WARNING:
The saw chain is very sharp, always wear pro-
tective gloves when performing maintenance
to the chain to prevent serious personal injury.
Properly tension the chain prior to sharpening.
Refer to Adjusting the Chain Tension earlier in
this manual. Do all of your filing at the mid-point
of the bar.
Use a 5/32 in. diameter round file and holder.
Keep the file level with the top plate of the tooth.
Do not let the file dip or rock.
Using light but firm pressure, stroke towards the
front corner of the tooth.
Lift file away from the steel on each return
stroke.
Put a few firm strokes on every tooth. File all left
hand cutters in one direction. Then move to the
other side and file the right hand cutters in the
opposite direction. Occasionally remove filings
from the file with a wire brush.
WARNING:
Improper chain sharpening increases the poten-
tial of kickback, which can result in serious
personal injury.
WARNING:
Failure to replace or repair damaged chain can
cause serious injury.
NOTICE:
A dull or improperly sharpened chain can cause
excessive engine speed during cutting, which
may result in severe engine damage.
TOP PLATE FILING ANGLE
See Figure 35.
CORRECT 30° - File holders are marked with
guide marks to align file properly to produce
correct top plate angle.
LESS THAN 30° - For Cross Cutting.
MORE THAN 30° - Feathered Edge Dulls Quickly.
MAINTENANCE
CORRECT TOP PLATE
CORRECT SIDE
PLATE FILING
SIDE PLATE ANGLE
See Figure 36.
CORRECT - 80° Produced automatically if cor-
rect diameter file is used in file holder.
HOOK - "Grabs" and dulls quickly. Increases
potential of KICKBACK.
Results from using a file with diameter too small,
or file held too low.
BACKWARD SLOPE - Needs too much feed
pressure, causes excessive wear to bar and
chain.
Results from using a file with diameter too large,
or file held too high.
27 - English
INCORRECT TOP PLATE FILING
FILING ANGLE
THAN 30°
30°
INCORRECT SIDE PLATE
ANGLE
HOOK
80°
ANGLE
LESS
MORE
THAN 30°
Fig. 35
FILING ANGLE
BACKWARD
SLOPE
Fig. 36