I need help!!

[jbone]

HI,

I am the training officer for a volunteer fire dept. I have long wanted to go over (in depth) the care and maintenance of chainsaws, as well as some of the do's and donts when operating them. I dont know a whole lot about them but I feel pretty confident in the subject. Anyhow; I am looking for some good pointers on the basic maintenance and care for the saws, and their use. Such as storage, knowing when/how to sharpen the chains, mixing the gas, replacing chains, tightening chains, safety, etc. So I came to probably the best place to get this advice on this subject. I dont want to get too complicated however. Most of these guys dont know much about chainsaws aside from using them. So if you guys have any tips, or know of any place to get reallygood info on them I would appreciate it. Thanks alot, and happy holidays!!!!

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Honestly, for info that basic and broad based, you could get pretty much what you want from a saw's owner's manual. Everything you just asked is covered in there.

Welcome to AS.

Jeff

 

[mattinky]

* Always use a high quaility two-stroke oil
* Always use a high quality bar oil, and use winter oil if it's cold out
* Keep your air filter clean REPEAT Keep your ail filter clean
* Keep your saw clean - after use take the covers off and clean the sawdust out of it
* Keep your chain(s) sharp - dull chains are hard on your saw!
* Keep the ridges filed off of your bar and flip it over every now & then. Some bars can't be flipped over however
* I use Sta-Bil gas stabilizer in my saws when they're sitting in the off season and start them from time to time too

These are just a few points off the top of my head, I'm sure the others will come up with more, and like Jeff said read the manual, there's a lot of good info in most all of them.... Matt

 

[SawTroll]

Honestly, for info that basic and broad based, you could get pretty much what you want from a saw's owner's manual. Everything you just asked is covered in there.

Welcome to AS.

Jeff

That is true.

You will also find lots of relevant info if you check out the links in the "sticky" referense treads on top of the page,
I would start with Huskys and Stihls web-sites.
They also contain links to user manuals.

 

[Stihl #1]

You can order a 63 min DVD from STIHL, called Chain Saw Safety, Maintenance, and Operation. It is also available in Spanish. They cost $5, call 800 732 0054 to get it.
The first 20 pages or so of all STIHL owner's manuals is a safety manual, which can also be ordered separately as just a safety manual. There are available for chain saws, trimmers and brushcutters, hedge trimmers, and cut-off machines.
There is also a very good training manual from a guy in Hawaii, offered through
an arborist group, but it is at work so I don't have the info. I think I paid about $40 for it so it is a little pricey to give out to a group.Let me know if you want
more info on it and I will post when I get to the office on Jan 2.
I have a list of safety websites at work too, so will add them then as well.

 

[ehgauss]

Stihl website

Try www.sthilusa.com/information/info_tips.html. They have a number of informational bulletins regarding safety, techniques, and maintenance that can be downloaded. I've printed a couple out for my own use. (I've been a member of our volunteer fire company for 43 years, and was for a time Training Officer (Captain). Currently serving as Fire Police Officer.) Keep up the good work. Gene Gauss

 

[jbone]

Guys, thanks a lot for the help I will definitely look into the owners manuals, and the videos.

 

[RiverRat2]

I would think that in the fire service you have a special need!!!

If you have to use the saw in a house roof/wall etc... IMHO you need to do extra inspection and maint... by that I mean if you use it NOT IN Tree service the nails/ metal pipes etc in the house fire environment introduce the need for added maint...If you guys take out a wall or whatever when it gets back ti the station house inspect the chain/ if alls goodit still sharp no busted teeth fine reuse it if not keep a spare ofr a couple anyway, pull the side cover look of nails or forigen debris, v elect. wire staples etc. make sure nothing out of ordinary fire it up and make sure the oiler is working, Id be willing to bet the local dealer would be glad to show you guy s how to sevice it out and if there is no one @ the station house that can figure out how to sharpen and service chain than have the dealer sharpen your spares keep fresh plug in the box plus a scrench as stated before thje owners manual is a great place to start,,,, Good luck :greenchainsaw:

 

[jbone]

again thanks fr the input. We do have a couple guys that are pretty handy w/ saws but the problem is they have at least one full time job and families to take care of so they are hardly around. I plan on slowly teaching everyone at the firehouse how to maintain them starting with the basics. I also have a friend of mine who is going to show me some of the stuff that I dont know.

I have one more question though: Is it possible to sharpen carbide chains? I have never had any experience with their maintenance. I hope so. the chains for some of the saws are $150+. It would be a shame if they werent.

Thanks again!

 

[Just Mow]

Another option would be to get in contact with the local Stihl rep for your area. If you explain to him what you are doing I am sure he will educate you for your presentations. And if unable to the video as noted above is a great training item as well.
Welcome to the site.

 

[Kenskip1]

Jbone, being an active member in my local fire department I will tell you my experiance. One, dump the old mix and put in fresh every month. With the saw sitting inside the truck and just sitting their you are asking for problems.Two, in your case as well as mine a safety chain will help the less experianced fireman in case they happen to hit a nail or something. Three, DO NOT, let someone thighten the chain until after it has had a chance to cool off.As the chain warms up with norman thermal dianiacs the chain WILL expand. This is perfectly normal. As the chain cools, it will contract. And lastly, do not over tighten the bar nuts. This will most surely break one off and a costly trip to your dealer.When you get into a situation try and let the saw warm up before you and your volunteres use the saw.A warmed up saw will operate better for all those using it than a cold one.One final note, Make sure the men know what the chain brake is for. Some will burn a good clutch to nothing with out this valuable bit of information, Ken

 

[jbone]

thanks again! keep the tips coming.

Are these saws designed to be stored standing up or on their side? I have heard two different things. Does it even matter? Some people tell me it doesnt, and others say its prevents gas/bar oil from leaking(while on its side).

Where can I find the most information on the components of the chains? I do want to explain in detail what each piece of the chain does to help cut, prevent kickback, etc.

 

[Stihl #1]

STIHL has a diamond ceramic wheel that will sharpen carbide chain on a USG grinder, and I assume other vendors have something similar. this wheel is very expensive, list around $500 if memory serves. So if you can find a dealer that has one he will charge more to sharpen the carbide chain, but it will be less than replacing it. The new chain on the STIHL rescue saw did hold up better in testing than the Rapco chain, but that is according to testing STIHL did. I have not tried them myself. I have used the new chain to cut through a piece of metal, tar, fiberglass roofing material. Went like it was butter. i also saw a video of it cutting through 2" reinforced glass for the bullit train in Germany, pretty impressive. This saw is set up for rescue personell and is safer than trying to use a cut-off saw.

 

[stihltech]

training

Yes, ask the Stihl rep about training. They will usually come out for a group.

 

[jbone]

well hopefully husqvarna will have the same wheel or I hope I can find a dealer that can do it (dont really have many around here). the saw is made by a company called tempest technologies, we have about 4-5 of these:
http://www.tempest-edge.com/saws/ventmaster.htm I wonder if I can get parts for the chains b/c some of the "teeth"-(I think they're actually called rakes?) are broken on a couple of the chains. We do have spares but I really would like to be able to replace parts on these chains. (they arent cheap)

 

[WRW]

If they are what I think they are, three new teeth are about all you can get without exceeding the cost of a new chain. You can scavenge teeth from another chain...either way, all teeth should be sharpened to the same length.

Cutters edge (do a search) has the least kickback tendencies of the fire service chains, but there is a trade-off.

 

[ehgauss]

Perhaps a little help for you

Stihl has a good bulletin on chain maintenance that also describes the functions and features of each of the components of a chain. See http://www.stihllibrary.com/pdf/SharpAdvice110606.pdf. I printed it out to study it carefully. You could make enough copies to pass around for a training session. That technique works as well as videos in our Volunteer Fire Company because it permits more interaction as we go. Gene Gauss

 

[Stihl #1]

training material

http://www.stihlusa.com/information/info_lit_video.html
link to order the STIHL Chain Saw Safety, Operation & Maintenance DVD, $4.99
and other downloads

Chain Saw Safety and Field Maintenance, A Photo Guide Kevin Eckert
ISBN 0-9729540-0-7 2003
http://www.arborglobal.com/training/default.htm
excellent training manual and guide, Spanish included, about $40

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/logging/userguide/userguide.html
Logging Advisor Home Page Scope and Application
Developing a Site Safety and Health Plan
Complete OSHA Logging Standard
Glossary
Bibliography
Credits

http://www.oregonchain.com/tech/tech_safety.htm
general safety and maintenance info

http://www.nptc.org.uk/assessment-schedules/
from the UK: Chainsaw and Related Operations

http://www.mytreelessons.com/Flash/ChainsawSafety/ChainsawUse.htm
large download on safety

 

[keith c raymond]

Look for forestapps.com.This is Tim Ards site.He is sponsored by Husky and others.His training is first rate and he does this all over the country.