Complete A to Z Guide on How to Tune a Chainsaw
When you have a chainsaw whose carburetor is well-adjusted, you will get maximum power, smooth running, and extremely negligible smoke; when you get such trouble-free service from, your chainsaw you never think of turning it. However, when the carburetor is not adjusted, tuning is the first step that you think of doing for it.
The reason for this is that any chainsaw which comes like this emits excessive smoke and has insufficient power to cut anything. If you have adjusted the chainsaw's carburetor, and it's still not providing enough power, that means you might have adjusted it too lean. This can also damage the engine of your chainsaw, and your saw will be destroyed completely.
To avoid this issue, we suggest you think well about the correct process of tuning a chainsaw before ever going to apply it. Any wrong step can make you regret it for a long. We have come up with an authentic way of adjusting the chainsaw's carburetor; after following this, you will get optimal results from your chainsaw.
Why you Ever Need to Tune a Chainsaw?
Most of you might think why your saw needs an occasional tuning. The most obvious reason for this is that when you use the saw, you do most operational changes without ever knowing. These changes might be the result of changes in fuel, working at different elevations, and a bunch of other factors that make you do so.
When you saw gets adjusted time and again, there may come the point when it just stops working entirely for you. So, to prevent this thing from happening to you, you need to do a careful adjustment and tuning of your chainsaw.
A properly tuned chainsaw is always good to have as it delivers maximum power and performance.
Best Way of Tuning a Chainsaw
The best way of tuning a chainsaw to get optimal power and sharpness is the adjustment of its carburetor. Here's how you adjust the carburetor:
Take a Small Screwdriver and Tachometer
The very first step in adjusting a carburetor is locating a small screwdriver. It should be small enough to go through any adjustment hole.
Note: Before you ever start tuning your chainsaw carburetor, make sure that it is cleaned well and free from any debris; check the air filter and also other air intake components. If you don't know how to clean a chainsaw carburetor, there are some extremely simple steps that you need to follow for this purpose.
Along with a small screwdriver, you will also need a tachometer as it might be difficult for you to adjust the carb without it. For any chainsaw adjustments, a tachometer is the most necessary tool.
Check Fuel Level
The next thing that you have to do is check the fuel level of the carburetor; make sure to keep it over half full; it should not be too empty or too rich in fuel. This is because if the fuel tank is empty or filled, the carburetor might get adjusted too rich.
Warm-up the Engine
Then, you have to start the engine and warm it up because if you make the carburetor adjustments on the cold engine, it can again turn up too rich under the normal temperature.
Set the Speed
The next step for you is to settle a speed. We suggest you go for settling the idle speed, which should be around 2700 RPM. If you don't have the tachometer to do this, make sure you adjust the speed in such a way that when the chain is stopped, the saw should also be idle.
Set low-speed Fuel Adjustment
If you feel your saw is not idle after performing the 4th step, move ahead to set the low-speed fuel adjustment. You can do this by following the below-given simple steps:
- Turn in the screw slowly until the engine demands more fuel.
- Make a mental note of the screwdriver's position spot.
- Turn out the adjustment screw slowly, and you will examine the engine running better.
- Keep turning the screwdriver until you feel that the engine is richly loaded.
- Again, make a mental note of the position of the screw and compare it with the linear adjustment position.
- Turn in the screw to a position where you feel it is best idle.
Reset the idle Speed
Again perform step 4 that we have previously mentioned, and reset the idle speed because there are chances that the RPM setting has slightly changed since you perform the fuel adjustment step.
Set High-Speed Fuel Adjustment
Hold the trigger wide open and examine the RPM by using the tachometer. Sett it to high-speed fuel adjustment depending upon the type of saw you use, whether any model of STIHL/ HUSQVARNA or any other. They all come up with different maximum limits for the RPM.
Note: Do not try to adjust the RPM level without a tachometer because it blubbers at wide-open throttles. It might damage your chainsaw and leave you tensed deeply.
Idle Speed Adjustment
After settling up the high-speed fuel adjustment, again perform step 4 and adjust the low-speed fuel adjustment. This is because when you move one adjusting screw, you need to have readjusted the other two as well.
After that, you have performed all the above-given steps carefully, you will find your saw properly readjusted, and it will work amazingly for you for any cuts and slashes.
Why A Carburetor Has To Be Readjusted
If a carburetor is set right when a saw is new, why does it have to be readjusted? Some people wonder why their saw needs occasional tuning. They don't understand why saws can't be set at the factory and stay correctly adjusted for the life of the saw. The reason is there are many operational changes a user makes without realizing it. These changes include working at different elevations, changes in fuel, and a host of other factors that cause saws to need periodic carburetor adjustment.
Today, sophisticated electronics can monitor and meter air/fuel needs. With this technology, saws will be able to "self adjust." This technology is well developed for automobiles and trucks. The process of miniaturizing an economical and durable system that will work on a saw engine is being developed. Until then, keep your tachometer and screwdriver handy.
