Chain Saws:

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In order to better appreciate the importance of proper oiling, let's look at this chain/oil/bar relationship a bit closer. The chain rides around the bar on a thin coat of oil that keeps the bar and chain from running metal-on-metal. If the saw isn't oiling, or not oiling enough, then the metal-on-metal friction will produce heat, which in turn will damage the chain, bar, and sprocket ...and the drag of friction will overheat the engine and possibly damage it, too.

And just how do you tell if your pump is providing enough oil to prevent damage? Well, where there's smoke, there's heat. If you notice the bar and chain smoking and you're having to force the saw to cut, then you should take the hint that things are getting hot down there. Another clue to overheating is a loose chain. And a loose chain is another major cause of premature guide bar wear. What to do? Shut the saw of and allow it to cool until you can hold your ungloved hand on the bar for at least ten seconds. Then give the chain a good oiling from a spout oil can, and tighten it before restarting the saw ...and don't put chain to wood again until vou've de termined whether or not your oiler is working the way it shoul,!

One of the easiest-and most frequently overlooked-maintenan, ; tasks is simply keeping your saw clean. After each day's cuttit you should make sure-that you give the tool a thorough cleanir,; sharpen the chain, and deburr the guide bar before considering y work done.

A dirty and partially clogged air filter is the cause of many an (;: gine malfunction, most of which could easily be avoided by siml·'% removing the filter and tapping the accumulated dust of after ea, (t day's use. If you have access to compressed air, use it occasiona!k to blast your saw's filter clean.

Since all chain saws are air-cooled, it's necessary to keep the c!t gine's cooling fins clean. (Dirt and grease act as insulation that «!: hold the engine's heat in.) You should scrape the cooling fins wi!, a pocketknife to remove any crusted-on grime and, if possible, bl;!,,! them out with compressed air A cool-running saw is a healthy sa :%,

To avoid all sorts of troubles, be certain that you're using the co! rect gasoline/oil mix in the fuel tank. Most saws have the oil/gas t .! do printed on them in a conspicuous location. If not, the owner manual will contain this vital information. Some older saws will cept any good-quality 30-weight motor oil in the gas/oil mix, but mo~t newer machines demand specially blended two-cycle oils. Commot. gas-to-oil ratios run from 16:1 (16 parts gasoline to one part oil) all the way up to 100:1. Too rich a mixture will cause your saw to smok~ and run poorly, while an excessively lean mixture can burn an c!. gine up in nothing flat.

When mixing your fuel, you need to use exact measures. (For cvample, a 16:1 mix requires 1/2 pint of oil in a gallon of gas.) Shake the mixture well after pouring the two ingredients together ...and shake it again each time you refuel your saw. In order to insure cle;tn fuel going into your saw, use a filtered funnel when pouring the nu\ from the can into the saw's tank. (You can buy specially designed chain saw gas cans with built-in filtering funnels in their pour spouts i

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