Chainsaw maintenance: Everything you need to know about servicing your chainsaw
Your chainsaw has been designed and built to withstand the toughest conditions, however, regular chainsaw maintenance will preserve its exceptional performance.
26.11.2024
Overview: chainsaw care & maintenance
- Your chainsaw needs regular maintenance; clean and inspect after each use
- Follow recommended intervals for long-term maintenance tasks
- Full care and maintenance guide available in the operating instructions
- Ask an authorized STIHL dealer to perform complex maintenance tasks
- Dealers can assist with model-specific questions and maintenance services
- Benefit from STIHL’s 2+1 warranty by having your tool dealer-inspected within two years
- Store your chainsaw correctly for optimal preservation
To maintain the performance and life of your chainsaw, we recommend that you service and clean it before and after each use. Other maintenance is also required at specified intervals. Detailed information on all maintenance procedures and intervals can be found in the operating instructions. If you have any questions, please contact your STIHL dealer.
- Inspect for visible damage or loose parts.
- Check guide bar, chain, chain catcher, and controls (throttle, choke, stop switch).
- Test chain brake and confirm chain is sharpened and tensioned.
- Ensure proper chain lubrication and no fuel leaks.
- Verify fuel and oil caps are secure.
After Use:
- Clean shavings and dust from the chainsaw.
- Wipe down guide bar, sprocket nose, oil channels, fins, and filters.
- Flip and deburr the guide bar when changing or sharpening the chain.
- Recheck chain tension and lubrication, especially after breaking in a new chain.
The cost of servicing a chainsaw varies depending on the model, age and specific maintenance required. For example, a standard chainsaw service can range from $20 for minor maintenance to $200 including parts and labour. This typically covers tasks such as changing bar and chain lubricant, draining and flushing the fuel tank, checking or replacing the fuel and air filters, and sharpening or replacing the chain.
For an accurate quote tailored to your specific chainsaw model and condition, it's best to contact your local STIHL dealer. They will be able to give you detailed information on the service options and associated costs.
Did you know that the advantageous 2+1 warranty applies to all STIHL power tools for private use that are checked by a dealer before the end of the second year after purchase? Ask your dealer about this service.
Chainsaw maintenance intervals
We recommend performing chainsaw maintenance or cleaning your tool before and after every use. Doing this will help to ensure that your chainsaw always provides the very best cutting performance and will last for many years to come. There are various additional maintenance measures that you also need to carry out at different intervals. You can find detailed information about all of these maintenance measures and intervals in the owner's manual for your tool. If you are unsure of anything, contact your STIHL dealer.
Regular chainsaw maintenance: measures each time you use your chainsaw
- Before using your chainsaw, check it is safe. Start with a visual check: can you see any damage on the chainsaw or its controls? Are the guide bar, saw chain, chain catcher and other accessories correctly fitted? If a repair is needed, take the chainsaw to a dealer to look at.
- Test the throttle trigger, throttle trigger lockout, choke knob, stop switch, master control lever (subject to model).
- Test whether the chain brake is working.
- Check the condition of the saw chain (does it need further maintenance in terms of sharpness and chain tension?) and the chainsaw guide bar.
- Is the chain properly lubricated?
- Check whether the fuel tank cap and the oil tank cap are sealed.
- There must not be any fuel leaking from the chainsaw.
- After use, clean the chainsaw and remove any shavings and dust.
Periodic chainsaw maintenance measures for long-term chainsaw care
- Clean the guide bar (the sprocket nose, the oil inlet hole, the oil outlet channel and the bar groove), the chain sprocket cover, the cylinder fins and the inside of the shroud and the filter cover.
- We recommend turning over and, if necessary, deburring the guide bar each time you change or sharpen the chain.
- After breaking in a new saw chain, check the chain tension and make sure the chain is always lubricated.
Ongoing chainsaw maintenance is key
Cleaning after every use is the most important chainsaw maintenance measure to keep your chainsaw in great condition. That’s because it picks up resin, sawdust and other substances which, in combination with the chain lubricant, can soon cause real problems: resin accumulates and hardens, and can eventually make its way into the housing and guide bar, or onto the pulley. Our advice is that you all traces of resin from the bar and housing at the earliest possible opportunity. We recommend you make STIHL Varioclean part of your maintenance routine when cleaning your chainsaw.
Electric, battery or petrol: chainsaw care & maintenance overview
Electric chainsaw maintenance
Electric chainsaws have a simpler construction than petrol tools, so they require fewer cleaning and maintenance steps:
- Remove shavings and dust from the whole chainsaw (use a soft brush, paintbrush or STIHL resin solvent)
- Clean the sprocket area with a damp cloth or STIHL resin solvent
- Clean the bar groove
- Remove any burrs forming on the bar groove
- Clean the chainsaw ventilation slits with a paintbrush
Use a STIHL guide bar leveller to remove burrs from the guide bar.
Battery chainsaw maintenance
As well as the measures listed above, if you have a battery chainsaw we recommend some additional measures:
- Remove foreign bodies from the battery slot and clean the battery slot with a damp cloth.
- Clean the electrical contacts in the battery slot with a paintbrush or soft brush.
Petrol chainsaw maintenance
If you have a petrol chainsaw, there are a few other maintenance considerations to keep in mind:
- Check that the fuel and chain lubricant tanks are sealed and that no fuel or lubricant is leaking from them.
- Regularly clean the air filter and the air filter housing.
- Check the spark plug for wear and remove any soot on a regular basis.
Top tip: Good cleaning, chainsaw care and maintenance will keep your chainsaw in great working order – which helps you to work safely. Dirty air filters and spark plugs can impair performance and accelerate wear. If maintenance of these components is neglected for long, you may find it difficult to start your chainsaw and notice a significant drop in performance. Talk to your local STIHL dealer if you spot any problems or are overdue a chainsaw service.
Operating instructions for STIHL chainsaws
Download the operating instructions for your STIHL chainsaw here at your convenience.
