The Best Way to Tension a Saw Chain.

Описание: Slack chains kill bars, This vid shows why. Too-tight chains are also bad. This is the way I tension my chain. A simple method that works hot or cold on long or short bars and whatever gauge chain. Beware of slicing yourself on a sharp chain: always rotate the chain in the direction it runs when in use and wear good gloves (not nitrile mechanics gloves like I'm wearing - but notice how careful I am). Do it wrong on a sharp chain and if it grabs, you will cut yourself! (Of course your chain is going to be sharp at all times, isn't it?)

Keep your chain correctly tensioned and your saw and bar will last longer, your cuts will be more accurate and you run much lower risk of the chain derailing. A good tip: check tension every time you refuel AFTER you have refuelled. By that time the chain will have cooled.

Remember when you fit a new chain to a used bar and drive sprocket you will get a lot of wear until the new chain fits itself to the worn sprockets. A new chain will also bed in at all the bearings and therefore it will 'stretch' and go slack. So fit, run at no load for a couple of minutes, check and re-tension when warm. Get into cutting and your tension should remain correct but be prepared to re-tension as needed. Carry your combi tool with you so you can tension.

Finished cutting? Check for oiling like you were taught on the course. You did that as part of your start checks when you fired up at start of work, didn't you? Do it again at the end and you will oil (and clean) all those little bearings in the chain and the sprocket at the bar nose.