with your own hands?

Some budding gardeners do not know what to do if the chain on a chainsaw is stretched. In this case, it will need to be shortened. To do this, you need to prepare the necessary tools:

Hammer and vise;
Beard;
File;
Pliers;
Electric welding machine.

To shorten the chain on a chainsaw, you must proceed in this order:

First you need to disconnect its links. You should not use a grinder for this, as this can cause the carbide links to deform. It is best to use a file or file for this. It is necessary to grind each link on both sides of it, and then unscrew the rivets from the chain using a beard;
Once you have successfully riveted the chain, you do not need to immediately discard the disconnected rivets. They may be required when you make further repairs to the saw unit;
In the next step, you need to rivet the chain, that is, connect the shortened sawing element. To do this, you need to count the teeth and connect the links to a rivet, pressing their side parts;
After that, you need to start welding the links. In this case, you should act extremely carefully, otherwise poorly welded parts of the chain will scratch the tire of the chainsaw;
Further, many beginners have a question: "How to rivet a chainsaw chain?" To do this, you need to use a conventional drill. Take a nail with a diameter equal to that of the inside of the rivet and cut out a 7-centimeter piece;
Next, fix the workpiece in the drill head. Then fix 2 files on the block so that the distance between them is equal to the width of the inner part of the rivet. This requires you to achieve maximum accuracy. Then you just have to take care of the uniform supply of the bar to the workpiece.

After you have been able to repair the chainsaw chain with your own hands, you need to inspect it for burrs. If necessary, remove them with a file. In the future, if the chains on your chainsaw break often enough, we recommend purchasing a special riveter for chains. It can save you a ton of time and effort.
Many experts also advise replacing conventional chains with victorious saw blades. The fact is that a chain saw for chainsaws is much more reliable and will not break as often as conventional saw chains. However, the performance of the saw will decrease slightly when using such a saw blade.

Situations are not uncommon when, when installing a shorter tire on a chainsaw, you have to change and. This information will tell you how to shorten the chain on a chainsaw in such a way that the part fully depletes its resource. Alternatively, it is possible to fit a long chain to a shorter standard guide rail.

For repairs, non-stretched chains with a relatively small resource development are used, which have received partial damage when the cutting links break or hit the metal inclusions contained in the wood.

Experts advise to rivet and repair the damaged chain with minimal loss of quality, using the technical potential of the service workshop.
Despite the assurances of the manufacturers about the problems and complexity of self-repair, a significant part of users prefer to master the methods of restoring the working capacity of saw sets on their own.

The reason for this phenomenon:

owner's residence at a great distance from service and maintenance points;
the high cost of the repair services provided by the services;
lack of the necessary equipment.

It is not advisable and unsafe to compensate for the natural wear of the chain by shortening. Operating the saw headset with an extended chain is inevitably accompanied by:

forced wear of the tire and the rim of the drive sprocket;
an increase in engine load;
increased trauma risk of sawing works of different levels of complexity.

External and internal factors of accelerated wear

The reason that the chain is intensively stretched on a chainsaw may be the wrong choice of chain oil or the replacement of the recommended material with an oil substitute, a malfunction of the lubrication system or inaccurate adjustment of the oil pump with variable performance.

Filling the lubrication system with material of substandard density and viscosity negatively affects the lubrication and cooling efficiency of the working surfaces, the performance of the pump supplying chain oil to the saw headset.

Refueling of summer oil can create a lot of problems when operating the chainsaw at low air temperatures from -10 ° C. As a result of an oversight, a breakdown of the oil pump drive is possible, a decrease in its performance to the level of oil starvation.

Possible Causes of Spontaneous Saw Chain Break

If the chain on the chainsaw breaks, it is necessary to find out the cause of the malfunction, establish the expediency of repairing the damaged part or installing a new one.

Typical reasons for saw chain breaks are unfavorable external factors:

excessive tension;
wear of the guide bar or inconsistency of the shanks with the width of the working groove;
operation of the saw set with large constant loads;
overheating of the headset due to lack of lubrication;
inconsistency of the chain with the type of tire and the configuration of the crown of the drive sprocket.

Features of home renovation

Many experienced users prefer to do their own chain repairs. The success of the work performed is determined by the presence of special skills and tools, knowledge of the structural features of models for various purposes.

In particular, dismantling and assembly of wear-resistant analogs does not create any difficulties. Only apply carbide to the cutting edges of the saw links. For connecting elements and rivets, standard metal is used for their production.

With more or less success, you can rivet a chainsaw chain at home, and if you have the right tool, even in the field. Please note that special care should be taken when using a self-refurbished headset. At the first opportunity, a repaired connection in a hospital is desirable.

Post-repair restrictions

The problem is that a hastily repaired part contains one or more "weak links". In this state, the operating time of the headset under heavy loads is significantly limited, and increased requirements are imposed on the full operation of the lubrication system.

It is possible to use the restored chain in working mode, provided that the repair was carried out by an experienced riveter who has at his disposal a riveting machine and other special equipment.

The initial stage of repair and restoration work

All known methods for shortening a saw chain assume criteria for rejecting damaged cutting and connecting links, a sequence of working steps determined by the technology. Cutting and connecting links are assembled with factory rivets, which in all characteristics correspond to the current standards.

The use of homemade components is not recommended in any case. Special rivets for chains are extremely rare on sale, therefore, in most cases, the problem is solved by installing the necessary parts removed from the dismantled section of the chain.

The sequence of dismantling and subsequent assembly

At home, it is easier to disconnect the chain by cutting off the heads, after which the shortened rivets are easily knocked out with a thin steel rod. The task is simplified by the presence of a release clamp suitable for the step of the chain. The rivets removed by such a device can be used without restrictions.

You can independently connect the ends of the shortened chain in a locksmith's vice. The rivets threaded into the chain elements from the back side are expanded around the circumference with light blows of the middle hammer. The finished joint should not have any backlash, and a tight fit is also not allowed.

When assembling different types of saw chains, the dimensional intervals between the cutting links prescribed by the design must be observed.

Range of saw chain repair machines

A special machine for riveting chainsaws is included in the list of working equipment of specialized workshops. The offered assortment includes several budget and branded models of imported production, costing from 2000 to 5500 rubles.

Riveting machines of the Shtil, Huskvarna and Champion brands are characterized by increased capabilities and a comfortable level of work.

The cost of universal riveting and riveting machines of the Shtil NG-7 type is about 18,000 rubles. Technically sophisticated devices ensure high quality riveted joints, saving labor time and material costs.

The cost of the special one varies from 2,000 to 6,000 rubles.

Repair standards and restrictions

Tacked by welding or heated by an abrasive wheel grinders, the connecting elements of the chain are less wear-resistant, which significantly affects their reliability.

The tight connection of adjacent links is accompanied by additional loads on the engine and the kinematics of the chainsaw.
The lack of a smooth running of the chain makes it difficult for the headset to enter the cut, the possibility of kickbacks and other traumatic moments is not excluded.
"Overtightened" and loose connections of the repaired chain are more susceptible to breakage at a sharp drop in loads.

The simplest machine for repairing chainsaw chains justifies its cost by the ability to completely rivet the damaged chain in a short period of working time and restore its performance at a level of up to 90%.

Chinese-made chainsaw chains are essentially copies of European models, so the above repair recommendations are valid for the entire Chinese chain assortment.

Criteria for self-selection of a saw chain

In everyday life, the quality of removable sawing equipment from leading European brands is highly valued. Guide bars and chains from the Shtil and Husqvarna brands enjoy the unofficial status of reference products.

When purchasing a product, you must make sure that the model in terms of length, pitch and thickness of the shank meets the design standards of the chainsaw. The entire chain assortment is divided into five size groups ranging from 1/4 to ¾ inch.

Small-cube models of budget-class chainsaws are completed with products with a smaller pitch, chains with an increased pitch and thickened shanks - a characteristic feature of the headsets of powerful and productive professional chainsaws.

How to eliminate the risks of acquiring a low-quality fake

When buying a branded chain on the market, the risks of acquiring a Chinese chain counterfeit are not excluded. The task of self-selection is complicated by the lack of a reliable way to distinguish a high-quality branded original from a fake, which is an order of magnitude inferior to branded products in terms of work resource.

With more confidence, you can identify calm chains by the silver packaging, the bright orange logo and the presence of a wear indicator. The cheaper Chinese counterparts are decorated more modestly, in gray boxes with a yellow trademark.

You can safely buy saw chains of full quality and durability from brand stores and licensed sales representatives of intermediary companies.

Pro tips for preparing a new chain for use

Practice has proven the effectiveness of stabilizing the internal structure of the saw chain metal. A sufficiently long heating of the product in an oil bath with a constant temperature of 60-70 ° C, eliminates internal stresses, and helps to restore the crystal lattice of the metal.

The optimal heating time for the tool steel from which the cutting links are made can vary for 7-10 days or more.

Long-term storage nuances

If the chainsaw is not going to be used for a long time, it is recommended to remove the bar and chain, clean it thoroughly and treat it with any neutral preservative. The above fully applies to spare headsets.

Regardless of the type of packaging, it is advisable to store dismantled parts in dry rooms with a stable temperature. If these conditions are observed, the formation of condensate moisture and the appearance of pitting corrosion are excluded.