How To Tighten A Chainsaw Chain

Chainsaw chain came loose? Don't worry. Learning how to tighten a chainsaw chain is probably one of the simplest things to do when it comes to power tools, but you want to make sure you do it right for the proper chainsaw chain tension. Get ready, and we'll teach you how to tighten that chain in 5 minutes or less.

Learning How To Tighten A Chainsaw Chain

Cutting wood with a chainsaw puts a lot of stress and vibration onto the bar and chain of the chainsaw. Over time, the chain will lose tension until it eventually can't grip the bar. Not to worry.

Tightening a chain is a simple task that can be done on the job or in the field. You'll need a flat-head screwdriver and a scrench to adjust chain tension.

When Should You Tighten The Chain?

If you have a lengthly job ahead of you, like 2 - 4 hours worth of work, you might have to tighten the chain a few times. It's easy as you'll see. You don't even have to take apart the saw. 

The chain is just one part of a chainsaw that can need tightening over time. Remember, you might have to change the oil, clean the face plate or change the chainsaw chain entirely after prolonged used.

Step 1: Find the Chain Tensioning Screw

The chain tension adjustment screw sits at the bottom of the chainsaw right before the blade. It looks like a flathead screw but it's actually a pin. What it does is move the chainsaw guide bar just enough to create more tension on the chain.

Different models might have one, two, or three pins. Some of the pins might just hold the face plate on the chainsaw while others are crucial for adjusting the tension of the chain.

If you are unsure, just go ahead and state unscrewing everything - just kidding! Refer to the instruction manual for the chainsaw - most of these are online so shouldn't be an issue.

Step 2: Loosening The Bolt Holding the Chainsaw Bar

Before adjusting the tension, you'll need to loosen that bolt you found in Step 1 that was meant for the face plate. First engage the chain brake by pushing it on the chainsaw.

Use a scrench to loosen the bolts. Don't remove these bolts - just loosen then a bit.

These bolts hold the bar in place. Loosen them enough so that you can move the bar a little bit. You should now have up and down movement of the bar.

Step 3: Tightening The Tensioning Pin

Now that the bolts on both sides of the chainsaw are loose, you can proceed to tightening the chain. Using a screwdriver, or scrench, put the flat head into the flathead tensioning screw and turn it right to tighten the chain.

This tightening will push out the bar just a bit to decrease the extra slack on the chain. Do it just enough to your desired chain tightness. 

Step 4: Testing The Tension

The easiest way to know if the chain is tight enough is by pulling the chain down a bit with your index finger and thumb. You should be able to see a small amount of space between the chain links and the bar.

The inside tips of the link should still be positioned in the bar groove. If you can pull the chain down below the bar, it's way too loose. On the other hand, if it doesn't move at all, it's way too tight.

Move the chain along the bar with your hand. The chain is too tight if it doesn't move or has too much resistance. If the chain sags below under the bar, then the chain is too loose.

If it's too light or too loose, just restart the process until you can get the chainsaw tight. 

Step 5: Retighten

Now that we've adjusted the chain tension, the last step is to tighten the bolts. Get back out the scrench and turn the bolts until they are snug. Don't use too much force, just about a 1/2 a turn. Once the chain is secured back on the chainsaw, you are ready to start cutting wood again. 

Sweet New Earth Final How To Tighten Chainsaw Chain

Tightening a chainsaw chain isn't difficult. All you need to do is adjust a few screws and you are good to go. If you operate your chainsaw while it's loose, you risk damaging the chainsaw or injuring yourself. Not only that, but you might find yourself experiencing much more chainsaw kickback.

The best way to make sure your chainsaw chain is tight enough is to check the chain tension it every time you use the saw. Like we explained in Step 3 above, the proper chainsaw chain tension will only allow a little bit of space between the links of the chain and the bar.

Chainsaw chains stretch quite a bit over time. Doesn't matter if its a gas or electric chainsaw. And after multiple times of tightening your chain, you'll eventually get tired of dealing with a loose chainsaw chain. At that point, you might need to consider replacing the chainsaw chan all together. 

FAQs

Before you go...

Now that you know tighten your chainsaw chain... be sure to read our guide on the best chainsaw saw for cutting trees to see which models are top of the line best.

• The BEST Chainsaws For Cutting Trees

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