Main Parts of a Chainsaw

Whether you own a chainsaw or are planning to buy one, it's a good idea to know the main components. Of course, the chain, engine, and handle need little description, but it's helpful to know where some of the other parts are. That's the purpose of this guide; to show you some of the main parts of the chainsaw.

It goes without saying, but not all chainsaws are created equal. First, there are gasoline and electric chainsaws. They serve the same purpose and function in a similar way, but their parts are different. Even in pneumatic chainsaws, each brand has its own design, so not all chainsaws have the same parts in the exact same places. Now that we're on the same page, let's take a look at a few of the main parts of a chainsaw.

Pull the starter handle, also known as the kickstart handle, usually on the left side of the engine. These handles are located on the air motor and are used to start the engine.

The front handle wraps around the front of the engine from the bottom to the top of the motor. This is a comfortable handle for holding and operating the chainsaw.

The rear handle is located on the back of the chainsaw. This is where the throttle and throttle safety lock are located. One hand must be on the rear handle to operate the chainsaw.

The throttle trigger is located on the underside of the rear handle. It regulates RPM by increasing or decreasing the amount of fuel going to the motor. The throttle trigger lockout must be engaged for the throttle to function.

The throttle lock is located on the top of the rear grip and its function is to help prevent the user from accidentally accelerating the throttle.

Located at the front of the engine, above the guide rod, is an important part called a chain breaker or finger guard. This is a safety mechanism designed to stop the chainsaw in the event of a kickback.

Kickback occurs most often when cutting wood with the bit of a chainsaw. The rotation of the saw and cutting chain grabs the wood in such a way that it causes the front end of the chainsaw to shoot upwards towards your upper body and head. Chain breaks help prevent serious injury by stopping the chain. Needless to say, you should never remove this unit, nor should you use a chainsaw without one.

The guide bar is the long steel bar that guides the cutting chain. Hence the name; guide rod. It holds the chain in place. Guide bars come in different sizes, which will determine which chain you use. Depending on which brand you have and its size, the length may vary from 16 inches to 24 inches or more.

The tip or front of the guide rod is called the nose. It has a sprocket that is hard to see at first glance. Upon closer inspection, you'll see that the chain is held in place by the sprockets.

The cutting chain runs along the guide rod. It is fixed on the guide rod and comes in various sizes. Pitch, gauge, and number of links determine the chain you need for your chainsaw. You can usually find this information on the side of the boot bar.

Should your chain break, the chain catcher is designed to prevent the chain from being thrown back at the user. It's located under the guide bar on the front of the engine.

The bumper tack is used to hold the chainsaw on the wood while cutting; it helps prevent kickback. Also, they are sometimes called bucking spikes because they are especially useful when performing buck cuts.

It controls the amount of tension or slack in the chain. In order to access the tensioning screw, you may need to loosen the clutch cover nut first. Most chainsaws come with a screch/combining wrench for this purpose. Normally, when you turn the screw clockwise, it tightens the chain, removing slack.

The pressure relief valve relieves the pressure in the motor combustion chamber. This makes flipping over easier with the kickstart handle. Again, this is another difficult part to show due to the angle of the image above. The pressure relief valve is usually located on top of the engine. It's essentially the button you press before starting the chainsaw; once the motor is running, it should automatically shut off.

The muffler is located at the front of the engine, just above the guide rod. Placing this location helps keep the exhaust away from the user.

The air filter is usually hidden under the air filter cover. It should be cleaned regularly to ensure proper air flow to the carburetor. You can usually find this by removing the top cover on the motor.

The location of the choke may vary by brand. However, if using a pneumatic chainsaw, it is usually located close to the kick start handle. It works by regulating the flow of air that affects the fuel-air mixture, helping you get your motor going.

For chainsaws with primer bulbs, they are usually located just above or around the pull-start handle. Simply pump the bulb to fill the engine with gasoline.

Like I already mentioned, with so many brands making chainsaws, there are bound to be some differences. The differences are especially large when comparing pneumatic chainsaws to electric chainsaws. Remember, safety is the most important part of using a chainsaw!

Use this guide as a simple introductory point and expand your personal knowledge of chainsaw parts as needed. If you want to buy chainsaw parts, welcome to contact us.

Hustil is a custom garden tool spare parts manufacturer with 19 years experience. We manufacture almost all aluminum and plastic parts ourselves. And provide VIP users with a full range of accessories search query, garden tool installation and replacement, after-sales service.