How To Replace A Chainsaw Chain: Easy Steps!

Ensuring you’ve got a good blade on your chainsaw is a matter of both safety and efficiency. A dull or damaged blade could cause serious injury, and even if it does run without issue, it makes whatever you’re doing take a whole lot longer.

Checking and switching out your blade, whether sharpening the chain or replacing it with a whole new one, should be a part of regular maintenance on your machine. If you’re looking for answers to how, when, and why to do that, you’ve come to the right place! In this guide, we’re going over how to change your chainsaw chain and ways to prolong its life once it’s on there.

Let’s get started!

Need a new chain for your chainsaw? Search below using your specific chainsaw model number to identify the exact part needed:

When Should I Replace A Chainsaw Chain?

If you’re a frequent brush buster, you can expect your chainsaw’s chain to last around five years, maybe a little longer. Only taking the chainsaw out once in a great while? It could potentially last for decades! To know for sure, you need to check the chain regularly and pay attention to how it handles when you do use it.

Here are the signs that it’s time to get a new chain for that chainsaw:

• Wear marks reached. Some brands print wear markers on their chainsaw chains. If the teeth on a chainsaw chain have worn down to those markers, it’s time to buy a new one. Easy!

• Missing teeth. If you’ve found the chain is missing teeth, your chainsaw chain needs replacing.

• Broken teeth. If you’re seeing broken teeth on the chain, do not use the chainsaw until you have replaced the chain. Weakened teeth are a significant safety hazard.
• Rattling, vibration, and difficulty with handling. A chainsaw that’s in good shape should remain stable while in use. If you’re getting a lot of bouncing or excessive vibration that makes it hard to keep the chainsaw stable, your chain is past due for replacement. Swap it out before you use the chainsaw again.
• Crooked cuts. Jagged cuts are a sign that the chain’s teeth are dull. Sometimes, sharpening can solve this issue, but make sure your chain can still handle another sharpening session.
• The chainsaw smokes when in use. This may be an issue of inadequate lubrication or over tightening of the chain, but if you’ve got enough lubricant on the chain and the tension is correct, replacing your chain could fix the issue. Keep in mind that regardless of the reason, a smoking chainsaw is a chainsaw that’s unsafe to use and is likely wearing down or causing damage to its own components. Fix that problem as soon as possible to extend the life of your lawn equipment.
• The chainsaw needs extra pressure to move through wood. You shouldn’t have to use a lot of force to get your chainsaw to cut through wood. If you’re having to press down to get the chainsaw to cut or to keep it stable, you’re probably using a chain that needs to be replaced – and adding a lot of unnecessary work for yourself, in the process.

What Causes Damage To A Chainsaw Chain?

All chainsaw chains will wear out eventually. That’s just the nature of their job! There are a few things, though, that can cause your chainsaw chain to wear out faster – or even break while in use.

• Insufficient, excessive, or incorrect lubricant. Lubrication is key to keeping your chainsaw in working order, so using the incorrect lubricant on the bar and chain, or using an insufficient (or excessive) amount can lead to overheating, which will damage the entire machine.

• Dirt and rocks. Any time your chainsaw blade comes in contact with dirt while it’s running, you’re hiking up just how quickly those teeth will wear down. Rocks pose a more immediate threat, and can outright break teeth or the chain, itself.
• Ice, like dirt and rocks, can wear down or chip your chainsaw teeth.
• Nails are something you should be aware of when using your chainsaw on logs or man-made items like fencing. Like rocks, nails can potentially cause some serious, dangerous damage to your chainsaw chain.
• Improper storage can lead to rust, which can be removed, but will still weaken the chain. Make sure you’re properly cleaning and storing your chainsaw after each use, and don’t leave it out where it can be exposed to the elements.

Finding The Right Replacement Part

For safety and an all around easier time cutting, you need a chain that fits your chainsaw perfectly, but figuring out exactly which chain to buy might seem overwhelming. You’ll need to take a few measurements first to know what to look for, and you may be able to find this information somewhere on your chainsaw – like on the bar.

Here’s what you’re looking for:

• Bar length, sometimes just called chainsaw length, is a measure of the bar from near the end to the point where it meets the chainsaw case. This is always an even number ranging, usually, from 10 to 24 inches.

• Pitch is the distance between the chain’s links. To determine this, you measure the distance between three consecutive rivets and divide by two. The most common pitch measurement is ⅜ or .325-inch.

• Gauge is the width of the groove where the chain is seated on the bar.

Once you know what you need, you’ll be able to track down compatible chainsaw replacement parts pretty quickly! Measurements are almost always listed plainly on chainsaw chain product information or packaging.

Got your compatible replacement part? Alright, let’s get it installed!

How To Replace a Chainsaw Chain

We’ve provided a basic overview of how to replace the chain on a chainsaw here, as most chainsaw chains are changed out the same way. More specific instructions will depend on the brand and model of your particular chainsaw.

Tools for the job

This is ordinary maintenance, so you don’t need much to swap out your chainsaw chain. Just have the following tools handy before you begin:

• Socket Wrench
• Flathead Screwdriver
• Work Gloves – chainsaw chain teeth are sharp! Wear gloves to avoid cutting yourself.

Replacing A Chainsaw Chain

1. First of all, make sure the chainsaw is off and completely cool. Don’t do any work on your garden tools if they’re powered on. If your chainsaw was running recently, give it a few minutes to cool down before you start to avoid accidentally burning yourself.
2. Disengage the chain brake. On some models, having the chain brake engaged when you do this will make the new chain much more difficult to install.
3. Using a socket, remove the two bolts holding the bar onto the chainsaw body and remove the side plate. This will give you access to the chain.
4. Loosen and remove the chain. You can accomplish this by pulling the chainsaw bar away from the body. This will free the chain from the tensioner, allowing you to easily slip it off.
5. Inspect and clean up! Check the bar itself for any signs of damage – make sure it’s not cracked, dented, or bent. If it’s in good shape, it’s time to clean it up. Clean the groove out to remove any sawdust or other debris that might’ve built up, and then clean the oil holes out as well.
6. Find the tensioning screw and loosen it. This flathead screw manages how tight the chain sits on the bar, so loosen it up before you put the new chain on to have an easier time with the install. You’ll likely find the tensioning screw near where the guide bar meets the body, though some chainsaw models place it between the two bolts that held the side panel on.
7. Install the new chainsaw blade.
   1. Starting at the clutch drum, work the chain up the bar to the end of the chainsaw. The blade’s links should be pointing away from you – in the direction the saw turns.
   2. Make sure the drive links are properly engaged in the sprocket.
   3. Apply a bit of tension as you go to make sure everything is aligned properly. You can do this by gently pulling the bar away from the chainsaw body at the nose.
8. Reinstall the side case and the bolts that hold it on, but don’t tighten the bolts down completely. Check that the chainsaw chain can move freely once you’ve threaded the bolts on.
9. Tighten down the tensioning screw. The chain should have a little give on the guide bar so that it can move freely, but not be slack. You shouldn’t be able to pull the links out of the bar nose.
10. Tighten the bolts down completely. Once you’ve got the right tension on your chain, you can finish tightening the other bolts back on.
11. Double check the chain brake. The chain should not be able to move when the brake is engaged.

Wrapping Up

Changing out the blade on your chainsaw isn’t a tough job, but it does require some precision. Follow our guide, and you should have a new blade on your equipment in no time. Got other work you need to do in your home or garden? Check out how else AppliancePartsPros.com can help. We’ve got tips, tutorials, and genuine OEM replacement parts for all your appliance and lawn equipment needs.