How to disassemble and repair a chain saw with your own hands, the causes of the main malfunctions

A power saw is a portable mechanical tool powered by an electric motor. Most modern electric saws are universal tools that can help in solving various household problems. Let's look at the structure of electric saws, the features of their independent choice and practical use, and also get acquainted with the rating of the highest quality modern models.

Electric saw structure - what does the tool consist of?

Almost all electric chain saws that are currently on sale have an almost identical design. Their device consists of the following main parts and mechanisms:

electric motor operating from a network with a voltage of 220 Volts;
removable bar and chain with a sprocket - a saw set responsible for sawing wood;
chain tensioner and tension level regulator - mechanisms that allow you to adjust the tension of the saw element without using tools;
lubrication system - a set of parts and mechanisms responsible for distributing lubricant to the bar and chain;
chain braking system - consists of a safety relay and a protective shield that prevents the operator from injury during a kickback;
handles for comfortable work with an electric saw;
power cable;
direct drive or bevel gear – the first mechanism is provided if the electric saw motor is located in a transverse position. The second mechanism is equipped with saws with a longitudinal motor arrangement.

The conclusions of experts and practical indicators confirm that a more reliable and convenient option for use is a chain saw with a transverse motor. Its design is much better balanced, so working with it does not tire the operator so quickly.

Additional functions

Manufacturers of saws try to make their use convenient and safe. A good electric saw must have an overheating protection system, an automatic brake, a power-on lock and a soft start.

Engine overheat protection

This function protects the electric chain saw from overheating when the load is too high. A relay built into the mechanism turns off the power and prevents the saw from turning on until it cools down.

Chain brake

The chain brake (stopper) is a part of the safety system of modern models, which ensures braking of the electric saw chain when it suddenly jerks upward. This can happen if you hit a branch or log with the end of the tire. The brake lever is positioned so that when the saw is pulled up, it will hit your hand. This will immediately switch it to the stop position. To start the saw again, you will need to manually move it to the working position.

Power lock button

The power lock button is designed to protect the user from accidentally starting the saw. Even if you touch the power button, the saw will not start working. To start, you will also have to press the lock button.

Smooth engine start

The soft start system gradually accelerates the engine after starting. Even if the saw is turned on at full power, it will be easy to hold it.

What types of electric saws are there - types and descriptions

Nowadays, electric saws are used not only for work in the garden, but also as assistants in performing various household, repair and construction tasks. Depending on the area of application and functions, the following types of electric saws are distinguished:

chain saws - tools of this type are used in the garden to care for trees and prepare the required amount of firewood for heating. The working element of such saws is a saw set, which includes a bar and a chain. The market also offers garden band saws, the working part of which is a steel band instead of a chain. If necessary, to work with chain and band tools, you can use various attachments for electric saws, which will allow you to cut metal or foam concrete;

Circulating electric saws - among their main advantages is maximum cutting accuracy. Because of this, circular saws are often used around the home to make various wood and metal parts. Tools of this type can be used for cutting wood, metal, polyvinyl chloride and other materials;
jigsaw electric saws - tools of this type are intended for precise figured sawing of laminate, wood, PVC pipes and metal. Among the features of such electric saws, high vibrations of the cutting part should be highlighted. Thanks to this, when using jigsaws, longitudinal and transverse cutting of materials can be performed;

reciprocating electric saws - equipment of this kind allows you to perform repairs and cutting in hard-to-reach places. Electric reciprocating saws can cut not only wood, but also metal or foam concrete;

electric hacksaws - equipment of this kind is very similar in form and function to tools of the previous type. The only difference between them is that hacksaws are more powerful and durable, which allows them to be used for cutting harder materials.

Each of the listed types of equipment is presented on the market in models with different characteristics. Powerful tools are suitable for use in industry and construction, while small models with more modest performance can be successfully used in everyday life.

Comparison with petrol chain saws

For a correct comparison, you need to take into account the following parameters:

Autonomy of use.
Ease of maintenance.
Reliability.
Continuous operation time.
Price.

In terms of autonomy, corded chainsaws are inferior to gasoline chainsaws. Their area of action is limited by the length of the “carrying”. In addition, the electrical cable makes working at height difficult and requires constant attention (to eliminate the risk of getting caught in the chain).

In terms of ease of maintenance, electric saws are superior to gasoline ones. All their service operations come down to infrequent replacement of worn engine brushes, adding oil and tightening the chain.

The more complex a tool is, the greater the likelihood of it breaking. This rule is also true when comparing gas chain saws and electric saws. In an electric saw, as people say, “there is nothing to break.” For a gasoline analogue, performance depends on a number of factors (quality of the fuel-oil mixture, cleanliness of the air filter, condition of the spark plug).

The duration of continuous operation of gasoline saws is longer. The electric motor requires frequent stops to cool down (every 15-20 minutes). An internal combustion engine requires rest no earlier than 40-50 minutes after start-up.

Price is an important argument when purchasing. All other things being equal, gas-powered tools designed for cutting wood are more expensive than electric ones.

Finally, we note that the electric drive is more environmentally friendly than the gasoline drive. When working with an electric saw, you will not have to breathe toxic exhaust gases.

How to choose the right electric saw - tips for beginners and more

Choosing an electric saw for gardening and other household purposes is a rather difficult task, especially if the buyer does not have the experience and necessary knowledge. To choose the right tool that will meet your specific requirements, you should study a number of basic factors. Their list includes:

engine power - the higher this parameter, the larger the equipment will be. As a rule, a saw with a power of 2 kW is optimal for household needs, but we must not forget that the tool’s motor must have a certain power reserve. This is required in order to avoid excessive loads on the device motor;
the presence of a soft start function - at the moment of starting the saw, the maximum current affects it, which leads to increased wear of the engine. The soft start option allows you to avoid this and extend the life of the electric saw;
chain brake - this mechanism allows you to avoid kickback when the saw set comes into contact with the surface being cut;
an automatic lubrication system is a set of elements and mechanisms whose main task is to distribute the required amount of oil to the saw bar and chain;
12 Volt battery – the presence of this element allows you to temporarily use the tool in places remote from a direct power source.

In addition to all the listed parameters, the availability of spare parts for the selected electric saw is of great importance. In most cases, finding spare parts will not be difficult, since brushes, gears and other consumables are almost universal and are suitable for completely different electric saws. However, there are still tools on sale whose malfunctions can only be repaired using exclusively original spare parts.

Canvas size

The dimensional characteristics of the cutting part are determined by the purposes for which the unit is used. For home use, you should opt for household models with a tire length of 300-400 mm. This will be enough to quickly trim branches from growing or fallen trees and prepare firewood for the winter.

It is better for professionals to select universal devices with large tire sizes. It can be used to cut thick trees and dense materials. The differences in professional and household equipment can be seen in the photo of an electric chain saw.

Septic tank Topas - detailed review and description of technical characteristics
Petrol mower repair: overview of faults and effective methods for solving them. Photo instructions from the pros!
Garden composter - which one to choose? Review of the best views for a summer residence (100 photos)

Brands of electric chain saws - rating for quality and reliability

The market for electric saws presented today is quite large. Of course, it has its leading and outsider companies. Below we present our TOP 5 companies producing the highest quality and most reliable electric chain saws:

The world famous company Hyundai takes 5th place. The excellent characteristics of electric saws of this brand, coupled with their well-thought-out design, make the equipment of the Korean brand one of the most reliable in the world;
4th place goes to Makita. To assemble electric saws, the company uses exclusively high-quality spare parts that are ready to serve for the longest possible time;
3rd place goes to Dutch electric saws Iron Angel. Each, without exception, electric chain saw of this brand is a perfectly balanced device capable of coping with the most complex household and construction tasks;
German chainsaws from AL-KO took 2nd place. In the assortment of this brand you can find both large and powerful construction equipment and mini-electric chain saws, which allows absolutely everyone to choose the right option for themselves;
The world famous brand Stihl became the leader of our rating. Each tool of this brand is a powerful, properly balanced saw that can be used both for construction and for gardening. To produce electric saws, Stihl uses only the highest quality spare parts and actively introduces proprietary systems and mechanisms.

The brands of electric chain saws included in our rating have an excellent reputation among residents around the world. They produce exceptionally high-quality equipment, which is compared to manufacturers who are gaining popularity in the market.

TOP 10 best electric chain saws - leaders of the modern market

If you need to choose a high-quality electric saw, but you don’t have time to study its characteristics, then we offer you our rating of the most reliable models, the use of which will bring you exceptional pleasure. Our review included the following electric saws:

10th place goes to Makita BUC122RFE - this is a compact electric saw designed for various landscaping work, garden care and small construction. The electrical circuit of this model is as simple as possible, which allows you to quickly repair it yourself;

In 9th place is the Husqvarna 436 Li saw - this semi-professional model is lightweight and equipped with an effective vibration damping system. Among the disadvantages, the overpriced saw should be highlighted;

8th place is taken by the AL-KO EKS 2400/40 saw - this is a professional model that is used for longitudinal and transverse sawing of wood, as well as single cutting of trees;
The Huter ELS-2400 saw is in 7th place. The model in this modification successfully copes with sawing large beams and cutting down small trees;
6th place goes to the Makita UC3530A electric saw - this is one of the best models in the semi-professional class. Among the advantages of the saw are good balancing and excellent build quality;
in 5th place is the Makita UC4010A model - this saw is equipped with a soft start system, ergonomic rubberized handles and a keyless chain replacement mechanism;
In 4th place is the Patriot ESP 1816 saw - one of the cheapest and highest quality saws in the category of semi-professional tools. Among the advantages, we should highlight the presence of a high-quality automatic chain lubrication system;
The top three is opened by the MTD ECS 18/35 saw - the advantages of this model include the presence of a metal gear, which significantly extends the service life of the tool;

The 2nd place is occupied by the Makita UC4041A model - this saw has a high-quality assembly and high power, which allows it to be used to solve almost any household tasks. It is on the basis of this saw that all sorts of homemade units are often created;

The leader of our rating is the Bosch AKE 40 S electric saw - this is, of course, the best model in the class of semi-professional saws. It is perfectly balanced, has a soft start function and keyless chain replacement.

Our rating does not include power saws made in Ukraine or Russia. Their quality is still noticeably inferior to imported analogues, but the cost of domestic equipment is an order of magnitude lower than all the listed models.

How to use a power saw - recommendations for beginners

Proper operation and care of the electric saw are the most important factors on which the service life of the tool you choose depends. The instruction manual and a number of factors can help with this; if you adhere to them, you will be able to work with the equipment without worrying about its breakdown. The basic rules for using a saw include:

Sharpen the saw chain regularly - this will create minimal load on the tool’s motor. Chinese electric saws suffer especially badly from working with a dull chain - because of this, their engines overheat almost instantly;
store the electric saw correctly - this issue will be especially relevant for batteries, which should be stored only in a warm and dry room;
Do not use the saw under any circumstances during strong voltage drops in the network - some models of equipment are not equipped with a protective relay, which will lead to instant overheating and failure of the saw motor. The same Chinese saws suffer especially often from voltage surges;
Operate the saw only in a dry room, away from sources of water and moisture.

Compliance with all of the above recommendations will help you avoid sudden repairs of your equipment and unnecessary financial costs.

Security measures

When repairing an instrument, we must not forget about safety measures. First of all, you need to disconnect it from the power supply and do not plug it into the network until final assembly.

It is recommended to wear gloves when working with the chain and bar; this will protect your hands from cuts. When disassembling screw connections, if the screw cannot be unscrewed, you need to stop making efforts and use an aerosol lubricant like WD-40; this will relieve the tension and after a few minutes you can simply unscrew the screw.

It is also worth remembering about electrical safety; you can repair parts of electrical equipment by using only the nominal value of the parts that were originally installed.