A Well-Maintained Electric Chainsaw Is A Safe One

Even though one of the main advantages of using the best electric chainsaw is not having to go through a ton of maintenance, too many people make the mistake of thinking that low maintenance means no maintenance. Unfortunately, as easy as an electric chainsaw is to use and take care of, there are still a few things that the owner of this tool has to do to keep it in good condition.

Since we believe that a well-maintained chainsaw is a safer chainsaw, we’ve decided to write this guide on how consumers can keep their electric saw in the best condition possible. Although the chainsaw’s guide should be the ultimate guide to how you maintain your saw, the following general advice tips will help keep our readers focused on the basics.

Start With The Chain Brake

Checking the chain brake is not something that the consumer should only do once a month, or even once a week. Checking the chain brake is something that should be done before each use. That’s because the chain brake is one of the most vital pieces of safety equipment on this tool, so it should be checked before each use. The procedure for checking this brake is listed below:

Put the chainsaw on a stable surface and release the chain brake.
Start the saw.
Keeping a firm hand on the top handle, squeeze the throttle until the saw reaches high-speed.
Engage the chain brake.
If the brake is too slow to respond or doesn’t respond at all, then don’t use the chainsaw.

Check The Lubrication System

With the electric chainsaw running, check to make sure that the lubrication system is working. This too should be done before each use. The following steps are the correct procedure for running a lubrication system check:

Place a sheet of paper down and throttle up the chainsaw’s engine.
Oil spray marks should begin to appear on the paper.
If oil doesn’t appear, then check the oil reservoir on the system.

Check The Tension On The Chain

Making sure that the chainsaw is off, and unplugged or removed from its battery power, it’s time to check the chain tension around the guide bar. If the chain appears to sag or is to loose, then make sure to consult your chainsaw’s manual for the proper procedure on tightening the chain.

Check The Chainsaw Bar

It’s also a good idea to check and make sure that the chainsaw bar is in good condition and well maintained. Physically inspect it for any signs of wear and tear, and make sure to clean it regularly. The chainsaw should be inspected for any burred edges, and if those are found, then those should be filed down. If the bar is worn down significantly or damaged in any way, then the chainsaw bar should be replaced with a new one.

The chainsaw bar also needs to be cleaned. This can be done with pipe cleaners, rags, and even compressed air. Be sure to remove any dust or debris that might be found on the bar. This will go a long way in keeping the chainsaw in good condition.

Remove Built-Up Lubrication From The Chain

It’s also a good idea to make sure that you remove the excess lubrication from the chain every once in a while. While lubrication is necessary for the proper functioning of the chainsaw, it can build up over time and hinder the chainsaw’s performance. The chain can be cleaned out by using compressed air to remove oil from the chain’s holes and then by using a clean rag to wipe off the chain and bar.

Check The Extension Cord

We’re assuming that most of our readers who are going to use an electric chainsaw is going to be using a suitable outdoor extension cord that’s rated for use with their chainsaw, so we’re going to skip giving our readers that advice. The advice we will give to our readers, however, is to make sure that the extension cord is in good condition before each use.

The extension cord should be checked for frays, holes, or wear, and if any of that is present, then the extension cord should be immediately replaced. It’s also a good idea to inspect the ends of the extension cord and make sure that there’s no cracking or other types of damage that might make it unsafe for use. Once again, if any damage is present, the cord needs to be immediately replaced.

Inspect The Chainsaw’s Body

The final step to maintaining your electric chainsaw is to do a visual inspection of it before and after each use. You should examine the body of the chainsaw for any signs of damage such as cracks, and should also make sure that there aren’t any loose parts on the chainsaw. During the inspection, the user should also make sure to wipe down the body of any debris that might exist. Once all of that has been done, the consumer can then proceed to store the chainsaw properly.

Make Sure To Store It Properly

One of the biggest complaints, we have about how people take care of their electric chainsaws is how they store them. Far too many people just dump their chainsaw in the garage somewhere and don’t give it a second thought. Some people even end up piling things up on their chainsaw—which needless to say is a big no-no. That’s why we felt it was necessary to store the chainsaw properly.

To help all of our readers store their chainsaw properly, we’ve decided to list some of the things that our readers should keep in mind when they’re storing their electric chainsaw. The following tips should be followed regardless of whether the chainsaw is being stored for the day or if it’s being stored for the season. These tips will ensure that the chainsaw stays in good condition.