How to untangle a chainsaw chain? That may be one of the most frequently asked questions when people get a new chainsaw.
Unravelling a chainsaw chain can be extremely frustrating, particularly when it’s all knotted up.
If you do the work by yourself without any instructions, it can be quite daunting because the chain is full of razor-sharp teeth.
Luckily, you have landed on the right page.
This post will show you the quickest way to tackle the issue step by step on your own.
Let’s begin!
What Causes A Chainsaw Chain To Be Tangled?
Most chainsaw users encounter this irritating problem very often. And the chain usually becomes twisted because users separate it from the saw for storage for a long time.
Therefore, the chainsaw can not run properly.
What Should You Prepare To Untangle?
Dealing with a chainsaw with a sharp blade can be a dangerous task.
Therefore, it is necessary that you have some special tools and equipment to make the process easier and reduce the risk of getting any accidental injuries.
Let’s check out this following list of things you may need to detangle the chain safely.
Hand Protection Gloves
A pair of gloves is one of the most important things you should have to ensure your hands’ safety.
A chainsaw usually has a sharpened edge with needle-like teeth, which can stain your hands or scratch your fingernails if you don’t know how to use it properly.
Before working with the chainsaw, you’d better put the gloves on to avoid getting injured.
Remember to choose a set of working gloves that is made from cut-resistant materials like metal mesh and offers a good grip.
Protective Goggles
When you twist the chain, your sensitive eyes can easily get hurt by a flying debris or a speck of leftover dust from old corroded chainsaws.
These tiny pieces of metal can blink into the eye and deteriorate your eyesight. For that reason, it’s vital to keep your eyes protected by using safety glasses or even a face shield.
Make sure that your chosen safety spectacles are clear and durable enough to offer great protection against external impacts.
lubricating oil
This greasy fluid is commonly used for machines to mitigate the friction between metal surfaces to enhance their performance.
Applying lubricating oil on rusty chains can get rid of all corrosions and stubborn rust. From there, the untangling process will be much smoother.
Be careful when you apply the oil in each inner link of the chain or you will spill it all over the floor.
A Flat Work Surface
A wooden table that is wide and strong enough will support your work very much.
You should know that the sharp chain can cause some small scratches for the table’s surface, so we advise using a kitchen table or a workbench you no longer use.
In case you do not have any old work table, you can lay that chain on the flat ground.
Necessary Tools to untangle a chainsaw chain
Some hand tools such as a screwdriver and a hex wrench are extremely useful for getting the chain off. This toolset will help you to tighten and loosen the screws.
Don’t forget to choose the ones that are compatible with your chainsaw model.
how to untangle a chainsaw chain?
When you’re ready with all the required items, it’s time to delve into some tricks to know how to untangle a chainsaw chain.
Step 1: Detaching The Chain From The Chainsaw
Before getting started, be sure that you switched off your chainsaw.
Next, put your chainsaw gloves and goggles on. If the chain is jammed in the saw, take the toolkit you have prepared to remove the chain off.
If the chain is too rusty and tightly attached with the blade, add some lubricating oil into it. Once you get it done, spread it gently on the working table.
Step 2: Looking For The Opposite Loops
Now, you will have to find two opposite loops in your entangled chain. This step is the most challenging one, and you can easily get confused here.
When finding them, you hold those two loops and hang the entire chain down using your hands.
In this way, some small tangles can be gotten rid of effortlessly, making it much easier for you in the next steps.
Step 3: Making Those Loops Larger
At this step, your task is to make the loops as big as you can by merging smaller loops into larger ones. To do this, you repeat the way you did in the second step.
Hang the chain again with your fingers and slacken it slowly until the loops get three times bigger.
Sometimes, you need to put pressure on your chain, so watch out for its acute edges.
Step 4: Detangle The Chain
Next, you have to figure out the chain’s lowest section. It’s not too hard to discover it because it is commonly the most rigid part of the chain.
You set the chain vertically, then lift it up and let the rest of the chain untangle itself.
Thanks to the gravitational force, your chain can move freely and all the knots will be released. If a few parts may not go straight right away, pull them out by hand.
Step 5: Spread It Out On The Table
After finishing the four previous steps, you failed to detangle your chain completely, follow this final step.
You should place the whole chain on your workbench gently in a straight line, and deal with each loop instead of both loops at the same time.
Be patient because this step may be a bit time-consuming.
The untangling process ends here and your chain is ready to be placed back in the saw.
Note When Untangling
Here are several things you should pay attention to during the chain removal process.
After removing the chain from your saw, you ought to clean it and apply some lubricating oil to eliminate rust and old debris.
While you are detangling your chain, avoid twisting it too hard. If not, you may break it down or get injured.
When you finish the whole process, we advise you to run it through an electric chainsaw sharpener to enhance its performance.
If your chain is too rusty and hard to be unraveled, it’s better to buy a new one.
Read more: How To Sharpen A Chainsaw?
Remember that chainsaws are just for wood cutting, so you should not use them to cut any other materials.
Hopefully, after reading this post, you have already figured out how to untangle a chainsaw chain. And don’t forget to let us know if this technique works for you!
As long as you have any related questions and inquiries or need further information, please contact us. We are all ears!
Final Words
We have just revealed five helpful steps to help you deal with your tangled chainsaw chain.
It turns out that this task is not as complicated as we may think if we have knowledge about it and use the right tools.
The method we recommend is simple to follow and completely does not affect your cutting tool.