
A chainsaw is quite an essential equipment for contractors and also homeowners. They need them to cut various materials. But maintaining them is not as easy as it sounds. You have to be very careful and remained focused on the chainsaw blade direction to prevent any accidental cuts.
If the chainsaw moves in the wrong direction, then it won’t cut the material as you desire. This can occur while restoring the chainsaw’s blade, bar, or chain mistakenly in the incorrect way. And this mistake can lead to bigger damage.
To avoid this mistake, you need to learn how to install the chainsaw blade in the correct way. Below, we have discussed how to run the chainsaw in the right direction.
How to Know if the Chainsaw Blade Direction Is Correct?
The chainsaw you need should run in the correct direction, or else you will face difficulty in operating it. There is no point in using a chainsaw that runs in an incorrect direction.
So, before using a chainsaw, you need to check the direction of the blade. You need to follow these steps to ensure that the chainsaw is running in the correct direction.
Step 1: Observe from the top view
When you check the chainsaw from the top, you will see two edges of the blade. There are dull and sharp edges of the blade. The sharp edge is also called as the cutter.
Every chainsaw rotates in the same direction, which is clockwise. So, the sharp edge or cutter of the chain should face forward, and the dull edge should face backward while rotating in the correct direction.
If it is running in the correct direction, then from the top, you will see that the sharp edges are facing towards the opposite side of the body or motor of the chainsaw.
Step 2: Observe from front and side view
When you check the chainsaw from the side, if the engine of the chainsaw is on the left-hand side and the blade is on the right-hand side, then the blade will start rotating from the left to the right direction. This is the correct direction.
If the blade rotates in the opposite direction, it means the chainsaw is rotating in the wrong direction.
And when you observe it from the front view, you will see the blade is coming from the upward to the downwards, which means the blade is rotating in the correct direction.
Step 3: Observe from the bottom
When you observe the blade of the chainsaw from the bottom, you will see the opposite of what you have seen from the top.
If the blade is installed correctly, then you will notice that it is facing the motor or body of the saw while rotating. The sharp edges will be facing in the opposite direction and will rotate clockwise.
How Can You Replace the Blade of the Chainsaw in the Correct Direction?
While using the chainsaw, if it runs in the right direction, then you don’t have to do anything. Just keep using it. But if you notice that it is running in the wrong direction, then you need to follow some steps and reset it.
The steps are quite easy to follow and will take a few minutes to complete. First, you need to disassemble all the parts from the chainsaw’s body and start the replacing process.
Fix the Chainsaw Bar:
Firstly, you have to attach the bar of the chainsaw properly to make the saw run in the right direction. For that, you have to loosen the nuts and remove them from the body.
Then, take the bar and fix it in the proper position carefully. Next, you have to slightly tighten the nuts or bolts to attach the bar.
Do not fully tighten it, as it will become difficult to attach the chain perfectly on it. Then, fit the chain on the bar loosely. The chain should be fitted in the right direction and it should not be very tight.
Right Chainsaw Direction:
This is the most essential part of this process. Most of the time the replacement of the chainsaw’s chain is done because of the faulty direction of the blade. To avoid this, you need to fix the chain accurately and in the right direction.
So, you have to be quite careful while fixing the chain of the chainsaw to make it run in the correct direction without any issues.
Above, I have elaborated on how to know whether the chain is in the correct direction or not. So, you have to follow those steps and ensure that you are running the chainsaw correctly.
Tightening the Chainsaw Blade:
Fixing the bar, attaching the chain, and checking its direction; after all these steps are done correctly, you need to tighten the chain of the saw to make it run without any issue for cutting the materials.
You have to be quite careful while tightening it, as you cannot attach it too tightly or too loosely. If you fit it tightly, then the chainsaw might get damaged and will run ineffectively.
And if you fit it loosely, then there are chances that the chain will come off from the bar.
So, these are the important steps you need to follow to run your chainsaw efficiently and in the correct direction.
What Happens when the Chainsaw Runs in the Wrong Direction?
You will face many issues if you place the chain in the wrong direction. First, you cannot make proper cuts if it runs in the wrong direction and this will damage the blade and the tool itself.
Your skills will be questioned if you don’t know how to place the chain properly. The motor of the chainsaw may also get deteriorated in this process.
The oil that is used for the bar may get wasted while using the chainsaw in the wrong direction. So, you have to be very careful while fixing the chain of a chainsaw.
Conclusion
Having a chainsaw can be quite beneficial, but only when you are using it in the right way. Sometimes there might be a situation when the chainsaw blade direction is correct, the motor is working fine, but still, it cannot make good cuts.
In such cases, you need to check the blade of the chainsaw. Dull blades can provide you with unsatisfactory results. So, always sharpen the blade of the chainsaw before use. I hope this article has helped you in learning the essential things about a chainsaw.