Now that your components are cleaned, reinstall the guide bar on the saw. First, turn the chain tensioners adjustment screw counter clockwise, allow the pin to move back toward the sprocket. This will allow slacking in the chain, making it easier to install. When installing your guide bar, always place the bar with the opposite side up from when you last took it off. Doing so you will displace the wear more evenly on both sides of the bar, resulting in a longer service life.

Place the bar over the bar studs, sliding it as far back as you can. Install the chain on the bar, making certain that the cutting edge of the chain will rotate in a clockwise direction around the bar when looking at it from the sprocket side. Once the chain is placed on the bar and the drivers are properly engaged with the sprocket, position the bar where the chain tensioners adjustment pin lines up with the proper hole in the guide bar. Reinstall the chain sprocket cover ad the nuts but only finger tight as you will need movement on the guide bar to adjust the chain.

The bar will have a slight upward downplay. To adjust your chain properly, turn the adjusting screw tensioning the chain to the point where it sits firmly against the bottom rail of the bar but not so tight that the chain won’t rotate freely around the bar. Continue to hold the tip of the bar up and tighten the nuts on the cover. Double check your work by pulling down on the chain and letting it snap back, snugly against the bottom rail. You will need to tighten it some more and if it won’t rotate freely around the guide bar by hand, you have over tightened the chain and will need to loosen it slightly. Repeat the adjustment process until the proper chain tension has been achieved.

As the chain gets hot, it will stretch as well as by wear through use. Constantly keep an eye on your chain’s adjustment when working with the saw. If you see that it is loose, turn the saw off, let the muffler cool down, disengage the chain brake and make the necessary adjustments and remember even a dull chain can be sharp to cut you so always wear gloves when handling the chain or making adjustments.

A loose chain can cause serious damage to your saw and if loose enough can even come off, possibly causing serious injury to the operator. If your chain appears to be sticking to the bar or will not rotate smoothly when you accelerate the saw, turn off the saw and check it to see if your have bar and chain oil in the bar and chain oil reservoir. You can check to see if your oiler is working by holding the tip of the guide bar near a fresh cut piece of wood, taking extreme precaution not to let the tip of the bar touch the wood and accelerate the saw with the chain brake disengaged. If the oiler is working, you will see a fine film of oil that will appear on the wood. If you have sufficient bar and chain oil and your oiler is working properly but the chain will still not rotate, you should take the saw to your nearest authorized dealer for necessary repairs.

When you are ready to service the bar and chain, pick a large, flat area to perform the work such as the tailgate of a pickup truck. Remember the chain has sharp edges so always be sure to wear sturdy work gloves when handling the bar and chain. With the chainsaw engine turned off and the muffler cooled down and the chain brake released, use your bar wench to loosen and remove the nuts on the chain’s sprocket cover.

Remove the cover, release the bar from the chain tensioners adjustment pin, slide the bar back and remove the chain and the bar. Check your sprocket and drum for wear and make sure that they rotate freely. If the sprocket is significantly worn, you should replace it at this point. It’s a good idea to clean away the saw dust and debris that is built up on the saw with a rag. Even an old toothbrush can come in handy for the task. Clean the inside portion of the cover around the clutch drum area, taking special care. Clean thoroughly around the automatic chain oiler’s discharge area, not allowing anything to become lodged in the portal.

Your bar will also need to be checked and maintained. If your bar has a roller or sprocket post, make sure that the roller or sprocket nose rotates freely. Some bars may have a grease hole at the tip that will require greasing periodically. Check your owner’s manual for the maintenance procedure for your chainsaw’s guide bar.

With a rag, wipe the bar down, removing any debris. With the bar groove cleaning tool, like the one shown here, starting from the tip of the bar, remove the debris that’s become impacted in the bar rails and remember to always wear gloves when handling your bar as the bar rails can become very sharp as they become worn.

The wayward end of the bar will have a series of holes and slots. These are the oil inlet holes, the chain tensioners, adjust pinhole and the bar stud slot. It is extremely important that these areas are completely free from dirt and impacted debris. Through wear, you may find that your bar rails will form a rollover edge. If this occurs, with a flat file, smooth the edges down. Again, making sure to wear gloves during the process. If the bar is severely worn, you will need to replace it.