For cutting huge rounds of wood, a chainsaw is a piece of valuable and efficient equipment. The sharp cutting blades on the chain rotate quickly to achieve the appropriate cutting results. After a sawing session, you would recently discover that your blades and chain were extremely hot.
You know when you’re out cutting wood for firewood and can’t help but feel that the blade gets hot after running it for 20 minutes? Do you think that is normal, and if so, why do things get hot? There might be a lot of friction when a chain is spinning quickly to cut through a log. Even if this friction reduces thanks to bar and chain oil, you might be wondering if your chainsaw blade is meant to be hot.
Whether you are wondering should your chainsaw blade gets hot or why it got hotter in the backswing, we will look into some of the details of how this occurs and then look at some of the benefits and drawbacks to your chainsaw heating up.
Should a Chainsaw Blade Get Hot?
It is typical for the chainsaw blade to generate some heat. However, there might be an issue if you notice the blade emitting smoke or overheating. It is advisable to cease using the blade if you see any smoke immediately.
If the chainsaw’s blade is smoking and overheating, there is likely a major issue with the chainsaw. In that situation, troubleshooting is your best shot. Shortage of lubrication of the bar guide or motor and a lack of air are the two significant causes of your blade smoking or overheating.
You should also take note that steam rises as you cut through a fairly fresh tree. Therefore, you must not confuse it with smoke. There is a lot of water inside the newly fallen tree’s bark. Your chainsaw blade is prone to overheating no matter how well you cut a fresh tree bark.
There is also a good chance that the chainsaw blade will become heated when cutting wood in the summer under direct sunlight. You may significantly lower the likelihood of overheating by routinely cleaning the blade. Your chainsaw has an air intake on both the starter and the cylinder. You have to ensure there is no obstruction in the air intake to prevent overheating.
Cooler air is drawn in through the air intake apertures designed to remove heat. If the air intake ports are obstructed, small engines risk catching fire which is why the clarity of the air filter is necessary.
Why Is The Blade Of My Chainsaw Getting Hot? And Solutions
There are three major reasons why your chainsaw blade is overheating. These causes are explicitly explained below.
1. Insufficient Lubricating Oil
When there is not enough suitable lubrication oil, the chainsaw blade overheats. The chain and the blade must be kept well-lubricated. Therefore, you may control the amount of mineral oil released using the oil adjustment screw.
Additionally, you risk miscalculating the correct amount of lubricating oil if the mineral oil adjustment screw is not functioning properly. A chainsaw blade will become overheated as a result.
2. Dull Chain
A dull chain is another reason why your chainsaw blade has been overheating. If the chain is worn, you will notice a lot of heat and smoke on the chainsaw blade. When using a dull chain to cut, the blade is essentially ground into the log rather than being forced through. This will cause the log, chain, and bar to become heated.
The solution is as simple as ensuring your chain is sharp. It is also important to give your chain a short sharpening between each fuel tank you use. Quickly inspect the sawdust your chain generates to determine whether it is sharp. Your chain is sharp if the sawdust contains distinct pieces of wood. Your saw needs to be sharpened if the sawdust is closer to the texture of fine dust.
3. Wrong Sized Chain
You might be attempting to cut with a chainsaw that is too small for the job, which might cause your chainsaw to produce more heat than usual. Because the chain and blade on your chainsaw are positioned concerning one another, they must align.
A size mismatch will make the blade overheat and perhaps start to smoke. You should also confirm that the chainsaw drive links’ thickness and the blade groove’s width are an exact match.
The excessive rubbing of a large chain against the inside of the bar track may increase friction in your chainsaw, while using a too-small chain may cause your bar to wobble inside the bar track, increasing wear and friction.
You can easily find out if you’re not sure if you have the right-sized chain. The dimensions could be found in the product’s instructional manual or catalog if you bought a specific product.
Why Is The Blade Of My Chainsaw Smoking?
It is undoubtedly abnormal for a chainsaw to be smoking when it is operating. if you discover your chainsaw is smoking, you must stop working and address the issue immediately.
Smoke indicates that your chainsaw’s blade runs excessively quickly during idle. The idle speed adjustment screw must be turned clockwise with a screwdriver to lower the speed to correct this. For the throttle to be increased and for smooth acceleration, you must also turn the screw back to 90 degrees.
You won’t notice more smoke coming from your chainsaw’s blade once you change the idling speed. If feasible, you should also attempt to tweak the idle-speed adjustment screw.
Additionally, too much oil and gasoline inside the fuel tank is a significant indicator of smoke expulsion. You must carefully read your user handbook to determine the precise quantity of oil and fuel required to run your chainsaw’s blade smoothly.
If you intend to store the chainsaw for a very long time, it is crucial to empty the tank before refilling it before using the chainsaw. Blade smoking is primarily caused by dryness. Additionally, there may be enough oil in the tank at times, yet it may not discharge properly while being used.
How To Prevent The Blade Of Your Chainsaw From Overheating?
You can apply a few procedures to stop your chainsaw blade from experiencing overheating. These procedures include.
Step 1: Get Rid Of Dirt
The starter’s cover at the point where its rope emerges must first be thoroughly cleaned of debris and muck. The grease and sawdust should then be completely removed with a dry cloth. To reach your chainsaw’s cooling system, you must also use a screwdriver to remove the starter cover.
Step 2: Make Sure The Flywheel And Starter Get Cleaned
You must now slightly lean the starter side downward by grasping the chainsaw’s front handle. Next, you must clean the starter, flywheel, and cooling region. To prevent dust from entering the engine, you should use a dry cloth to remove it.
Step 3: Remove The Cylinder Cover
The cylinder cover must be removed with a screwdriver from the top of the engine. The fins and the cylinder cap should have all the dust removed with a brush.
Step 4: The Spark Arrestor, Muffler, And The Exhaust Port Must Be Cleaned
With the help of a screwdriver, you will also have to remove the muffler cover. When this has been done, the spark arrestor, the muffler, and the exhaust port should all be dusted using a brush and a dry cloth. if you discover any significant black carbon deposits on it, the muffler must be replaced immediately.
Step 5: Make Sure The Saw Is Adequately Lubricating
When all these components have been perfectly cleaned, the next step is to direct the chainsaw’s blade’s tip at a white surface for roughly 45 seconds while letting the engine run at full power.
To confirm that the oil is coming from the chainsaw’s oil reservoir, you must carefully inspect the surface to see if a light line of lubricating oil is composed of tiny dots.
Step 6: Check Out The Chain Tension
To ensure the chain is not excessively tight, you must examine the chain’s tension on the bar. If you cannot advance the chain with your hands, gradually release its tension.
You must remove the spark plug wire to prevent the chain from turning while you change the tension. After that, depress the ignition switch. The saw’s chain must snugly encircle its bar and not appear from its underside.
You might have to adjust the chain’s tension if you notice it hanging downward and preventing the chain from cutting the wood.
How Do You Tell If a Chainsaw Is Overheating?
Most of the warning indicators are quite clear. First, the chainsaw may feel warmer than usual, occasionally reaching a very high temperature. The sound the chainsaw makes during operation is another indicator to listen for.
You might want to double-check that everything is in working order if it sounds different from how it usually does or even changes to a lower tone while running.
A decline in performance also suggests that there is a problem. Keep an eye on the drop because it can come on suddenly or gradually. And finally, a chainsaw that is emitting smoke is unmistakably overheated. Not the exhaust smoke, but rather smoke with an unnatural color and intensity.
How Hot Should A Chainsaw Bar Get?
Depending on the wood you’re cutting, a chainsaw bar should be heated to a specific temperature. Chainsaw blades made of harder woods, such as oak and maple, will feel hotter to the touch (between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit), while those made of softer woods, such as pine, will feel cooler (between 35 – 55 degrees Fahrenheit).
The appropriate temperature for your blade will also depend on the kind of chainsaw you’re using. If you’re using a gas-powered chainsaw, you’ll want to keep an eye on the blade temperature because they tend to run hotter than electric chainsaws.
It’s a good idea to take frequent breaks while cutting wood if you’re cutting a lot of wood or it’s hot outside so your blade can cool down. A chainsaw with an automated lubrication system is also available. This will increase the blade’s lifespan by helping to keep it cool and lubricated.
Conclusion
Chainsaws can get hot quickly, and the design of many chainsaw brands makes it difficult to know just how hot your chainsaw is getting. Whether you’re a professional or a hobbyist, monitor your blade around the clock. If a blade gets too hot, it’s likely to crack and even catch fire.
We all know that heat is a serious safety concern when using a chainsaw. But is heat necessary as it relates to the function of the saw? The short answer is no. Most of the time, chainsaws get hot because of user error, not a defect in the chain saw itself. While some heat is expected, especially in the summer, excessive heat and blade smoking will permanently harm your chainsaw. To enjoy the chainsawing pleasure, it is important to eliminate the causes of your chainsaw overheating.
This guide should help you get a better understanding of chainsaw safety and help avoid potentially dangerous situations. I hope my simple guide helps in your use of chainsaws. Best of luck, be safe and remember that your chainsaw should not overheat under a properly maintained saw.