The majority of chains saws are fitter with an anti vibration (AV) system. Made up of a series of vibration isolation buffers, the AV system is designed to reduce the transmission of vibrations by the engine and cutting attachment to your hands, increasing control and comfort and decreasing fatigue.

Front and rear handguards. The rearguard is designed to protect your right hand as well as a key feature used in one method of properly starting your chainsaw. The front handguard is designed to protect against projecting branches and reduce the risk of the left hand coming into contact with the chain, if your hand were to slip off the handle bar.

The front handguard on steel chainsaws also functions as part of the chain brake device that stops the rotation of the chain if activated and an additional chain brake activation device that can be found on many saws today is an inertia chain brake, available on steel chainsaws. Also capable of stopping the rotation of the chain in certain situations if the kickback force is high enough even if your hand doesn’t contact the front handguard.

A third braking device available on select steel chainsaws is located at the rear handle. When the operator completely releases the rear handle and the interlock level with their right hand, the braking device is activated and stops the rotation of the chain.

A very important safety feature is the throttle trigger interlock. This feature helps in preventing the chainsaw from accidentally accelerating when moving around in the work area. When you have a firm grip on the rear handle, the throttle trigger interlock is depressed. You can now activate the throttle trigger and accelerate the saw. When you release the rear handle, the throttle trigger interlock isn’t depressed and the saw’s throttle trigger will not activate, accelerating the saw unexpectedly. A situation that, otherwise, would cause serious injury.

Your saw will have controls for the starting and stopping features of the engine. One lever performs all of the functions necessary from the full choke; fast idle from warm start followed by the run position and stop which turns the engine off. Check your chainsaw’s owners manual if you have a different system from this for the proper operations functions of your controls.

Some chains come with a decompression valve, typically on chainsaws with high displacement engines. Depressing the valve releases the compression in the cylinders, resulting in easier pulling action when starting. Once the engine begins to run, the decompression valve will automatically return to the closed position, allowing the engine to regain full compression.

A feature to be aware of on your chainsaw in the maintenance process is access to the air filter. Many manufacturers now utilize a toolless air filter cover that can let you easily access the filter for quick inspection, cleaning or replacement.

Some chainsaws come with a winter/summer shutter, a device that can be adjusted to the winter position, allowing the saw to draw heat from around the cylinder into the airbox where the carburetor is located. This is useful when using your chainsaw in damp or cold climates, where icing of the carburetor can occur.

Then when working in warmer conditions, the shutter can be reversed into the summer position, blocking the warm area from entering the airbox and overheating the carburetor. Some carburetors can be adjusted to compensate for conditions such as altitude or climate. Yet others may be preset and not adjustable. Check your owner’s manual for proper carburetor adjustment procedures for your saw.

Your chainsaw has two fluid reservoirs. One will hold gasoline and two-cycle oil mix that will fuel and lubricate the engine. And the other reservoir is for bar and chain oil, needed to lubricate the bar and chain. A mistake sometimes made by novice chainsaw users is to put raw unmixed gasoline in the fuel reservoir and oil in the bar and chain reservoir thinking the two will mix automatically to create the gasoline/oil mix needed to run and lubricate the engine.

Be very careful not to make this mistake, as it will result in very serious and costly damage to your chainsaw. Never run a chainsaw with raw unmixed gasoline. Always premix your gasoline with the proper two cycle oil in a separate container for your chainsaw’s needs and use specially formulated bar and chain oil for your bar and chain reservoir. Check your owner’s manual for the recommended gasoline and two-cycle mixture ratio.

On the left side of the chainsaw, you will find the chain adjustment mechanism. Although there are several different designs of adjusters, depending on the manufacturer. The procedures used to adjust the chain will basically be the same for everyone.

When you remove the chain and sprocket cover, you will see a device called the chain catcher. This is another important protective device, designed to reduce the risk of personal injury in the event of a thrown or broken chain.

Many newer saws have a bar and chain oil feed rate adjustment. Different feed rates of bar and chain oil may be required for different bar lengths or types of wood being cut. By turning this adjustment clockwise or counterclockwise, you will vary the oil feed rate as required by your working conditions.

The spike bumper on the front of the saw is designed to hold the saw steady against the wood when cutting particularly when bucking.

Regardless of whether it’s before you use your chainsaw, while you are working with your chainsaw or after you finished you work, inspection and maintenance are critical to not only the chainsaw’s mechanical integrity but also your chainsaw’s ability to function properly and safely. Most owners’ manuals will have a section with a maintenance chart detailing the types of maintenance you should perform and at what intervals.

In your manual, the section will cover the basic inspection and maintenance that you must perform to keep your chainsaw in top shape. If you are unable to perform any of the functions for any reason, return your chainsaw to any authorized dealer to have your inspection and maintenance performed before you use your chainsaw.

Performing an inspection and performing proper maintenance of your chainsaw and its components prior to using your saw will result in a more productive and safer cutting experience.

Always make sure that you have turned off the engine, the chain is stopped and the muffler is cooled before refueling, making adjustments, performing maintenance and repairs, changing the saw chain or cleaning the saw and never attempt any maintenance or repair work not described in your owner’s manual. Have those items taken care of by your authorized dealer.

First check the fasteners on your chainsaw, making sure they are snug. Retighten any loose fasteners and replace any that may be missing or damaged.

Check the AV system and that all of the buffers are in place and functioning properly. Replace damaged, broken or excessively worn buffers immediately. They may result in a loss of control of your chainsaw.

A sponginess in the feel of your chainsaw, increased vibration or noticeable bottoming during normal operation may indicate damage, breakage or excessive wear and if replacement is necessary, always replace the buffers in sets.

Check your air filter often. There are several different types and designs of air filters and if yours is dirty, clean the filter according to the manufacturers directions in the owners’ manual or replace the filter if necessary. Most filters can be cleaned temporarily by simply tapping them on the log, for instance, releasing the heavier particles that have built up on the filter.

A tip when accessing your air filter: always close the choke on your carburetor before removing the air filter. This will block sawdust and other dirt from accidentally falling into the throat of the carburetor.

Occasionally, you will need to inspect your fuel filter, be certain not to do this around any open flames or other sources of ignition of fumes from the tank are very flammable. Clean or replace the fuel filter as necessary according to your owner’s manual.

Make sure that the chain on your saw does not rotate on the bar when the saw is idle. If the chain moves when the chainsaw is idle, you must adjust the saw’s idle using the proper adjustment screw on the carburetor. Check your owner’s manual for more detailed information on your saw’s idle screw placement and adjustment procedure.

If you cannot get the chain to stop rotating at idle, take the saw to your authorized dealer for the necessary adjustments and repairs before using your saw.

Check your muffler and spark arrestor according to your manual’s maintenance schedule. If you find that the spark arrestor is clogged or dirty, clean the part or replace it. Operating your saw with a clogged spark arrestor can cause serious damage to your saw’s engine and never operate your chainsaw without the spark arrestor.

As the sparks from the muffler can easily start a fire, the bar, chain and sprocket will require frequent inspection and upkeep and are some of the highest maintenance components of your chainsaw.

There are 2 types of sprockets commonly used on chainsaws today: rim type sprockets and spur sprockets. Sprockets will wear as the chainsaw’s used and require replacement. A good rule of thumb for replacement is to install a new sprocket after every two chains that you wear out.

The method for replacing your sprocket will depend on the mounting design used on your chainsaw. Many models, use an outboard design that is very easy to service, even in the field. Simply remove the E clip and the washer and the rims slip off the clutch drum and the drum and bearing will slip off the crankshaft. Now you can easily clean your parts and reinstall them, making sure to add a slight amount of high temperature grease to the needle, bearing and crankshaft. When reinstalling the drum on your saw, rotate it about one turn to make sure you’ve engaged the oil pump drive. Slip on the rim on, reinstall the washer and E clip. Other styles may require the removal of the clutch first with special tools to access the sprocket for maintenance. Check your owner’s manual for the procedure to properly replace your sprocket.

Following these procedures and the directions in the operators manual will ensure your chainsaw enjoys a long life and that the equipment is as safe to use as possible. Ignore them at your peril.