How to Maintain Your STIHL Chainsaw

Maintenance Intervals & Regular Tasks

We recommend performing maintenance or cleaning your tool before and after every use; this helps ensure your chainsaw always provides the best cutting performance and lasts for many years. There are various additional maintenance measures you also need to carry out at different intervals — you'll find detailed information about these in the operating instructions for your tool. If you're unsure of anything, contact us for help.

Every 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.
• Test the throttle trigger, throttle trigger lockout, choke knob, stop switch and master control lever (subject to model).
• Test to make sure 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, and that there's no fuel leaking.
• After use, clean the chainsaw and remove any shavings and dust.

Periodic Maintenance for Long-Term Care

• Clean the guide bar (sprocket nose, oil inlet hole, oil outlet channel and bar groove), the chain sprocket cover, the cylinder fins and the inside of the shroud and filter cover.
• We recommend turning over and, if necessary, deburring the guide bar at regular intervals or when you notice signs of wear.
• After breaking in a new saw chain, check the chain tension and ensure the chain is always lubricated.

Ongoing Maintenance is Key

Cleaning after every use is the most important maintenance measure to keep your chainsaw in great condition. Resin, sawdust and other substances combined with chain lubricant can accumulate and harden inside the housing and guide bar. Remove all traces of resin at the earliest opportunity — we recommend making STIHL Varioclean part of your maintenance routine.

Electric & Cordless 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 resin solvent.
• Clean the bar groove and remove any burrs forming on it — a STIHL guide bar leveller makes this easy.
• Clean the chainsaw ventilation slits with a paintbrush.

Cordless models: remove foreign bodies from the battery slot and clean it with a damp cloth; clean the electrical contacts with a paintbrush or soft brush.

Petrol Chainsaw Maintenance

• Check that the fuel and chain lubricant tanks are sealed and that no fuel or lubricant is leaking.
• Regularly clean the air filter and the air filter housing.
• Check the spark plug for wear and remove any soot on a regular basis.

Download the operating instructions for your STIHL chainsaw here at your convenience.