Chainsaw Bogs Down When Cutting (Explained)
Clogging of the air filter/fuel line, untidy carburetor and damaged spark plug, etc. can cause a chainsaw to bog down when cutting. Cleaning the air filter and spark arrestor with water and soap can solve the issue in most cases.
The Author
A bogged-down chainsaw is a prominent issue; that kills the precious time on completion of woodworking projects.
There are so many factors involved in a situation of chainsaw bogs down when cutting, such as improper ratio in the fuel mix, untidy carburetor, clogging of the air filter, and poor maintenance.
In this article, the causes and the proposed solution are discussed.
9 Ways To Fix Chainsaw Bogs down
For the adjustment of the Carburetor, you should follow the three tips for better results.
Cleaning Air Filter And Spark Arrestor
Before you move forward to adjust the Carburetor, the vital thing to do is clean the air filter and the spark arrestor.
It is essential, or you can say that it is necessary, to clean both because if either of both remains unclean or dirty, the chances of solving the problem will be minimal.
Water and soap can do cleaning action. If still cloudy, then a brush can be used as well.
Cleaning the Air Filter:
- Remove the air filter cover: Unscrew or unclip the air filter cover to access the air filter. The location of the air filter and the method of removal may vary depending on the chainsaw model.
- Inspect the air filter: Check the air filter for dirt, debris, or damage. If the filter is heavily clogged or damaged, it may need to be replaced instead of cleaned.
- Clean the air filter: If the air filter is dirty but still in good condition, you can clean it by tapping it gently on a hard surface or using compressed air to blow out the debris. Be careful not to damage the filter during this process.
- Reinstall the air filter: Once the air filter is clean and dry, place it back into the air filter housing and secure the air filter cover.
Cleaning the Spark Arrestor:
- Locate the spark arrestor: The spark arrestor is a small screen or mesh located on the muffler or exhaust port of the chainsaw. Consult your chainsaw’s manual or the manufacturer’s website for the exact location of the spark arrestor on your model.
- Remove the spark arrestor: Depending on the chainsaw model, you may need to unscrew or unclip the spark arrestor to remove it for cleaning. Some spark arrestors can be cleaned in place without removal.
- Clean the spark arrestor: Use a brush, such as a toothbrush or small wire brush, to gently scrub the spark arrestor screen. You can also use a mild part washing solvent to help remove any stubborn debris. Ensure that the screen is thoroughly cleaned and free from any blockages.
- Reinstall the spark arrestor: If you removed the spark arrestor for cleaning, place it back into its original position and secure it with the appropriate screws or clips.
The High-Speed Screw Of Carburetor
An amount of fuel enters the combustion chamber when the third screw operator opens.
Conversion of all the energy does not take place.
The remaining unburnt power acts as a source for smoke production.
This smoke is responsible for the revolving of the air filter and sparking plug.
The solution is to shut the third screw of the Carburetor, but this could be very dangerous for the engine.
If the mixture is too slanted, the engine will be overheated.
Adjustment Of Carburetor
Fill the tank, start the Chainsaw and wait a few minutes until it warms up.
Adjust low speed between two points where the engine starts. We need to place a digital Tachometer near the sparking plug.
Try the 3rd screw to turn clockwise. Look for the adjustment at which engine sounds best.
Also, the speed recorded should be lower than the maximum suggested rate in RPM units.
Check the plug
If the chainsaw loses power and stops when cutting trees, you need to check the plug.
Make sure that the plug of the chainsaw is healthy.
If it is not, replace it with a healthy plug to make this tool function properly.
Wash the spark arrester
After cleaning the air filter, you need to wash the spark arrester with wire brush, as washing of spark arresters will remove the dirt and chainsaw will start working again efficiently.
Check the fuel lines:
After that you are supposed to check the fuel lines.
When the shape of the fuel lines is disturbed then it affects the working of chainsaw.
So make sure that the lines of the fuel should be in good shape .
Holes and cracks also cause bogging so they should be cleared immediately.
Quality and quantity of the oil:
Sometimes the use of low quality oil is causing this problem of bogging when cutting.
So, use the Quality oil” to fix this problem of bogging.
Besides, the quantity of oil also matters.
A moderate amount of oil and fuel should be there in the engine to work the chainsaw efficiently.
Cooling paths:
Hot weather can also disturb the functioning of chainsaw when cutting. The tool loses power when it is over heated .
So, ensure the clearance of the cooling paths. It can also be helpful to fix the problem at once.
Check the load:
Chainsaw bogs down sometimes because of overloading.
So balancing the load can also resolve this issue, and the tool starts functioning normally.
The causes
The working of a combustion system relies on the extent of mixing of air with other mixtures like Oil and Gas.
There are countless factors involved in chainsaw bogging down in which most of it deal with access of air or fuel.
Some of the most prominent factors are:
Improper Gas-to-Oil Ratio
If user’s chainsaw is bogging down than this is often a sign of improper gas-to-oil ratio.
If there is too much gasoline in relation to the amount of oil used, this is known as a rich mixture and hence caused the chainsaw to run in an irregular manner.
Under the situation of bogging down the chainsaw; includes the factor of improper gas to oil ratio.
In case of extra concentration of gasoline with respect to oil mixture, this particular situation doesn’t allow the smooth working of chainsaw.
In order for smooth working, chainsaw must operate on following gas to oil ratios:
- 30:1
- 40:1
- 50:1
In case of improper mixture of fuel than user must replace it with correct concentration of mixture.
During the fuel mixture of chainsaw, user must mix gasoline into oil.
Carburetor Problems
Carburetor is another prominent issue of chainsaw bogged down.
The carburetor is most dominant component of chainsaw’s engine that estimate the correct mixture of fuel and oil to air; in combustion system.
In case of presence of debris, the carburetor would not be working properly in order to smooth function of chainsaw’s engine.
Overheating is also important factor; user must repair the chainsaw in order to secure the engine from mechanical damage.
The Responsibility Of Carburetors
There is a sufficient amount of air and fuel required in the cylinder.
If air and fuel not being enough in the cylinder, the two-cycle engine in the Chainsaw does not work efficiently.
As a result, the power of the saw reduces.
A carburetor is responsible for the regulation of fuel and air in the cylinder.
It usually comes up with three adjustment screws. Following are the great functions of a carburetor.
- One is responsible for controlling the fuel mixture in case of any idling.
- Another one takes care of it when the engine is operating at a low speed.
- The last one is responsible when the engine is running at high speed.
Clogged Air Filter
Due to poor air circulation, chainsaws bogging down.
It is usually caused by clogged air filter on the chainsaw.
If user is trying to troubleshoot a bogging chainsaw, it’s a good to check the air filter and clean it.
Many chainsaws troubleshoot experts are usually discourage to adjust the carburetor.
Maintenance and Chainsaw Bogging
It is noticed that due to poor maintenance system, chainsaw ends up with bogging issue.
It is highly recommended by the experts to inspect different components of chainsaws throughout the season, in order to avoid serious or permanent engine malfunction.
Moreover, to keep the chainsaw maintained and free from malfunction; user must clean the chainsaw, use stabilized gas and sharpen the blades.
Final Thought
This article elaborated the causes that could be faced by the user while using the chainsaw and also presented the proposed solutions in order to cope up the issues of chainsaw bogs down.
However, it’s quite easy to cope up these issues and to safe the precious time is ultimate goal of user as well as to avoid any serious injury.
