Running in a chainsaw: asking professional lumberjacks for advice

After reading this article, you will learn how to break in a chainsaw, whether the breaking in of Chinese, Russian, and European models is different, whether the process of breaking in a new chainsaw is different from an old one, why you need to break in a chainsaw, what to do if the chainsaw does not start.

How to break in a chainsaw?

Instructions for running in a chainsaw:

• First you need to disassemble the saw - remove the cover, disassemble the body and get to the carburetor.
• There will be three screws on the carburetor - two black and one gray (may vary). The black screws adjust the number of revolutions per minute - high and low speeds. Gray controls idle speed.
• Turn the right black screw to increase the speed. Turn them with a flat-head screwdriver. To measure the speed, use a tachometer. If there is no tachometer, you will need it later in any case. Turn the screw a quarter turn toward the fuel. Do not set the number of revolutions too high - the equipment may break due to the increased load. You should set it to 600/700 rpm.
• Reinstall all the elements and put the chainsaw back together.
• Fill the gas tank with fuel by mixing oil and gasoline in the ratio for your model (40:1 or 50:1).You can add more oil, since during the first hours of operation the engine consumes a lot of oil - it needs to be lubricated generously.
• Launch the tool.
• Listen to the sound. Notice the smoke. There will be more of it than usual. It can be thick and black.
• Use the chainsaw for its intended purpose within 4 hours. Take regular breaks to allow the engine to cool down from running at high speeds.
• Silence the device. Wait for it to cool down. Turn the high speed adjustment screw to its original position.

Is running in a new chainsaw different from a used one?

No. Regardless of whether the chainsaw was used or just came from the factory, the break-in process is the same. To break in an old chainsaw, you will also need:

• Disassemble the device body, unscrew the bolts, remove the bar and chain.
• Turn the right carburetor screw a quarter turn.
• Put everything back together.
• Use the chainsaw as intended for four hours.
• Turn off the tool once every half hour/hour (depending on the chainsaw) to cool the engine.
• Disassemble the body again and get to the carburetor.
• Turn the high speed adjustment screw to its original position.
• Assemble the device.

Why do you need to break in a chainsaw?

Running in is a kind of training for chainsaw parts. It is done so that the cylinder, piston ring and other parts get used to it. During the engine break-in process, its speed increases to maximum. After several hours of operation at such speeds, the risk of malfunctions is reduced, suitable gaps are formed between the cylinder and the piston ring, the cylinder and piston ring are ground in, the maximum power increases, the heat from the combustion of gasoline is better transferred, parts melt less, and the service life of the saw is extended.

When running in a chainsaw, you increase the load on the parts, and then return them to their original position.

If you do the break-in incorrectly, the efficiency of the chainsaw will decrease and its service life will shorten, that is, you did not break in the tool correctly, then the parts will wear out more, and therefore the device will last less. The engine may also seize or the piston ring may become stuck. Due to improper running-in, you will be denied warranty and service for your chainsaw.

Often “experts” advise running-in at idle speed. This is not true. When starting a chainsaw for break-in at idle, only a huge amount of soot and soot will form. The fact is that the engine shaft rotates minimally at idle speed. Engine cooling depends on the number of revolutions. Less rpm means less cooling. That is, at idle speed the shaft rotates at a minimum speed, the engine does not cool, and a large amount of soot and soot is formed. More revolutions means more cooling, less carbon deposits and soot.

Chain and bar – do they need to be broken in?

No, the chain and bar do not need lapping. They are not produced as a main unit - they do not have a cylinder, pistons, or piston ring that will be worn in. If you want to break in the chain and bar, they will simply become dull. These are consumables. All you need to do for their normal operation is to check the chain tension, how the tire is holding, and make sure they are lubricated. There should be a film of oil with high adhesion on the surface of the chain and along the edges of the bar.

Chinese chainsaw - is the running-in of Chinese chainsaws different?

No. All chainsaws work on the same principle. Their design concept is the same. The location and appearance of some nodes may vary.The process of running in a chainsaw is the same - it does not depend on where it was made.

I broke in the chainsaw and it won’t start – what should I do?

There are several reasons why a chainsaw may not start:

• You have not adjusted the carburetor. If you do not return the adjusting screw, the enriched fuel will overflow and the engine will not start - it will prevent the spark plug from creating a spark.
• The candle is covered with soot.
• The spark plug is broken.

Regardless of the breakdown, you need to inspect the chainsaw:

• Disassemble the tool body and get to the spark plug.
• Inspect it - there should be no damage or carbon deposits on it, it should be dry.
• If the spark plug is wet, it means the fuel has overflowed. To fix this, you need to turn the chainsaw block over and pull the starter handle with the ignition off. The overflowed fuel will begin to pour out of the chainsaw. When it finishes pouring, reassemble the device and check if it starts.
• If the spark plug is covered with soot, you need to remove it, wipe it, check its functionality (whether a spark appears), insert it back or replace it.
• If the spark plug is broken, faulty, or does not produce a spark, replace the spark plug.