Materials you'll need:

· Lubricating oil for chain saw
· Fuel mixed to manufacturer's specifications
· Protective gloves, goggles and clothing

Tools you'll need:

· Suitable depth gauge and filing guide Suitable round file and replacements
· Fiat file
· Filing vice

How you look after your chain saw determines the sort of performance you will get from it. It is essential to carefully study your owner's manual and follow its advice Using the depth gauge tools and file guide designed for your brand of saw is also recommended

Chain tension.
Always wear protective gloves when handling the chain. Check the tension often and adjust the adjustment screw as necessary. The side links and cutter should be just touching the bottom middle of the bar so you can easily pull the chain around the bar by hand. The tension changes in use because as soon as the chain starts to cut it gets hot. The heat expands the metal parts of the chain so it gets longer and becomes loose on the bar. If loose when cold, it can expand enough to jump off the bar when it gets hot.

Chain lubrication.
Make sure the manual and automatic oilers are working properly. The tank must be kept filled with clean oil and plenty of oil should be used on the chain when cutting. Never let it run dry on the bar. If cutting abrasive types of wood, adjust the automatic oiler to deliver more oil, or use the manual oiler twice as much. If the chain is getting enough oil there will be oil inside the chain between the side links and cutters and the centre links­.

Sharpening the chain.
To cut wood effectively, the cutters must be properly sharpened. The three important angles to be maintained in a properly sharpened cutter are:

• the top plate filing angle (which creates the side plate cutting angle)
• the top plate cutting angle
• the side plate angle

Sharpening is done in two steps.

Filing the cutting edges, and lowering the depth gauges.
1. The chain can be sharpened on the saw, during a job, by tightening the chain on the bar to hold it steady, or in the workshop by placing in a filing vice.
2. Use a round file of the proper size for your saw as specified in the owner's manual. Rotate the file periodically when sharpening, and replace it when it' gets dull. Filing at the correct angle specified (usually 350) is essential to get a properly sharpened saw.
3. Hold the file at the specified top filing angle, apply pressure against the face of the tooth and push the file towards the outside of the tooth. Release pressure on the cutting edge on the return stroke. Repeat sharpening strokes until tooth is sharp. Drop file into gullet and clean out with light strokes. Do not touch the cutting edge of the tooth.
4. Sharpen all teeth on one side of the chain before sharpening the other side. Use the same number of strokes on each tooth to help keep the teeth the same level.

Lowering the depth gauges.
1. Place depth gauge tool over two cutter teeth with the depth gauge on the first cutter projecting through desired clearance of depth gauge tool.
2. Remove projecting part of depth gauge with a flat file.
3. After lowering all depth gauges, round off their leading edges. Maintain the same profile as the original depth gauge.
4. Always place depth gauge to be filed at the same place on the bar when lowering depth gauges.

Breaking in a new chain.
1. Run the chain at low speed without cutting for 5 minutes. Push the manual oiler button every 10 or fifteen seconds to provide extra oil.
2. After five minutes, shut off the engine and recheck and adjust chain tension.
3. Keep the chain well lubricated.
4. After 10 minutes, shut off the engine and check chain tension again. Adjust if necessary. Repeat chain tension check often during the first hours of cutting with a new chain.

SAFETY FIRST.
Obeying your owner’s manual is the most important safety precaution you can take.

Other safety hints include:
• Wear close-fitting and protective clothing including safety hat, goggles and gloves
• Refuel safely. Allow saw to cool before refuelling with fuel recommended by the manufacturer. Don’t spill fuel on unit or start saw where you refuelled it. Move away before starting saw.
• Hold saw firmly, Kickback (the-saw jumps or jerks up) can be caused by a number of mishaps such as the chain striking hard objects, a loose chain, or your inattention.
• Do not try to use saw while up a tree or ladder or other unstable surface.
• Never operate a saw that is not completely and securely assembled and well maintained.