Poulan ES350WT - Manual (Page 12)

12
CHECK FOR LOOSE FASTENERS
AND PARTS
S
Bar Clamp Nuts
S
Chain
S Bar Adjusting Screw
CHECK CHAIN TENSION
WARNING: Wear protective
gloves when handling chain. The chain
is sharp and can cut you even when it is
not moving.
Chain tension is very important. Chain
stretches during use. This is especially
true during the first few times you use your
saw. Always check chain tension each
time you use your saw.
1. Unplug unit from the power source.
2. Use a screwdriver to move chain
around guide bar to ensure kinks do
not exist. The chain should rotate
freely.
NOTE: It is recommended that the saw
be turned upside down for chain
tensioning.
3. Loosen bar clamp nuts until they are
finger tight against the bar clamp.
4. Turn the adjusting screw clockwise
until the chain solidly contacts bottom
of guide bar rail. Then, turn adjusting
screw an additional 1/4 turn. This is
correct chain tension setting.
Adjusting Screw -- 1/4 Turn
NOTE: To tighten the chain, turn the ad-
justing screw clockwise; to loosen the
chain, turn the adjusting screw counter-
clockwise.
Adjusting Screw
5. Check the tension by lifting the chain
from the guide bar. Remove some of
the stiffness in the chain by pulling
down and letting go of the chain sever-
al times.
6. Continue turning the adjusting screw
until the tension is correct (see step 4).
7. Tighten bar clamp nuts with a wrench.
8. Recheck chain tension.
WARNING: If the saw is operated
with a loose chain, the chain could jump
off the guide bar and result in serious in-
jury.
CHECK CHAIN SHARPNESS
A sharp chain makes wood chips. A dull
chain makes a sawdust powder and
cuts slowly. See CHAIN SHARPENING in
the SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENTS
section.
CHECK GUIDE BAR
Conditions which require guide bar main-
tenance:
S
Saw cuts to one side or at an angle.
S Saw has to be forced through the cut.
S Inadequate supply of oil to the bar and
chain.
Check the condition of the guide bar each
time the chain is sharpened. A worn guide
bar will damage the chain and make cut-
ting difficult.
After each use, with unit disconnected
from power source, clean all sawdust from
the guide bar and sprocket hole.
To maintain guide bar:
S
Disconnect the chain saw from the
power source.
S
Loosen and remove bar clamp nuts.
Remove bar and chain from saw.
S Clean the oil holes and bar groove af-
ter each 5 hours of operation.
Remove Sawdust From
Guide Bar Groove
Oil Holes
S Burring of guide bar rails is a normal
process of rail wear. Remove these
burrs with a flat file.
S When rail top is uneven, use a flat file
to restore square edges and sides.
Correct Groove Worn Groove
File Rail Edges
and Sides
Square
Replace the guide bar when the groove is
worn, the guide bar is bent or crack--ed, or
when excess heating or burring of the rails
occurs. If replacement is necessary, use
only the guide bar specified for your saw in
the repair parts list or on the decal located
on the chain saw.