How to clean a chainsaw properly?

Your BISON chain saw is designed to handle demanding felling jobs, but occasional failure to remove dirt can prevent it from performing at its best. Keeping your chainsaw clean is critical to maintaining the performance of its individual components, extending its life and keeping users safe. Learn how to clean a gasoline, battery or electric chainsaw with these instructions.

Proper Steps for Cleaning a Chainsaw

Drain the fuel or disconnect the power to the chainsaw

Before starting, always make sure the chainsaw is turned off and cannot be started during maintenance:

• When using the electric corded chainsaw, please unplug the power plug.

• Using a battery chainsaw, remove the battery and engage the chain brake.

• With a gas chain saw, shut off the engine and engage the chain brake. Meanwhile, for a gas chainsaw, unscrew the fuel cap and pour the remaining fuel into the reservoir.

BISON recommends that the chainsaw needs to be cleaned after each use and it is extremely important to wear strong work gloves for protection. So let us understand how to clean the chainsaw!

Clean the chainsaw on a stable work surface. Lay the saw base flat on a table to make sure the chain doesn't hit anything, and you can place a towel on the work surface to make sure the saw barely moves or wobbles, making it easier to clean later.

Cleaning the chain and guide bar

Step1: Remove the chain and guide bar from the saw. Locate the chain adjustment screw or dial under the side cover and turn it counterclockwise to loosen the tension. Now that it's loose, you can easily move the guide bar and chain to pull it off the saw.

Step2: The inside of the side cover can be cleaned with a soft brush. The space inside the lid may have accumulated a lot of wood chips and other debris. Gently brush the debris into the trash, paying special attention to any tiny crevices where the sawdust has accumulated.

Step3: Use a putty knife to clean out the grooves on the guide rods. Sawdust and tree sap can build up in the grooves where the chain sits on the guide bar. Insert the end of the putty knife into the groove and carefully scrape away any residue stuck inside. Work your way around the guide rod until it is completely clean.

Step4: Soak the chain in a non-abrasive, biodegradable all-purpose cleaning solution for 10-20 minutes. Then scrape off the dirt with a wire brush.

Step5: Then lubricate the chain with chainsaw oil in a plastic bag. Soak the chainsaw chain in a resealable plastic bag filled with chainsaw oil for a few hours or overnight. After lubricating, remove the chain and wipe off excess oil with an old rag.

Step6: Reattach the guide bar and chain to the chainsaw. Put the chain back into the groove on the bar guide. Then, loop the end of the chain near the bottom of the guide bar around the sprocket on the body of the chainsaw. After that, just put the side cover back in place and screw back to secure. If the chain is hanging loose on the guide bar, use the adjustment screw to readjust the chain tension before using the saw.

Step7: The above are the recommended steps to properly clean the chain and chainsaw bars. The following BISON will explain to you how to clean the power head of the chainsaw.

Cleaning the chainsaw engine

Step1: Wipe down the outside of the chainsaw with soapy water. Dampen a clean cloth with warm water, followed by a few drops of mild dish soap. Use a rag to gently wipe off any dirt that has stuck to the outside of the chainsaw body. Continue wetting and wiping the chainsaw until the casing looks completely clean. If there are stubborn sticky spots, spray degreaser on a rag and soak in the grime to break it up.

Step2: Remove the top cover and air filter from the chainsaw. Look for the cap on top of the saw body near the handle. Loosen the plastic clip or unscrew all nuts with a wrench and remove the cover. The air filter is a plastic piece under the cover with a fabric piece to trap contaminants and can be easily pulled off or secured with a plastic clip. Only air chainsaws have air filters, so you don't need to worry about cleaning your electric chainsaw.

Step3: Tuck a rag into the port where the air filter is located to keep wood chips or contaminants from entering the engine.

Step4: Brush the filter to clean dust and dirt. Use a soft-bristled brush to eliminate any loose dirt or debris surrounding the air filter. Once the highest level of cleanliness is attained, wash the entire filter using warm water. Brush the filter again while it is wet to remove any other floating residue.

Step5: Take off the chainsaw carburetor and cleanse it using compressed air. Find the nuts securing the carburetor to the saw and use a wrench to loosen them. Carefully pull out the carburetor and briefly spray with compressed air to blow away any sawdust in the compartme

Step6: Remove and inspect spark plugs. The spark plug is usually located directly above the chainsaw air filter, use a wrench to unscrew the spark plug from the chainsaw and pull it out. If it looks dull, discolored, or damaged, purchase a replacement spark plug to install into your chainsaw.

Step7: Clean the fins with compressed air. Heat sinks are the ventilation holes on the side of the chainsaw motor that help keep it cool while it's running. Take a can of compressed air and briefly spray it into the vent to break up any debris or wood chips that are stuck in the vent.

Step8: Put in the air filter and replace the top cover. Put the air filter into the air intake until it locks securely into place. Reinstall the top cover onto the chainsaw by screwing or clamping back, ensuring a secure connection to the chainsaw. With this, you have finished cleaning your chainsaw.

In Conclusion

The above is the specific operation of general cleaning chainsaw. It is very important to store your chainsaw after cleaning it. For more storage tips, visit how to store chainsaw correctly!