What oil should I pour into the saw?

For most electric saw owners, it is not a big secret that the oil used to lubricate the electric saw chain is one of the main consumables. However, not everyone pays due attention to the quality of the lubricant. And it is completely in vain, since how long this product will lubricate the working surface of the chain will determine the duration of its further operation. Therefore, before pouring oil into the electric saw, it is necessary to pay attention to its technical characteristics.

What is the lubrication of the chain on the power saw

Electric saw oil is used as a chain lubricant to level the friction forces that occur and reduce heat generation. As a result, fast and smooth operation of the cutting blade is achieved. Sometimes it happens that at some stages of cutting it is necessary to make additional efforts to obtain the required cut, and this directly indicates an insufficient amount of lubricant or its not very good quality. In this case, it is recommended to immediately check the oil level in the tank or simply lubricate the circuit to complete the current work.

Most new models of chain saws have an integrated automatic system for supplying oil to the surface of the cutting element, and manual lubrication is necessary only for outdated equipment.

Main components of the lubrication system

Usually, the oil enters the chain saw lubrication system from a special tank, where it is periodically poured. From there it pushes powerful oil pumpby doing this at specific time intervals sufficient to consume the previous injection. The main task of the oil mechanism is to prevent the occurrence of such situationswhen the lubrication on the chain becomes insufficient, and as a result, a strong overheating of the cutting part is possible due to sharply increased friction forces. As a result, the chain may become dull and fail. Therefore, the oil must be constantly monitored. Usually, a power saw lubricating system consists of the following components:

• oil tank for chain lubrication;
• special oil filter;
• oil line, which is a small rubber hose that serves to supply oil from the tank;
• an oil pump to pump the lubricant from the tank to the cutting mechanism;
• special gear, through which the force is transmitted to the pump from the electric saw motor.

A tire could also be added to this list, since it has special openings for oil supply.

The principle of the chain lubrication system

As already mentioned, the main link in the lubrication system is the pump. It works as follows. With increasing engine speed gear, which is located on the main shaft, through the transmission begins the process of the pump. At this point, the pressure in the oil supply system increases, and it begins its movement in the direction of the tire.This movement ends where the saw casing is in contact with the tire, in the very same place where longitudinal groove, on which when mounting the tire, the oil channel itself is guided. This groove is required to supply lubrication to the tire at any tension level of the chain mechanism, i.e. Regardless of the position of the tire when the saw is running, the groove will provide lubrication to it. The next feed link is the chain itself. On its links there is a separate groove or hole through which the material is distributed along the length of the chain.

Automatic chain saw lubrication system

In the event of an increase in engine speed, the rate of lubricant pumping also increases. Therefore, it is recommended to pour oil into the electric saw only with the engine off.

Many modern models of electric saws, for example, Makita have built-in pumps with additional adjustment of the pass, with the help of which adjust the amount of grease supplied. In older versions of saws, this feature is usually absent. There the oil supply is carried out in a constant and unchangeable mode, or, as in the very first models, the user has to lubricate the chain manually.Those who own obsolete copies need to know how to manually lubricate the chain mechanism. It is quite simple:

• any old container is taken and filled with oil;
• The chain mechanism gently sinks into this container.

These actions should be carried out periodically as lubricant is used on the chain.

The consequences of a lack or excess of lubrication on the chain

For each mechanism, the operating mode of which is associated with lubrication based on engine oil, certain parameters must be observed. This applies primarily to the amount of oil required for its normal operation. Such problems may occur if oil is not enough:

• chain overheating;
• premature dull cutting teeth;
• chain jamming or breaking;
• additional time spent on cutting;
• increased sprocket wear;
• tire failure.

For an electric chain saw, the capacity of the oil tank is recommended to be filled in the following proportions: one full charge of oil for a full charge of the gas tank, i.e. 1: 1. In some models, for example, the Bosh lubrication system works in fully automatic mode and, if the oil on the chain becomes too much or little, the saw itself begins to regulate its flow.However, if a malfunction occurs, and the oil literally begins to flow from the chain mechanism, then an overabundance can lead to the following undesirable consequences:

• increased oil consumption;
• excessive contamination of the tool body;
• wide release of oil splashes from the chain.

As can be seen, the critical consequences excess lubricant It does not, but it will surely hit its cost overruns. Given the fact that the cost of high-quality oil for lubrication is quite high, it is better to spend it carefully.

General recommendations for the choice of lubrication for electric saws

When choosing oil for lubricating electric saws, each of the users wonders which of the options is more profitable and acceptable - special oil for chain mechanisms or ordinary machine oil? If you listen to the experts, then, of course, the first option is preferable, since the oil for lubricating the chains was specially developed taking into account the technical characteristics of the electric saw.

Under the technical characteristics refers to a certain temperature and friction of the working parts of the lubricating mechanism.

Although ordinary motor oil is cheaper than special oil, it is necessary to take into accountthat it serves absolutely for other purposes and cannot guarantee moderate wear of working parts. So you can win a little in price now, but then you have to overpay for the repair of prematurely worn out mechanisms.

Many experts recommend that a special oil grade be used to lubricate electric saws. with letter N. It is a bit more expensive, but it guarantees long and trouble-free operation of the chain. Its main advantages include:

• excellent biodegradability;
• increased adhesion;
• the presence in the composition of special additives that protect against premature wear.

Following these recommendations, you can significantly increase the life of the chain mechanism of an electric saw. However, the final choice of lubricant is always left to the user.

Browse brands from various manufacturers

Today, there are many attractive offers on the market from the most diverse manufacturers of special oils that can operate in high temperature conditions while ensuring excellent lubrication rates for the gearbox. The most popular of them are presented in the following list.

1. Forest plus has high adhesive characteristics and can be operated at ambient temperature up to - 15 ° C. Under certain conditions, the shelf life of the oil is 3 years. Sold in 1-liter and five-liter packaging. Cost of 1 l. - 330 rubles, 5 l. - 1140 rubles.
   
2. Products Bio plus produced on a plant-based. When released into the soil quickly decomposes. Oil can be used at temperatures up to - 15 ° C. Packaging - 1 and 5-liter containers. Cost of 1 l. - 360 rubles.
   

3. Synth Plus made on a synthetic basis. Maintains the raised loadings and can be applied at especially low temperatures to - 25 ° C. Packaging - 1 and 4-liter containers. Cost of 1 l. - 790 rubles, 4 l. - 2970 rubles.
   

4. Adhesive oil CHAMPION Designed to work with a wide temperature range. It is sold in 3 and 10-liter containers, which is very convenient for use in forestry. Cost 3l. - 490 rubles, 10 l. - 2200 rubles.
   
5. The product of the company HUSQVARNA Vegoil - one of the most economical solutions for the lubrication mechanism of electric saws. According to the manufacturer, the consumption of this material compared to the other is less by 40%. Cost of 1 l. - 390 rubles.
   

The use of a special oil for lubricating the chain saw mechanism will ensure its uninterrupted operation for a long time.This will allow to carry out work quickly, efficiently and with a high level of security, which ultimately will lead to significant savings in the repair and maintenance of the entire tool.