Your chainsaw will probably work as you expect it to, ready to cut through any time you require its assistance. However, this will only be the case if you take the time to ensure proper maintenance. Generally, the chainsaw chain lifespan depends on several number of factors, such as: how well you maintain it, the type of chain cutter, the wood hardness, and how long you work with the chainsaw.
So it’s hard to say how long exactly it will take to maintain or replace the saw chain. Instead, you need this guide to help you determine when the saw chain is in a bad condition.

Difficulty with positioning

If your chainsaw chain is in a sharp condition, you can expect it to cut through wood with ease; when it turns dull, you may feel the bouncing and rattling of your chainsaw, and find it difficult to hold it stably in place. As the dull chain may cause some safety risks, we suggest you need to consider sharpening it or replacing it with a new one.

The chainsaw no longer pulls itself into the wood

Typically, an efficient chainsaw will save you much energy by driving itself cutting through the wood. If you often compress your chainsaw into the wood while cutting, it means that the chainsaw will lose its self-driven ability and the chain will become worn out soon. Those are the signs to sharpen and replace the old saw chain.

Smoke

If there’s smoke coming from your chainsaw bar or chain while cutting. On the one hand, it’s possible that your chainsaw chain is blunt. Using a dull chainsaw chain could cause accidents and damage to you and your chainsaw.
On the other hand, there may be something wrong with the lubricating system. You need to check out if the chain is dry and if the oiling hole is blocked.
So when you see the smoke, it’s better you should get the chain sharpened or replaced, and check the lubricating system.

Missing, broken and damaged teeth

Sometimes, it is necessary to keep your eyes on the teeth of your chainsaw chain when you sharpen it. Never work with a chainsaw chain that has missing, broken, and damaged teeth until you have replaced a new one, otherwise, you may work with an inefficient even dangerous chainsaw.

Shaky performance

A chainsaw that cuts straight through the wood without any shaky performance plays an efficient role in cutting. But when a chainsaw chain is worn out, it may end up cutting too deep into one side with a shaking performance, which shows the chain needs maintenance or replacement. And the replacement may be the best choice if you have kept the old chain for a long time.

Conclusion

If your chainsaw happened to appear in any of the above conditions, its’ time to get yourself a new one. If you have any problems in finding the right chainsaw chain, we are ready to help you purchase the saw chain correctly every time.

Please let us know if this works and if you have any suggestions or comments. Or you can join us to feature your passion for repair projects, share your stories with the Hipa family, and get help from Hipa.