If you find yourself struggling with how to start a chainsaw. You have come to the right place! Let’s be honest, we have all been there, starting a chainsaw for the first time can be quite frustrating especially when you don’t know anything about it.
A chainsaw is a complicated power-tool and you can’t start it unless you have learned how to.
Now whether you are starting a chainsaw for the first time, or are a professional.
Doesn’t matter you have a gas-powered or electrically-powered chainsaw. In this guide, you will find everything you need to know about how to start a chainsaw for the first time or, in fact, every time.
We have crafted a very easy-to-follow step-to-step guide that will teach you how to start a chainsaw in just a few minutes.
Let’s start, shall we?
Instruction Manual
Are you working with a chainsaw for the first time?
Then, we will advise you to open the instruction manual and read everything you can about how to start a chainsaw first. Even if you think you don’t need to go through the instruction manual, let us tell you why we are recommending it.
Every chainsaw model is different and while the basic functioning of the chainsaw remains the same, there can be some differences when it comes to starting it.
Once you are done reading the instruction manual and have a fair idea about where are all the switches and buttons are located, you can follow our step-to-step guide.
How to Start an Electrically-Powered Chainsaw?
Before you get straight to starting a chainsaw, we have a few maintenance steps for you to perform. For electrically-powered corded saws, you will have to plug the switch into a grounded receptacle and make sure you have an extension wire when you are about to start the chainsaw.
If the chainsaws cord is too short, you will probably face difficulty sawing wood and also if it has a small gauge then it won’t be transferring power properly.
For cordless-saws you will have to make sure that the battery is fully charged and we also recommend that you have a backup battery with you because the chainsaw that runs on battery has a very short runtime.
The best thing about learning how to start a chainsaw that is electrically-powered is that it requires minimum effort in comparison to gas-powered chainsaws. There are just a few buttons you will need to press and the magic will begin.
Follow the steps below to start an electrically-powered chainsaw:
Step 1: Disengaging the Chain Brake
The thing about an electrically-powered chainsaw is that the chain will not spin until and unless you press the trigger. The trigger disengages the chain brake when you have to start the chainsaw.
If you don’t follow this step, there is no way the chainsaw will start. In a gas-powered chainsaw, the chain rotates even when the engine is idle and that’s one of the differences between the two chainsaws.
Step 2: Pressing the Safety Button
Next up you will have to press the safety button, also called a throttle lockout and trigger lock. You can check it out in the provided manual to know where it is, or try to find it on the side of the rear handle.
Since it is located on the rear handle you can use the thumb of your hand that is holding the chainsaw to press the safety button.
Step 3: Pulling the Trigger Switch
While you are still pressing the safety button with your thumb, you will have to pull the trigger switch using your index finger. Then release the safety button and to operate the saw you will have to keep squeezing the trigger switch constantly because if you stop squeezing it, the chainsaw will stop.
How to Start a Gas-Powered Chainsaw?
Before you start the gas-powered chainsaw. You will have to look for some maintenance check because a gas-chainsaw starts easily when it is maintained. First of all, you have to check the oil level, fill it with fresh fuel, and make sure the spark plug boot is completely seated. Below, you will learn how to start a cold chainsaw.
Gas-Powered Chainsaw Cold Start
A cold-start chainsaw is when a chainsaw hasn’t been running and has to be started. Now it could be that you are using a chainsaw for the first time that day or using it for the first time. In any case, the agenda is to have the fuel-flowing to warm the engine enough to start.
Step 1: Setting Up the Chain Brake
This is one of the most important safety steps when you are about to start a gas-powered chainsaw. As we mentioned earlier that the chain on a gas-chainsaw rotates even when the engine is idle and as soon as the engine-fires up it will start rotating.
Since first we will have to warm up the engine, you will have to ensure that the chain brake is applied.
Step 2: Closing Down the Choke
In this particular step, you will have to close down the choke that will block the airflow. Once the airflow is blocked, it will change the mixture of fuel and air flowing through the engine to offer a strong blend which will provide a concentrated burst of fuel which will help in warming up the engine instantly.
Step 3: Pressing the Decompression Valve
This step is not for all chainsaws, you will have to check the manual if the chainsaw you have features a decompression valve. If there is one, you will have to press it after closing the choke as it will help in reducing the pressure in the engine’s combustion chamber which in return will make it easy for the engine to revive.
Step 4: Pressing the Primer Bulb or Air Purge Bulb
Depending on if you have an old chainsaw or the latest chainsaw, you will have to follow this step accordingly. If for instance, you have an old chainsaw then it will have a primer bulb that is responsible for sending fuel into the carburetor of the chainsaw which feeds the engine with fuel and air to perform its function.
Ideally, pressing the primer bulb three to six times will be enough.
Now if you have a newer chainsaw model then it is more likely that it features an air purge bulb.
The air purge bulb is responsible for pushing excessive air out of the fuel line and pressing it two to three times will do the trick.
Just make sure you don’t over press the air purge bulb as it could interfere with the overall functionality of the chainsaw.
Step 5: Pulling the Starter Cord
Setting the saw on the ground, you will have to place one hand on the handlebar and for stability place your right foot into the boot grip.
First, you will have to pull the starter cord slowly and gently until you feel resistance, and then you will have to pull firmly and rapidly until the engine fires up. When you hear a pop sound, that is an indicator that the engine is firing up.
However, the engine won’t start running immediately which is completely normal and not a reason to panic. In the next step, you will know what to do.
Step 6: Setting the Choke
In this step, you will have to move the choke lever which will open the choke. The choke will add back air to the mixture of fuel to keep the engine running continuously without being flooded.
You must not skip this step because if you do, the engine will not keep running for you to use your chainsaw for the task you want it for.
Step 7: Pulling the Cord Once Again
We are almost to the end, in this step you will have to pull the starter cord a few times unless you hear the engine start. You will have to keep pulling until the saw starts, when it does the engine will keep running.
Congratulations you have successfully started the engine!
Step 8: Setting the Engine on Low Idle
Once the engine starts running, you should wait a minute or two because you want the engine to reach the ideal temperature, then you will have to hit the throttle only once and release it to set the engine of the chainsaw on low idle.
The moment you are ready to use the chainsaw, just release the chain brake and you can use it for the task you wanted it to start for.
Conclusion:
Now you have all the information you need to know on how to start a chainsaw in just a few simple steps. The step-to-step guide needs to be followed in order and you should not skip any steps at any cost.
Just make sure you have your protective gear on before you start using the chainsaw! We hope that this guide was helpful and you find it easy to start the chainsaw when you want to.
