How-to guide: replacing a chainsaw chain

Fold out the handle of the wingnut and turn it anti-clockwise until you can remove the chain sprocket cover.

Take out the tensioning gear and turn it over so you can access the screw on the back. Take the screw out.

Release the chain brake by pulling the chain brake handle towards you.

Place the guide bar onto the tensioning gear so that the two pins of the tensioning gear sit in the boreholes on the guide bar. The orientation of the guide bar is not important – it doesn’t matter if the lettering on the guide bar is facing the wrong way. Place the screw and tighten it.

Ensure you are using a suitable guide bar and saw chain combination as indicated in the operating instructions. Place the saw chain into the groove of the guide bar, working downwards from the bar nose, checking that the arrows on the connecting links of the chain are pointing in the direction of rotation. Turn the tensioning gear clockwise as far as possible.

Turn the guide bar so that the tensioning gear faces outward. Place the saw chain onto the sprocket; the drive links of the chain should sit into the teeth of the sprocket as you do this.

Position the guide bar on the chainsaw and slide it over the collar screw. Guide the drive link into the bar groove and turn the tensioning gear anti-clockwise as far as possible.

To secure the chain sprocket cover, push the guide pins into the openings in the engine casing. Turn the wing nut clockwise until the cover is firmly attached to the chainsaw.

Lift the chainsaw guide bar by the tip so that the chain sags slightly. Tighten the chain by turning the adjustment wheel clockwise. The chain should now be close to the underside of the bar.

You will find more helpful tips in our instructions for tightening your chainsaw chain.

Finish by tightening the wingnut by hand and then fold the handle in.

Use a combination socket tool to loosen the fixing nut or nuts on the chain sprocket cover so you can remove it.

To release the chain brake, pull the chain brake handle backward until it clicks.

Now that the tensioning plate is visible, turn the tensioning screw anti-clockwise until the tensioner slide is all the way to the left.

Make you are using a suitable guide bar and saw chain combination as indicated in the operating instructions. Place the saw chain into the groove of the guide bar, working downwards from the bar nose, checking that the arrows on the connecting links of the chain are pointing in the direction of rotation.

Turn the guide bar into position facing the tensioning plate. Place the saw chain onto the sprocket; the drive links of the chain should sit into the teeth of the sprocket as you do this.

Replace the sprocket cover on the engine housing. Hand-tighten the nut.

 Lift the tip of the guide bar so that the chain sags slightly, turning the tensioning screw clockwise as far as it will go. The chain should now be close to the bar; the distance between chain and bar should be 1–2 mm in the middle of the guide bar.
You will find more helpful tips in our instructions for tightening your chainsaw chain.

Finally, tighten the nut using the combination socket tool.

To access and mount the bar and chain, remove the nuts with a socket tool and remove the sprocket cover.

To release the chain brake, pull the chain brake handle backward until it clicks.

Now that the tensioning plate is visible, turn the tensioning screw anti-clockwise until the tensioner slide is all the way to the left.

Make you are using a suitable guide bar and saw chain combination as indicated in the operating instructions. Place the saw chain into the groove of the guide bar, working downwards from the bar nose, checking that the arrows on the connecting links of the chain are pointing in the direction of rotation.

Turn the guide bar into position facing the tensioning plate. Place the saw chain onto the sprocket; the drive links of the chain should sit into the teeth of the sprocket as you do this.

Position the pin of the tensioning slide in the lower mounting hole of the bar.

Replace the sprocket cover on the engine housing. Hand-tighten the nut.

Lift the tip of the guide bar so that the chain sags slightly, turning the tensioning screw clockwise until the chain is very close to the bar; the distance between chain and bar should be 1–2 mm in the middle of the guide bar.

Finally, tighten the nut using the combination socket tool.

Place the chainsaw on a level surface so that the tank cap is facing up. Clean the area around the fuel cap with a damp cloth to ensure that no dirt gets into the tank.

Turn the fuel cap anti-clockwise and remove it.

Pour chain oil into the oil tank, taking care not to spill it. Make sure you do not fill the tank all the way to the top. We recommend you use the STIHL filling system to make this easy.

Replace the cap and turn it clockwise until it is tight. The chain oil tank is now securely closed. 

Find a clean, level surface for refuelling your chainsaw. Position the chainsaw so that the fuel tank cap is facing up. Clean the cap and the area around it with a cloth so that no dirt falls into the tank.

These instructions describe the process for a tool-free fuel tank cap. If your chainsaw has a screw-on fuel cap, follow the same steps as given above for filling chain oil.

Flip out the handle on the cap and turn it clockwise to remove it.

Fill the fuel tank slowly and carefully. Take care not to spill the fuel and do not fill the tank up to the very top. The STIHL filling system for fuel makes it especially easy to refuel your chainsaw.

Replace the cap so that the markings on the lid and the fuel tank match up, and push it down. Turn the cap anti-clockwise as far as it will go and flip the handle back in. Are the markings aligned? If so, the tank is securely closed.