Chainsaw Direction 101: Which Way Should It Go? Clever Tips

Are you confused about which way your chainsaw should go? It’s a common question, and we have the answers. Our team of experts is ready to guide you through the process, ensuring you can operate your chainsaw safely and effectively.

Chainsaw chain direction, which way should it go?

When your Chainsaw bar is on the engine’s left, the chain should rotate counter-clockwise, and the cutting edges should be facing away from the engine.

Want to ensure you’re using your chainsaw correctly? It all starts with understanding the direction of the chain. Our experts have broken down this complex topic for you. Read on to gain a solid understanding of your chainsaw’s operation and ensure your safety.

What direction your chainsaw chain is running in

Your chainsaw chain needs to run in the right direction. Otherwise, it would be ineffective and dangerous to you. When you can avoid this, what is the point of using a chainsaw that runs in the wrong direction? You need to check the required chainsaw blade direction before using it.

Typically, a chainsaw chain will not cut right with a backward chain. In fact, from a safety perspective, if the chainsaw chain is set backward, it technically means that all the cutters are facing you, which can be pretty dangerous. It does not require rocket science to understand this situation, as it is crucial for you to run your chainsaw effectively.

Problems with putting the chainsaw in the wrong direction

Trying to get the correct direction for your chainsaw chain is a common source of frustration, especially for someone who has never been shown how to put on a chainsaw chain. Trust me, it may be very time-consuming and annoying, and the worst part is that problems may occur during the process if your chain is installed incorrectly.

If you are a regular chainsaw user, then you should be able to know the problems that come with installing the chain wrong. For the sake of those new to the chainsaw experience, we have taken time out to talk about it again.

Just as the cutting teeth of the chainsaw blade are meant to cut the wood in only one direction, installing or placing the chain in reverse will only cause damage to the tool. Several problems are associated with placing your chainsaw chain in the wrong direction. They include the chain from the guide bar and the cutting teeth pointing toward the powerhead.

1. Waste of Good Bar Oil

When the hawser of the chainsaw is fixed on the wrong side, it will cause a lot of waste to the bar oil, which would, in turn, cause more harm to the chainsaw. Usually, the bar oil is often kept to be used until a specific project or task has been completed. However, when the chainsaw blade is placed in the wrong direction, it causes a lot of waste of the bar oil.

2. Cause Damage To Chain Link

The chain link is an essential part of the chainsaw, and the moment it gets damaged, the saw may not be able to operate as effectively as it should. It is crucial always to set the link in the bottom position to ensure that it provides enough support to the blade, allowing easy and effective propelling. Always confirm the drive link has been fixed to avoid unnecessary damage to you or your project.

3. Causes Unnecessary Stress On The Guide Bar

The guide bar is the most critical part of the chainsaw when it comes to cutting wood, so when there is a wrong alignment in terms of the direction of the chainsaw blade, there will be a lot of problems. In this case, what usually occurs is that you will get a considerable amount of stress on the guide bar as the chain is being forced into the wood. And the cut will not be possible. Hence, you will end up damaging the guide bar.

4. It May Cause You to Doubt Your Skills

Placing your chainsaw blade wrongly is one of the most annoying things that could happen to the user when it comes to using the saw. To be able to place the chainsaw chain correctly is one of the necessary skills that saw users are meant to demonstrate to prove their abilities. For instance, as a chainsaw professional, imagine attending to your client’s projects and you struggle with mounting the chainsaw in the right direction. This would show incredible incompetence, especially to your client, and it may even cost you your job.

5. Motor deterioration

Since you need to put so much pressure on cutting the wood with dull edges, the chainsaw would be affected, and the motor’s lifetime would gradually decrease.

6. Burnout Clutch

When you start your chainsaw, it is expected to keep pressing down the clutch. However, if your chainsaw does not cut, it will cause the clutch to burn, which would only mean that your chainsaw will not work. So, before you begin any project or task, always ensure your blade is fixed in the right direction to avoid damage to your tool. In most cases, the clutch is the only part of the saw which is burnt out. This is because it is responsible for facilitating the proper functioning of the chainsaw.

How to Make Sure that your Chainsaw Chain Direction is right

When using a chainsaw, it is essential to use it in the right direction. Otherwise, you won’t get the best out of using the machine. Aside from this, using a chainsaw chain in the wrong order is risky. But how do you ensure the chain is installed in the right direction? For someone that is new to the chainsaw operation, it may seem a little bit overwhelming and confusing, but not to worry, we have carefully explained this topic, and after reading this article, we hope that your confusion will be cleared. Here are tips on how to know if your chainsaw direction is right:

1. Check From the Top View

When the hawser of the chainsaw is fixed on the wrong side, it will cause a lot of waste to the bar oil, which would, in turn, cause more harm to the chainsaw. Usually, the bar oil is often kept to be used until a particular project or task has been completed. However, when the chainsaw blade is placed in the wrong direction, it causes a lot of waste of the bar oil. This is why knowing how to put the chainsaw blade in the correct direction is essential.

2. Check From the Side and Front View

The chain link is an essential part of the chainsaw, and the moment it gets damaged, the saw may not be able to operate as effectively as it should. It is always essential to set the link in the bottom position to ensure that it provides enough support to the blade and allows easy and effective propelling.

Always confirm the drive link has been fixed to avoid unnecessary damage to you or your project. Therefore, knowing how to put on a chainsaw chain the right way is crucial. Also, remember to pull the chain link to ensure it’s properly attached.

Also, check your saw from the front view. If the blade is in the right direction, you will see it coming from the upside to the downside. However, if it moves backward, you’ve placed it wrongly and won’t achieve an effective cut.

3. Check from the Bottom View

Check from the Bottom View It goes with a saying that the view of the chainsaw blade from the bottom will be just the opposite of the view from the top. Now, if the blade is placed in the right direction, you should be able to check from the bottom that the blade is facing toward the engine or the body.

In other words, if your chainsaw chain replacement direction is done correctly, let’s face it: the blade will meet the machine or the body. The sharp edges will continuously rotate from the clockwise direction.

How do you make a chainsaw blade run in the right direction?

After installing your chainsaw chain, if you still face problems while cutting with your chainsaw or you install the chainsaw chain in the wrong direction, then don’t worry. You can easily reinstall it until it fits, which will only take a few minutes. You must follow the simple chain replacement procedure carefully and are good to go. Before you know it, your chainsaw will be working correctly again. Here are some procedures to help you make your chainsaw blade run in the right direction.

● Attach the Chainsaw Bar

The first step to replace a chainsaw chain is to attach the chain and bar to the chain. To do this, you need to remove the nuts. After removing the nuts, attach the bar carefully to the exact position. After attaching the bar, be sure to adjust it properly by slightly tightening the bolt. The bar should have the perfect length according to chain fitting requirements.

When you want to adjust the bar, do it so that you can easily place the chain and make it fit perfectly. The fitting of your chainsaw chain should not be too tight. Try to loosen the chain fitting a bit, and you will get the perfect result. Also, you must check whether the chain is placed in the right direction. To know this, check the procedure for seeing the chain’s direction.

● Check the Direction of the Chainsaw Chain

Now, this is the crucial part. It is safe to assume you are replacing your chainsaw chain because the blade direction is probably faulty. So, when fixing it, pay close attention to the details and ensure you mount the chain properly. If you have successfully done this, your chainsaw can run in the right direction again without disruption. Since you already know how to check the right chain direction, follow the procedures and make sure you are doing it right. The chain should be pointing in the right direction.

If you have successfully done this, your chainsaw can run in the right direction again without disruption. Since you already know how to check the right chain direction, follow the procedures and make sure you are doing it right.

● Tighten the Blade

Now that you have not only attached the bar but also mounted the chain and checked the direction of the blade, it is time for the final procedure. Since you have reinstalled the edge, the next step is to tighten the chain so your tool can run freely without any hindrance. However, be very careful while tightening up the chain.

It would be best if you didn’t make it too loose or tight. Too loose will cause the chain to come off, making it very dangerous to the user. Tightening the chain too tight can also hamper the working condition of the chainsaw, leading to ineffectiveness. Let’s face it: the chain sprocket and the cover play crucial roles in this process.

How do you find the accurate replacement chain for your chainsaw?

At one point in their lifespan, every power tool requires regular replacement or maintenance of their body. Otherwise, you may not get the maximum use from it. However, even with this, many people still find it hard and challenging to find a suitable replacement chain for their chainsaws.

The good news is that finding the accurate replacement chain for your saw is quite simple, and by considering the following factors, you can find the exact replacement easily when shopping for a new chain. You can check the price for your chainsaw chain here.

1. The Pitch:

The pitch size depends significantly on the type of chainsaw you are using. If your chainsaw is one for heavy duties, then you will have a large pitch. The pitch of a chainsaw is basically the distance between any two repeated chain links divided by 2, that is, the average distance between two successive chain links.

So, before purchasing a new chain, ensure it fits the exact pitch to avoid ineffectiveness. Some chainsaw pitches are most commonly used. They include ¼”, 0.325”, 3/8”, 3/8” low profile and 0.404”. Everything becomes easy once you can determine the right size for your chainsaw.

2. Gauge:

The gauge of a chainsaw is the measurement of how deep the groove is on a guide bar, that is, the depth. If the indicator is higher, it technically means the chains will be heavy. Some standard gauge sizes are often used. They are- 0.043”, 0.050”, 0.058”, and 0.063”. With this, you can quickly determine the right size that fits your chainsaw. It’s essential to get the chain that matches the gauge.

3. Drive Link Count:

The drive link count is the number of drive links on your chain. This feature provides you information on how long the chain is, and whether it is going to fit into your bar or not. Be careful not to have the chain installed backward.

Usually, certain standard information about your chainsaw will help you find an accurate replacement for the chain. Most of this information is provided in the user manual or sometimes on the chainsaw bar. So, before you buy a chainsaw, always make sure that you note the pitch size, the gauge, and the drive link count. Also, ensure the teeth on the chain point toward the rotation direction. This will help you to chain the chainsaw correctly.

Final remarks

Finally, you might be in a position where, even after setting everything in place and ensuring your chainsaw is in excellent condition (regarding the chain direction), the saw still fails to cut the wood. In this case, the reason behind the failure may not always be the chain direction, but maybe your chainsaw blades have become dull. In this situation, you only need to properly sharpen it until it is good enough to cut.

As always, we hope that this article has been able to answer your questions. Good luck with your chainsaw experience!

Frequently Asked Questions:

• What problems are caused by putting the chainsaw chain in the wrong direction?

Some problems include wasting bar oil, damaging the chain link, causing unnecessary stress on the guide bar, making you doubt your skills, deteriorating the motor, and burning out the clutch.

• Why is it important to check that your chainsaw chain is running in the right direction?

It’s important because otherwise, the chainsaw won’t cut properly, the cutters will be facing you, which is dangerous and can damage components like the guide bar and motor.

• How can you check if your chainsaw chain direction is correct from the top view?

From the top view, the sharp edges of the chain blades should face clockwise, which is opposite the direction of the chainsaw body/motor.

• What is the first step to replace a chainsaw chain to ensure proper direction?

The first step is to detach and reattach the chainsaw bar correctly aligned to the power unit per the manufacturer’s specifications.

• What three key measurements help identify the proper replacement chain?

The three key measurements are pitch, gauge, and drive link count. Matching these to the saw ensures proper fit and functioning.