Why is my chainsaw sparking?
Well, keep reading because that’s exactly what I’ll be going over in this post.
So let’s get straight into it!
I’ll be going over the reasons why a chainsaw is sparking and how to fix the issue and prevent it from happening again.
It is not normal for your chainsaw to start throwing sparks, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that there is something wrong going on with it yet.
While it does not signify that your chainsaw has received critical damage, sparks from a chainsaw is a problem that should be addressed as fast as possible as it could lead to wear and tear of the saw.
There’s an issue with the wood
One reason why your chainsaw is throwing sparks is that the wood you are processing is hard for the saw to handle. It is a well-known fact that some woods are harder than others. This would bring about a lot of strain on the chain, bar, pinching, and saw.
It could also be that the tree has something unnatural inside of it. To be more specific, during the initial growth stages of the tree, some wire could have grown into it. So, all it takes is the littlest contact from your saw, and then the sparks start flying.
To fix this, all you have to do is thoroughly check the kind of wood you are processing; you can inspect the area of the tree you want to cut. Ensure your chainsaw is capable of cutting the wood before you proceed.
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Inspect the saw
Run a full inspection of the saw as there might be an internal issue. Ensure that there is proper chain tensioning as there shouldn’t be too much snag between the bar and the actual chain.
This would lead to the sparking of your chainsaw as it would budge too much and clash during motion.
Clean out the sprocket nose if it’s been long since you did that. With time, the sprocket nose, in addition to the gliding path along which a chain glides during cutting, could get sticky and greasy.
This could impact the chainsaw’s sawing parts, causing them to grind each other, which would cause sparks.
Take off the chain and clean the groove around the bar. If sawdust accumulates in the groove, oil won’t be able to get around the bar. The holes near the bar adjustment slot also have to be sawdust free.
If your chainsaw comes with a roller tip, then ensure you grease the tip. You can use a needle adapter to grease the rollers as there is a grease hole on the side near the tip.
After trying to start the saw, remove the spark plug and check if it’s wet. If yes, then you would probably need carb work as it is probably flooding.
Ensure you top off the oil and also lubricate all the needed parts correctly. Generally, what this step aims to achieve is to make sure the chainsaw is fully functional in terms of maintenance. Also, carry out regular maintenance on your chainsaw to ensure it is always cutting in optimal shape.
Dirty bark
A very important thing to keep in mind is that it’s required that you rule out the possibility that the tree you are trying to fell, buck, or cut is dirty at all.
It is not necessarily visible that dirt is the cause as the wind can blow a lot of small rocks, sand, and other debris on a tree during its lifetime.
The bark of a tree is made up of small crevices, and that’s where the debris gets stuck. This is sufficient to cause sparks from your chainsaw.
There’s not much you can do about this. While you might have the time and liberty to take off the tree’s bark first, you might not have the will to do the same for the cords of logs you have.
However, if this is the cause of your chainsaw’s sparks, it doesn’t come as much of a danger. This is because it is not causing any damage to the saw itself.
But, you would need to continuously re-sharpen and replace the chain more often.
The way you use the saw
It could be that you twist the bar while cutting. You’re meant to allow the weight of the saw to do the cutting; for that, you would need to get the angle of the cut right and avoid muscling your way through the cut.
The friction between the chain and the bar is increased if you twist while cutting, the same if you push down on the saw. This would send sparks and tiny bits of metal shavings flying.
To avoid this, try to keep your grip firm and have a soft bend as you keep your arms straight and loose. Pay attention to your left-hand placement before you cut, as it should be around the middle of the wrap bar.
Since you can’t redirect when you are cutting, ensure you line up your cut perfectly before proceeding. Make sure you do not push down on the saw, as you should always dangle it.
Conclusion
Your chainsaw could be sparking because there’s a foreign object stuck in the wood such as a nail and the bark could be dirty. The chain’s tension could be too tight or too loose, there should be a slight gap when you pull the chain. A bent bar can also cause sparks.
Hope you found what you were looking for in this post.
Happy sawing!
– Adam
