Some yard work stops when the weather turns cold. But not wood cutting. Whether you’re cutting firewood or trimming broken branches after a winter storm, your chainsaw can see quite a bit of winter use.
Chainsaws require special maintenance when you’re working in cold weather. If the temperature where you live drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll need to change some things about how you use and maintain your saw.
Switch The Shutter
If your chainsaw has a winter/summer shutter, change it to the winter setting when the temperature is under 40 degrees. This activates the carburetor pre-heater system. Without this system, the carburetor can ice in cold weather. That will make your saw run poorly, and could even lead to major engine failure.
Use The Right Oil
Check your owner’s manual to see if you need to use a different bar and chain oil for winter cutting. It might recommend using a thinner lubricant that won’t slow the chain down in cold weather. Some oils work in all temperatures, but others are designed specifically for warm or cold weather use.
Keep Fuel Fresh
If you’ll be using your chainsaw frequently, the fuel probably won’t have time to spoil. But if you’ll be using the saw infrequently you need to make sure the fuel isn’t going stale. Stale fuel can gum-up things inside your saw. Make sure you either use fuel that doesn’t contain Ethanol or add a fuel stabilizer when you purchase the fuel.
Watch The Chain
Temperature fluctuations can affect chain tension. Remember to keep an eye on that and adjust the chain as needed. Also, if you’re cutting frozen wood you need to keep in mind that it will dull the chain faster than usual. Stihl suggests “you may want to decrease the saw chain’s filing angle by five degrees. Decreasing the chain’s angle increases cutting performance in frozen woods and decreases the wear to your guide bar and saw chain.”
Beware Ice and Snow
If you’re cutting when there is ice and snow, there are a few extra things to think about. Make sure that the sprocket cover, anti-vibration system, throttle trigger, and cooling air intake stay free of snow and ice. You’ll also need to make sure snow doesn’t fall in the tank when you refuel.
Stay Cautious
Remember to wear close-fitting clothing and tuck-in the trailing ends of scarves when you’re using a chainsaw. You don’t want the extra layers you’re wearing because of the cold to get caught in the saw. Also, if you’re working on ground covered in ice or snow wear boots with good traction so you won’t slip. And remember to wear eye and face protection, especially when cutting frozen wood since it’s more likely to splinter.
Keep Up With Maintenance
If you want your saw to keep cutting well in the cooler weather, you’ll need to keep up with regular maintenance as well. Keep the saw clean, sharpen or replace chains as-needed, and replace or clean filters and spark plugs. If you need some extra help with maintenance, bring it in to our technicians. And if you’re looking for a new saw, we can help with that, too.
