How to tighten stihl chainsaw blade?
Summary
It sounds like you're having trouble with your Stihl chainsaw chain tightening too quickly, and our forum users have some ideas that might help! They suggest checking your manual to ensure you're properly tightening and adjusting the chain, and making sure you lift the bar when tensioning the chain before locking it in place. Also, consider that the bar expands as the saw heats up, which can make the chain tighter. Some Stihl models have an easy adjust thumb wheel to adjust the bar after loosening the side bolts.
Here's what our forum users are saying:
- "There should be some type of adjustment after you loosen the bolts. Check your manual on replacing the chain and be sure you are tightening and adjusting the chain properly." -- daveb1, DIYChatroom
- "When tensioning the chain are you picking up on the bar, before locking it in place?" -- 47_47, DIYChatroom
- "My small Stihl (MS180) with some type of easy adjust has a black thumb wheel to adjust the bar after the side bolts have been loosened." -- daveb1, DIYChatroom
- "The chain will tighten up after the saw heats up, presumably because of expansion of metal parts, so if you take a cold saw and use it, you need to readjust the chain tension." -- Tull1980, DIYChatroom
- "loosen nuts, tighten up chain, lift bar, and slightly tighten up the nuts. Check for proper tension and then tighten down nuts." -- ront02769, DIYChatroom
Post Mentions
- OK if that bar is expanding enough to tighten the chain you have some major malfunctions because that also means the chain is heating up that much as well to change it heat up and get loose no matter what your bar should not expand their not made to and you might want to three thank you’re still...
- Roasted, which model do you have? I have the same model as Daveb1 has, and never have issues with it tightening. Now of course you do have to adjust slack over time. Because the chains will stretch. If you are running the saw a lot, and heating it up, it can cause it to tighten or loosen...
- As previously mentioned, the bar expands as the saw heats up and makes the chain tighter. When tensioning the chain are you picking up on the bar, before locking it in place?
- I have the same model. Runs like a charm. I actually got smart and went with a Carbide Tipped chain, along with the 16" bar.
- My small Stihl (MS180) with some type of easy adjust has a black thumb wheel to adjust the bar after the side bolts have been loosened.
- You say you "push" the bar back in? There should be some type of adjustment after you loosen the bolts. Check your manual on replacing the chain and be sure you are tightening and adjusting the chain properly.
- Have been running a Stihl MS290 for somewhere over ten years, loosen nuts, tighten up chain, lift bar, and slightly tighten up the nuts. Check for proper tension "and then tighten down nuts. It has never "gotten tighter to the point of being unusable". Looser, yes due to the chain stretching...
- Get a Stihl, especially if its got the quick chain adjustor ( allows you to adjust chain tension with out tools) ive got a 018c had it about 3 or 4 years and its a workhorse i dont use it dailey but when i need it will fire on 2nd or 3rd pull after sitting for up to 4 or 5 months
- Hello friends. Just a general question here. Whenever I use my Stihl chainsaw, the chain will rather quickly re-tighten itself to the point that it's unusable. I must loosen the bolts, push the bar in a hair so it has an appropriate amount of slack, and tighten back up and go to town. I don't...
- just joined i have a still M5271 18" bar all oil ways clear .i lift tip when i adjust chain .even if i leave loose as possible chain will go tight .to point of unusable. .chain always well lubricated before and after. all i can think is causing this is i am cutting very hard bone oak up to 11"...
Related Threads
- Hello friends. Just a general question here. Whenever I use my Stihl chainsaw, the chain will rather quickly re-tighten itself to the point that it's unusable. I must loosen the bolts, push the bar in a hair so it has an appropriate amount of slack, and tighten back up and go to town. I don't...
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