Have you never considered tuning your chainsaw? If yes, then you have been missing out on a very important maintenance step every chainsaw should go under. Let us enlighten you on why tuning a chainsaw is necessary.
Routinely tuning eliminates damage caused by an irregular engine, ensures good performativity, and helps in prolonging the lifespan of this power tool. There are only undeniable benefits of tuning a chainsaw, and no downsides at all.
In order to keep your chainsaw running smoothly, regular cleaning and tuning will be beneficial for the overall performance of the tool. Once you learn how to tune a chainsaw, it will be relatively easy to do it every time.
We have carefully crafted this very easy-to-follow step-by-step guide to teach you how to tune a chainsaw in just a few simple steps. We will walk you through each and every step in detail to ensure you get a hang of this skill in no time.
Let’s go through a quick overview of how to tune a chainsaw. There are three screws on a carburetor that are used to fine-tune the engine of a chainsaw for its smoother functionality.
The “L” screw is basically used to control the low throttle operations when the chainsaw is rotating up to speed. While the “H” screw is used when the chainsaw’s RPM’s (revolutions per minute) have to be adjusted at high throttle.
For setting the idle speed the “T” screw is used when the chainsaw is running while no throttle is essentially applied.
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What is a Carburetor?
It is through the carburetor the chainsaw is tuned. A carburetor is basically what controls the fuel quantity and mixture of fuel with air that enters the engine to ensure the engine runs optimally. When there isn’t enough air mixed with the fuel, the fuel will burn faster and could potentially damage the engine. In a chainsaw with a two-stroke engine, the fuel also acts as the engine’s lubricant.
In this guide, you will learn how to tune a chainsaw using the three screws we have mentioned-above.
Pre-Tuning Process
Before we start the tuning process, you will need to perform some pre-tuning steps which can’t be skipped and should be allowed in any case, otherwise, the tuning process will not be executed the way successfully.
Let’s look at the steps:
- You need to have the right set of tools like a screwdriver.
- Ensure that there is the correct amount of fuel in the tank.
- Make sure that the air and fuel filters are thoroughly clean.
- The chain is able to run freely over the nose.
- The bar of the chainsaw is completely free from pinch points.
- The chain is correctly tensioned and lubricated.
- The chain is sharp and not distorted.
- The space you are working in is free of obstacles and completely safe.
- You have the right personal protective equipment.
- You will need a tachometer and a chainsaw operator’s manual.
How to Tune a Chainsaw
Let’s start with the tuning process, shall we?
Step 1: Checking the Air Filter and Fuel Tank
The first step is to ensure that the air filter is free from sawdust or other material. To clean a paper type air filter, you can use hot water with dish soap. Don’t forget to dry the air filter before you use it.
If the chainsaw has a wire type air filter then you can use the chainsaw gas to clean it and you will not have to wait for it to dry.
Moreover, it is essential to inspect that the muffler is free from the buildup of any carbon particles. Once you are done checking that the air filter is clean, you will have to check that the fuel tank is over half full. Leaving any of these issues undone could possibly result in fuel mixture after adjustments which you don’t want.
Step 2: Checking the Engine
In this step, you will have to start the engine and let it run for a couple of minutes for it to warm up. In case the saw doesn’t idle without stalling out, squeezing the throttle will keep it running, just make sure you don’t press race the engine to maximum using the throttle.
If you race the engine to its full throttle while the engine is trying to warm up or cold it could cause serious damage to it.
Step 3: Attaching the Tachometer
The tachometer will be attached to the saw in this step. One of the things you will have to keep in mind is to ensure that the RPM’s don’t exceed the revolutions recommended in the manual.
To check the recommended RMP’s you will have to consult the operator’s manual, every chainsaw has different RPM’s. The operator’s manual has all the necessary details you will need that is needed to know how to tune a chainsaw.
Step 4: Adjusting the “T” Screw
In order to set the idle speed, make use of a flathead screwdriver, and adjust the speed using the “T” screw. When you tighten the screw, it will decrease the richness of the fuel mixture.
Loosening the screw increase the richness of the fuel mixture. What you need to understand in this step is that you have to ensure that the chainsaw runs smoothly without facing any stalling, while making sure that the revolutions per minute are not so high that it ends up engaging the chain when it is running idle.
Step 5: Adjusting the “L” Screw
By slowly tightening the “L” screw until the engine of the chainsaw starves for fuel. In this step, you will have to ensure that the exact position of when the engine starts to drown from an overly rich fuel mixture.
You will be first tightening the screw and then loosening it. Once you know the exact position, the screw will have to be tightened until the chainsaw is idle.
Step 6: Adjusting the “T” Screw Again
In this step, you will have to adjust the “T” screw again because there is a high possibility that when you adjusted the “L” screw that the optimal fuel settings changed at the idle speed.
Step 7: Adjusting the “H” Screw
By giving the chainsaw a full-throttle, adjust the “H” screw until the engine begins to starve again. The idea is to find a comfortable setting for the chainsaw’s engine to run as smoothly as possible.
Step 8: Readjustments of the “L” Screw
By releasing the throttle and adjusting the “L” screw setting one last time, make the readjustments you think are necessary. The end game is to have a smooth-running engine.
Step 9: Readjusting the “T” Screw
The last step is adjusting the “T” screw for idle speed. This will be the final setting, by tightening the screw ensure that the engine runs smoothly and doesn’t stall out. Once the final adjustments are made, you will have successfully tuned the chainsaw and it will be ready to be used.
Maintaining the Chainsaw
Now that you have learned to tune a chainsaw, you also need to keep in mind that the maintenance of a chainsaw doesn’t end at just tuning it. There are other maintenance steps you need to perform as well because the chainsaw is a complex power tool.
For instance, sharpening and lubricating the chain of the chainsaw is absolutely essential for a smoother operation.
A good way to recognize if the chain needs sharpening is when the chainsaw is cutting roughly, it is a huge indicator that the chain needs to be sharpened.
Furthermore, apart from ineffective cutting, a dull-chain is dangerous because it often leads to kickbacks when the chainsaw is being used.
Just like sharpening the chain is necessary, a chain that is not lubricated it can overheat the chainsaw, to avoid that the chain should be well-oiled at all time.
The Final Verdict
Within 5 to 10 minutes, you will be able to tune the chainsaw and the tuning will make a huge difference in how well the chainsaw runs when you use it. These steps will help the chainsaw run efficiently and effectively.
Moreover, the life expectancy will be increased and a chainsaw with a smooth-running engine ensures it requires less force and labor from your end, while also allowing for a safe chainsaw-using-experience every time.
We hope that this guide was easy to follow, tuning a chainsaw is a bit complicated and can be confusing on the first try. However, once you get a hang of it you will be able to easily tune it when necessary.
If you get confused, try to understand the step again and try it again. It is also important that you follow the steps in the exact order, otherwise, you will not be able to tune the chainsaw successfully.
