English
Maintaining and Sharpening the Saw Chain
Chain pitch |
| Sharpening and side plate angles |
Sawing effortlessly with a properly sharpened saw chain
A properly sharpened saw chain cuts through wood effortlessly even with very little pushing.
Never use a dull or damaged saw chain
–this leads to increased physical strain, increased vibration load, unsatisfactory cutting results and increased wear.
NClean the saw chain
NCheck the saw chain for cracks and damaged rivets
NReplace damaged or worn chain components and adapt these parts to the remaining parts in terms of shape and level of wear – rework accordingly
WARNING
Compliance with the angles and dimensions listed below is absolutely necessary. An improperly sharpened saw chain – especially depth gauges that are too low – can lead to increased kickback tendency of the chain saw – risk of injury!
a |
689BA027 KN |
The chain pitch marking (a) is embossed in the area of the depth gauge of each cutter.
Marking (a) | Chain pitch | |
| Inches | mm |
7 | 1/4 P | 6.35 |
1 or 1/4 | 1/4 | 6.35 |
6, P or PM | 3/8 P | 9.32 |
2 or 325 | 0.325 | 8.25 |
3 or 3/8 | 3/8 | 9.32 |
4 or 404 | 0.404 | 10.26 |
The diameter of file to be used depends on the chain pitch – see table "Sharpening tools".
The angles of the cutter must be maintained during resharpening.
A
B | KN |
689BA021 | |
|
ASharpening angle
STIHL saw chains are sharpened with a 30° sharpening angle. Ripping chains, which are sharpened with a 10° sharpening angle, are exceptions. Ripping chains have an X in the designation.
BSide plate angle
The correct side plate angle results automatically when the specified file holder and file diameter are used.
Tooth shapes | Angle (°) | |
| A | B |
Micro = | 30 | 75 |
e. g., 63 PM3, 26 RM3, |
|
|
36 RM |
|
|
Super = full chisel tooth, | 30 | 60 |
e. g., 63 PS3, 26 RS, |
|
|
36 RS3 |
|
|
Ripping chain, e. g., | 10 | 75 |
63 PMX, 36 RMX |
|
|
The angles must be identical for all cutters in the saw chain. Varying angles: Rough, uneven running of the saw chain, increased wear – even to the point of saw chain breakage.
44 | MS 241 |
