How to Put the Chain Back on a Worx Chainsaw

Are you a Worx chainsaw user and your chainsaw chain has come off, and you don’t know how to put back the chain? If yes, then you are definitely in the right place at the right time.

Putting chain back Worx chainsaw is quite simple as long as you know the right steps. The method essentially involves you turning the lock on the chain such that it gets used and gently removing it by your hand. Now, you should take out the new chain that you want to use and follow the same process of placing the chain and turning the lock, but this time in the opposite direction. Once it is done, you should pull the chain above the bar. Fix the chain over the bar with a gloved hand such that it is completely tensed. Lastly, you should close the chain lock and it’ll be done.

In this article, you will get to learn all about how to put chain back Worx chainsaws, the top reasons why chainsaw comes off from your Worx chainsaw, tips to keep in mind when putting the chain back, and more. Continue reading to get all the answers that you are looking for.

Put the Chain Back on Your Worx Chainsaw

If you’re a DIY-er and want to engage in woodcutting projects or just a reasonable homeowner who loves to cut firewood, a Worx chainsaw will be an essential tool. Like all machines that run on a chain as a part of its functionality, it can easily become hot and loose. It eventually leads to the chain falling or jumping out of the guide bar. Moreover, if it gets jammed with wood chippings, it may come off.

Another reason why this might be happening is if your chainsaw doesn’t have proper tension and becomes loose. When something like this happens, you will need to adjust the chain.

But did you know it is possible to put the chain back on your Worx chainsaw? Yes, this is perfectly doable and it is very easy to do. Although, it might require a particular kind of know-how to get it done with a bit of finesse and a fair amount of elbow grease. 

How to Put the Chain back on a Worx Chainsaw

The simple steps mentioned below will teach you the right method to change a chainsaw chain and install a new one. There are many reasons why your chain might come off, but if you know the right method to put it back on, then it won’t be a major cause of concern. If you have the right tools, putting back your chainsaw chain will be very easy.

1. Remove sawdust

Before you remove the chain from your chainsaw, you should make sure that all the debris and wood chippings stuck in the chain or any other part of the chainsaw are removed entirely. Make use of a wide paintbrush with a three-inch brush for cleaning all the nooks and crannies.

2. Let loose the chainsaw bar

After cleaning, you will need to take the old chain out of your chainsaw. To achieve that, you will need to make it less tight at the cutting bar. This process will vary depending on the chainsaw model. However, there are two ways you can take care of this. As mandated by the chainsaw manufacturers, those that require tools and those that do not.

For chainsaws that don’t need tools, there is a knob present on the right side of your chainsaw that should turn for expelling the bar and adjusting the chain tension.

For chainsaws that require tools, you’ll have two bolts and nuts on its side where the chainsaw body converges with the bar.

3. De-tension the chain

After you have loosened up the cutting bar, the next step would be to de-tension the chain. Look for a knob or screw in the area you have slacked the cutting bar.

Make sure that you’re wearing protective gloves so that your hands are safe from any possible cuts. Make use of a wrench for slacking up the screw or knob but don’t remove it yet.

Turn this to make the chain looser on the chainsaw bar. Now, you must make it entirely loose. This way, you will be able to remove the cutting bar completely. Keep on loosening it until it is free

4. Remove the old chain

Before you change the chainsaw blade, you need to remove it from the cutting bar first. It will still be attached to the chainsaw with a small sprocket.

Look under it for a slot where you are able to see the chainsaw chip on the sprocket. Use a screwdriver, slip it off from the sprocket slowly, and it’ll get free completely.

5. Clean the chainsaw’s internal components

Before you install the brand-new blade, you should use the same wide paintbrush for cleaning the inner parts, especially the clutch area where debris and sawdust might be stuck. Moreover, check on the grooves if there aren’t any gouges or any type of damage. It will be situated in the chain blade guide.

6. Install the new chain

Once you have removed the old chain and thoroughly cleaned the internal parts of the chainsaw, it’ll now be time to put in the new chainsaw chain.

You may be wondering which direction should the chainsaw chain go on. Or maybe more appropriately, which way should the chainsaw face on the chainsaw? 

You should know that not all chainsaw chains can work with every chainsaw model. You must check its user manual to ensure which one is the most compatible option for your chainsaw. Moreover, make a mental note of the direction the chainsaw chain rotates on the chainsaw. The information can be easily found on the chainsaw itself and some for all models.

The chain should go along on top of the bar, then go around the tip, and toward the bottom. It is important to be sure that you are setting up the new chain in the correct fashion. Moreover, make note of the direction in which the blades are sharpened, on any markings on the chain or the package to make sure that you’re doing it correctly.

7. Mount the chain

Mount the chain on the sprocket and ensure that it is parallel to the guide bar. You should look for the chain’s internal lugs that are going into the small slit on the bar.

Place it close to the chainsaw body and continue to mount it around the bar until it is snugly fit.

8. Adjust the tension

Before you start re-tensioning the guide bar, you should ensure that every lug is properly aligned in its respective slots. You shouldn’t stop the tensioning process until you have arrived at the right tensioning as mentioned by the manufacturer.

There needs to be little slack. If the gap between the bar and the chain would fit a dime, then are doing it the right way. Lastly, you need to tighten the bolt using a wrench or if it is a tool-free knob, then you should use your fingers to do it.

Chains are purchased already pre-lubricated, and add chain oil to the chainsaw before turning it on. Prompt it manually for moving forward or backward to ascertain if it is moving evenly. As your chainsaw is powered by electricity, you have to test it by inserting its plug into a socket.

Let it run slowly such that the oil lubricates the whole chain. Try to saw off a piece of wood for checking if it is sawing the right way. 

If something is obstructed or if you feel that something is wrong, you should turn it off and unplug the chainsaw from the socket to check what is wrong.

Tips to Remember When Putting Back the Chain

• Always wrap your thumb around the chainsaw handle when replacing the chain
• It’ll be better to use protective equipment such that you don’t end up hurting yourself 
• Even though replacing and substituting the chain is hassle-free, if you require any assistance, then you should ask for it
• While you’re working on your chainsaw, make sure that you’re wearing gloves so that you can keep away any dust and grime 
• Maintain proper chain tension as a loose chain will increase the risks of chainsaw kickback 
• Never let the chainsaw chain be loose as a loose chain could jump out of the guide bar, which might result in danger to the chain and injury to the operator 
• You could also use an automatic chain tensioning knob kit to double-check the chain tension
• Maintaining your chainsaw is essential after you have put back the chain

Why Does the Chain Keep Coming Off?

As a chainsaw user, you might want to know what causes the chainsaw chain to come off. If you know the reason, it will put you in a better place to put the chain back. Here are some of the reasons why your chain keeps coming off – 

1. The drive sprocket is worn-out

The drive sprocket could be the likely reason due to wear and tear, which could cause the chain to come off. Since it is the drive sprocket that engineers the propulsion of the chains on your chainsaw, chances are high that they’ll soon become worn out. Over time, worn-out drives sprocket in chainsaws will no longer maintain an ideal tensile strength of the chain, let alone hold the chain in position. With that, you can expect the blade to throw the chain off the groove when you are out working in the woods.

2. The bar heel might be worn-out

While most people can quickly adjust the chain tension when it loses grip on the guiding blade, it isn’t actually a long-term solution. The issue can be more profound, needing the involvement of a professional chainsaw servicing or repair. When you’re facing the problem that the chain keeps coming off, a worn-out bar heel could likely be the culprit. But what is a bar heel? The bar heel is a component of the chainsaw located closest to the machine’s drive sprocket.

If the bar heel wears out, it lengthens the distance the chain travels as the grooves become less effective. With increased distance, you should expect the chainsaw chain to start jumping off the guide bar.

3. Wrongly set chain tension

You might have probably thought that with more tension will likely result in better performance for your chainsaw, especially when you’re ripping firewood at full throttle. However, over-tightening the chainsaw blade isn’t the right thing to do. Neither is having the tension too loose to establish an ideal grip on the chainsaw guide bar. The catch here is that if the chain keeps coming off, you could end up asking yourself whether you have set the correct chain tension or not.

With the right chain tension, the lifespan and productivity of the bar, chain, and motor will increase. It is also noteworthy that if the chain has too much slack on it, it could very well come off. There are many ways you can test chain tension, with the best option being the dime method.

For proper tension, you should pull the tension chain and take note of the drive links. If the drive links remain intact, everything will be set and ready for sawing. In layman’s language, when you’re pulling off the chain from the guide bar and notice a gap in between, it’ll be all good. However, you must take note that the gap isn’t too big, as it can mean improper tension. Chains that are too tight to move won’t rip wood effectively, even if you’re powering the chainsaw at full throttle. Further, the danger of chain snapping will always be there.

4. The bar rails might be in poor condition

The problem with the chainsaw chain that keeps coming off doesn’t end with a worn-out drive sprocket, bar heel, or improper chain tension. There is also a chance that the chainsaw blade keeps coming off, as the bar rails might be in poor condition.

You should start by admitting that of all the chainsaw components, the bar rails take a serious beating throughout the lifespan of the machine, especially when you’re out in the woods sawing for hours. Among other things that threaten the lifespan of your saw’s bar rail will be working at full-throttle, in which case the chain is sipping at very high speed. There’s always a possibility of accidentally cutting into the earth.

A damaged bar rail will result in more trouble for your powerful chainsaw. The most notable outcome will be that the drive links of your chainsaw will lose their grip on the guide bar. With that, you should expect the chainsaw chain to come off the bar very often.

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