Owning a chainsaw of your own is either quite badass or, well, it is badass. Regardless of how young or old you are, making a living out of a beast of a machine like that sure pumps life into anyone. Whether it was your livelihood, or whether it was your hobby, taking care of your chainsaw is a responsibility that shouldn’t be taken lightly. But how can you know when to repair it, or to replace it?
In this read, we’re going to dive into the details between the lines, so you won’t be putting yourself at risk.
The Chainsaw Starts, But Stops in a Matter of a Few Seconds
Imagine trying to get to work and the car teases you by starting it and when you’re just about to hit the gas, it dies. Usually, the roots of this sort of an issue run down to the spark plug, the carburetor, or even the petrol filters. But if the issues don’t seem to stop even after replacing the spark plug, then there’s a good chance that you won’t be able to use it before a mechanic could fix it.
It’s Just the Blades That Needs Sharpening, But for How Long?
One could say that a chainsaw was more or less a super speed set of knives if blades can be considered as knives. But since the end result is somewhat similar, it is quite reasonable to think of the blades as a set of neatly put together knives. What do we do when knives feel blunt? We sharpen them. But unlike any typical knife, knowing when to sharpen it is crucial.
If the debris that falls off seems too smooth, it’s a telltale sign of blades that have gone blunt. Or maybe the machine jumps off here and there when you’re trying to perform the same cut for which you’re well used to. Or, maybe the saw gives out smoke due to being overheated since it needs more and more energy to cut through due to the bluntness of the blades. To fix this, you can simply invest in a stihl chainsaw sharpener and get the job done perfectly.
But you should also remember that there’s a limit to which the sharpening can be done since a little part of the metal will be rubbed off every time. As long as you do not drive the saw into rocks, nails, or even ice, you won’t have to worry about any unexpected wearing off. However, if the chain doesn’t seem like it could be sufficed with another sharpening, it might be time to replace the chain altogether.
The Saw Won’t Start At All
Unlike the earlier engine issue, a saw that doesn’t start all indicates the issues with the used petrol, ignition coil, extremely cold ambient temperature, the spark plug and even the engine itself. If the typical remedies don’t seem to work and if a mechanic cannot fix it for you, and if you’ve been using the saw for a good 5-7 years, then you just might have to settle for a replacement.
