If you own a chainsaw and are unsure about how tight should a chainsaw chain be, then you have come to the right place. A chainsaw is an exceptionally powerful tool, and the chain plays an imperative role in its functioning.
The chain tension can make or break the performance offered by a chainsaw.
Poor tensioning of the chain can result in premature wearing-out of the chain and other imperative parts of the chainsaw like the clutch, guide bar, sprocket, and more.
Now, if you just bought a chainsaw and extremely confused about how tight should a chainsaw chain be, or if you have been using a chainsaw and still haven’t been able to figure out the right chain tension for your chainsaw then this guide is perfect for you.
In this comprehensive guide about how tight should a chainsaw chain be, we will be covering testing and tightening methods for the chain in a chainsaw. You will learn all there is to learn about chain tensioning and how to go about it in a few simple steps.
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Learning How Tight Should a Chainsaw Chain Be
To gauge how tight the chain is, you can use two very easy methods. The pull test and snap test are two methods that are perfect to know if the chain is tight enough or not for the optimal performance of your chainsaw.
Method 1
In this method, the idea is to pull the chain away from the bar partially. If the drive links come clear of the bar groove, then that’s an indicator that the chain is loose.
However, if you see that the drive links pull out a little while the ends remain within the bar groove, that indicates that the chain has the right amount of chain tensioning. This is called the pull test method which quite popular among professional chainsaw operators.
When the chain is properly tensioned, it rests a little loose on the guide bar, yet tight enough that when pulled the drive links remain engaged with the bar groove which means you will not have to make any further adjustments to the chain.
To confirm this you can apply the pull test method one to three times for maximum satisfaction that it is accurately tensioned and the chainsaw can be used for the task you want it for.
Method 2
The second method we have is what we call the snap test. In this method, you have to gently pull the chain away to check the existing tension. Gently pulling it as far as it can go, then releasing it back will determine how tight the chain truly is. It’s called the snap test because how the chain snaps back to the bar is an indicator of the chain tension.
However, if you can’t pull the chain away from the bar then that means the chain is tight and needs to be loosened.
If you do manage to pull the chain, there could be two situations. Either the chain will snap back to its place snugly which means that the chain has proper tensioning. But, if the chain snaps back to the bar in a limping motion then that’s an indicator that the chain is very loose and has poor tensioning. Depending on how the chain falls back in its place, you will know what needs to be done.
How to Achieve Proper Chain Tensioning?
While the functioning of every chainsaw is the same, they still vary when it comes to models by different manufacturers. Now that you have learned two methods to test how tight should a chainsaw chain be, we are going to look at what to do if the chain is not tight enough.
As discussed, due to the variations in models the tension screw is not always located in the same place in a chainsaw. There are possibly three areas the tension screw is located in. Firstly, the side panel where the tension screw will be found between the bolts holding the guide bar in its dedicated place.
Secondly, the front panel where the tension screw will be found at the right side of the bar guide and the left side of the bucking spikes.
Thirdly, the integrated tension system, as most newer models feature an integrated tension system in which instead of tensioning the screw, an integrated handle is present to adjust the chain tension with ease. Once you figure out if you will have to tighten the screw or use the handle to make specific adjustments to the chain, you can move on to the next step which involves tightening the chain for the chainsaw proper functioning.
The 3 Simple Steps to Tighten the Chain
Now that you know where to tighten the chain, we will dive into the three steps that you will have to follow in the order mentioned below to achieve the accurate chain tension for your chainsaw.
Keep in mind that every step should be exactly followed, the slightest mistake could result in the wrong tensioning.
Step 1: Loosening the Bolts
In this step, you will have to start loosening the bolts present on the side panel of the guide bar. When you know the bolts are loose enough, you will have more area to make the adjustments to the chain.
By the way, if the chainsaw you have has brakes attached to its side panel then you will have to unlock them before you remove the side panel.
Step 2: Adjusting the Tension Screw
Coming on to the next step, you will have to adjust the tension screw. At this point, you know where the tension screw is located, by tightening the screw you will be tightening the chain.
If for instance, the chain is tight, you will have to loosen the screw. After you are done, try the pull test or the snap test method to check if the chain has the right tension.
Step 3: Tightening the Bolts
After you are done performing the steps discussed above, and the chain has the right tension, you will have to tighten the bolts of the guide bar. By lifting the nose of the chainsaw, tighten the bolts to ensure that no malfunctioning is experienced.
Quick Recap: The Correct and Wrong Tension
Now that you know how to tighten the chain, we are going to do a quick recap of covering the current and wrong chain detriments.
Wrong Tension
In a case where you feel there is wrong chain tensioning, you can try to detect if the chain is loose. By performing either of the two methods discussed above you will be able to determine if the chain is loose enough. Always remember when there is incorrect tensioning, the drive links will immediately disengage from the guide bar and that is a huge indicator in itself that the chain needs to be tightened.
When the chain is loose, that of course qualifies as the wrong tensioning. However, in a situation where the chain is too tight is also a wrong chain tension. The bigger question is, how do you determine if the chain is too tight? It is very easy all you will have to do is pull the chain, and if the drive links do not leave the bar then the chain is too tight. Keep in mind if you do not loosen the chain, there is a high chance that it will break.
Correct Tension
When it comes to figuring out what qualifies as the correct chain tension, it gets a bit complicated because the chain shouldn’t be too tight or too loose. The chain should rest on the guide bar a little loosely, while at the same time it should be tight enough that when you pull it away the drive links do not disengage.
One of the best ways is to perform the pull test method and check if the drive links disengage or not. In short, the correct chain tension is when the drive links are thoroughly engaged with the guide bar, if that’s the case the chain has the correct tensioning and will not need any adjustments.
Conclusion
We hope that this guide on how tight should a chainsaw chain be was helpful, and in a situation where you find yourself with the wrong chain tension you will know what to do. In this guide, we have covered all there is to know about chain tensioning, the methods used to test the chain tension, and what are the wrong and correct chain tension detriments.
One of the most important steps, before you begin to use a chainsaw, is to check the chain tension otherwise it could be dangerous to use a chainsaw which is why having the right knowledge about chain tension is imperative.
