Stihl OILOMATIC saw chain User Manual
1
Contents
ANSI / CSA Information......................................................2
11 Chain Care Rules ...........................................................2
It’s Time To Sharpen When ................................................3
Construction of STIHL Saw Chain......................................3
Lubrication ..........................................................................5
Saw Chain Care ..................................................................7
Tensioning Saw Chain.........................................................7
Breaking In Saw Chain .......................................................8
Filing Saw Chain .................................................................8
Guide Bar Care .................................................................11
Drive Sprocket Care..........................................................12
Troubleshooting Chain Wear ............................................13
Special Cold Weather Care...............................................17
File Recommendations.....................................................18
Important Information
Any chain saw, no matter what make, is only as good
as its saw chain. Never ignore chain maintenance – if you
do, poor cutting is just one result. An improperly cared for
chain will eventually ruin the bar, the sprocket and other
engine parts. Poorly maintained chain is also a potential
safety hazard, since it can contribute to a reaction known
as “kickback” (see page 17 for definition and hints on
how to reduce the risk of kickback).
Keeping a chain in good repair will save both money
and cutting time.
This brochure is designed to cover only chain, bar
and sprocket maintenance. For general chain saw
care, always refer to your Owner’s Manual and your
servicing chain saw dealer.
This listing of trademarks is subject to change. Any unauthorized
use of these trademarks without the express written consent of
ANDREAS STIHL AG & Co. KG,
Wailblingen is strictly prohibited.
The following trademarks used in
this booklet are among those
owned by ANDREAS STIHL AG &
Co. KG, Waiblingen
STIHL’s Registered Trademarks
1. STIHL
®
2.
3.
4. The color combinations
®
(U.S. Registrations #2,821,860;
3,010,057; and 3,010,058)
5. OILOMATIC
®
6. STIHL DUROMATIC
®
7. STIHL Farm Boss
®
8. STIHL Quickstop
®
9. STIHL ROLLOMATIC
®
10. STIHL WOOD BOSS
®
STIHL’s Common Law
Trademarks
11. Bioplus
™
12. Easy2Start
™
13. ElastoStart
™
14. Ematic
™
15. IntelliCarb
™
16. Master Control Lever
™
17. Micro
™
18. Pro Mark
™
19. Quad Power
™
20. STIHL Arctic
™
21. STIHL Compact
™
22. STIHL Magnum
™
23. STIHL MiniBoss
™
24. STIHL PICCO
™
25. STIHL RAPID
™
STIHL Sharp Advice rdsp 110606 11/6/06 4:16 PM Page 3
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It’s Time To Sharpen when …
• The saw does not cut in a straight line.
• The cutters are not properly sharpened.
• The chain chatters and jumps - the depth gauge needs
adjustment.
• You are getting fine sawdust instead of wood chips.
Construction of STIHL Saw Chain
STIHL saw chains are 3-link
chains and are always
assembled in the same
basic pattern. The
illustration shows the
component parts of
a typical chain.
The important characteristics which
define a chain are the chain pitch, drive
link gauge and chain length.
Pitch is the distance between the centers
of any three rivets and dividing the
measurement by two. The result is the
pitch in inches (e.g. 3/8”). The pitch size in
inches is stamped on each depth gauge.
Drive link gauge As the engine turns the
sprocket, it engages the drive links and
propels the chain. The drive link must
match the width of the guide bar groove
so that the chain exactly fits the bar. This
measurement is quoted in inches or
millimeters of the thickness of the bottom
of the drive link. There are chains with
drive link gauges of .043” (1.1 mm), .050”
(1.3 mm), .058” (1.5 mm) and .063” (1.6
mm). The last digit of the measurement in
millimeters is stamped on every drive link.
Pitch a/2
Drive link gauge
Bar groove width
2
The occurrence called “kickback” can cause serious
or fatal injuries. Always read your Owner’s Manual
carefully before using your saw. In the U.S.A., STIHL has
developed a color code system using green and yellow to
help you select a powerhead, bar and chain combination
that complies with the kickback requirements of ANSI
Standard B 175.1. Ask your STIHL dealer about safe
operating procedures and the advantages of the STIHL
Quickstop®chain brake, STIHL reduced kickback bars,
and STIHL low kickback saw chains.
In Canada, STIHL saw chain meets kickback
requirements of CSA Standard Z62.3 M1990 when tested
on a representative sample of chain saws.
Chain Care Rules
1. Avoid hitting dirt, rocks or any other abrasive material
while cutting.
2. Check the chain tension often. Never allow the chain
to sag. (See page 7).
3. Never force a dull chain to cut; it increases the risk of
injury and will damage the bar and chain.
4. Never install a new chain without replacing a worn
sprocket.
5.
Always sharpen cutters to correct angles. (See pages 8-9).
6. Measure the depth gauges with every sharpening;
lower and re-profile as necessary. (See page 10).
7.
Check the entire chain often for visible wear or damage.
(See pages 13-16 for common wear problems).
8. Check the depth of the bar groove for proper drive
link clearance, examine the bar rails for even wear,
and clean bar groove.
9. Always wear gloves when handling chain.
10. Keep scabbard on the bar when the saw is not in use.
11. Make sure that your chain is always properly
lubricated. (See page 6).
Important Information
STIHL Sharp Advice rdsp 110606 11/6/06 4:16 PM Page 5
5
In General:
Saw chain revolves around the bar at approximately
50 feet per second, depending on engine type, size and
bar length. That means extreme friction wherever any
two parts rub: rivets against drive links, tie straps against
drive links, drive links against cutters, and the entire chain
against the guide bar. Without proper lubrication between
the friction faces, the parts will rapidly deteriorate and
eventually wear themselves out.
All STIHL chain saws have chain oiling systems.
Some are automatic and some are adjustable automatic.
With either the oil is pumped into the bar groove, where
it is “scooped” up by the passing drive link.
The Advantages of OILOMATIC®Chain:
STIHL saw chain has the patented OILOMATIC
®
system. An oil channel incorporated into each drive link
allows the oil to flow directly between the friction faces
and lubricate the most critical flexing components.
OILOMATIC®means longer life for both the bar and the
chain, and also less frequent sharpening.
A further development of the OILOMATIC®system is
the oil reservoir
next to the channel
on 3/8” extended
pitch, .325” .063”,
3/8” .063 chain
provides more oil
to distribute along
the chain groove
and guide rails as
the chain travels
along the bottom
of the bar.
Lubrication
4
Chain length depends on the length of the bar and is
measured by drive links. Each STIHL bar has the number
of required drive links stamped into the tail of the bar.
Tie straps connect the cutters and the drive links
together with rivets. A tie strap with rivets already
mounted is called a preset tie strap.
Cutters: Each cutter has the cutting edge itself and the
ramp in front of the cutting edge, called the depth
gauge, which leads the cutter into the wood and
determines how large a “bite” the cutter will take. If the
depth gauge is too high, the chain will cut very slowly; if
the depth gauge is too low, the cutter will grab too much
wood and jam, perhaps causing kickback. On saw chains,
cutters are positioned so that each right-hand cutter
alternates with a left-hand cutter.
1 = basic tooth body
2 = top plate
3 = depth gauge
4 = side plate cutting edge
5 = top plate cutting edge
STIHL Sharp Advice rdsp 110606 11/6/06 4:16 PM Page 7
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Tensioning Saw Chain
Never attempt to adjust the tension while the engine
is running.
The chain on sprocket nose bars can be tensioned
slightly tighter than chains on solid nose bars.
Chain should not be tight when you’re done cutting,
since the chain will “shrink” as it cools off. Loosen it
slightly, so it doesn’t tighten on the bar.
Wearing work gloves, loosen bar mounting nuts
enough for the nose of the bar to slightly move up and
down.
Hold up the nose of the bar. Tighten the chain
adjusting screw until the chain will move freely without
binding when pulled by hand.
To make sure no kinks are in the chain, snap it by
pulling it out from the bar and letting go. Then check the
tension again. Lift the chain from the top middle of the
bar. The drive links should remain in the bar groove.
Retighten bar mounting nuts while still holding up the
bar nose, and then make a final tension check.
®
®
Saw Chain Care
6
Perform a lubrication checkup:
Check the oil level every time you refuel
the engine.
To check chain lubrication before
and during cutting, position the bar
nose over a light background (tree
stump, sawdust, etc.), and run the
engine at half throttle, making sure it
throws out an increasing trace of oil.
Be careful not to allow the tip of the
bar to contact any surface. If you
do, kickback may result.
Keep the oil inlet
holes and bar groove
open and free
from dirt.
Use STIHL Bar & Chain Oil:
Some people try to get away with using old engine oil
or other oil not designed for bar and chain lubrication.
STIHL bar and chain oil has special additives that help it
adhere to the bar and chain, as well as keep tree pitch
from gumming up moving parts. There are also
formulations for working in cold conditions.
STIHL Sharp Advice rdsp 110606 11/6/06 4:16 PM Page 9
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