Try to use as much fuel as you can before you clean a gas-powered chainsaw so you don’t have as much to dump out.

Set a towel on your work surface if you need help keeping your chainsaw steady.

Wear thick work gloves before you handle the chain since it’s sharp.

If you’ve got stubborn residue or can’t reach sawdust with your brush, then try using compressed air to blow it out.

You can instead use a thin screwdriver if you don’t have a putty knife. If your chainsaw’s guide bar is sticky with sap or dirt, wipe it with a rag damp with soapy water or spray it with a degreaser.

If your chainsaw is really gunked up, then use household lye instead of ammonia. [8] X Research source Lye can seriously irritate your skin, nose, and eyes, so wear gloves and safety glasses when you work with it. [9] X Research source Avoid mixing ammonia with other cleaners that contain bleach since it could create toxic fumes.

Leaving cleaning chemicals on your chainsaw chain could cause damage over time, so make sure you rinse them off thoroughly. If the cutting edges look dull, it may be time to sharpen the chain.

Keeping your chainsaw chain and bar lubricated is important to minimize wear and tear on your chain and extend the life of your chainsaw. Spraying a lubricant like WD40 on your chain may also work if you don’t have chainsaw oil.

If the chain hangs loose on the guide bar, readjust the chain tension with the adjustment screw before you use your saw.

If there are stubborn sticky spots, then spray a degreaser onto your cloth and work it into the grime to break it up.

Only gas-powered chainsaws have air filters, so you don’t need to worry about cleaning one on an electric model. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/8/82/Clean-a-Chainsaw-Step-12Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Clean-a-Chainsaw-Step-12Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/8/82/Clean-a-Chainsaw-Step-12Bullet1. jpg/aid10472789-v4-728px-Clean-a-Chainsaw-Step-12Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Stuff a rag into the port where the air filter was so no sawdust or contaminants get into the engine. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/2/23/Clean-a-Chainsaw-Step-12Bullet2. jpg/v4-460px-Clean-a-Chainsaw-Step-12Bullet2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/2/23/Clean-a-Chainsaw-Step-12Bullet2. jpg/aid10472789-v4-728px-Clean-a-Chainsaw-Step-12Bullet2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U. S. and international copyright laws. This image is not</b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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If the air filter looks extremely dirty even after you’ve cleaned it, you might need to buy a replacement filter. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/e/e4/Clean-a-Chainsaw-Step-13Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Clean-a-Chainsaw-Step-13Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/e/e4/Clean-a-Chainsaw-Step-13Bullet1. jpg/aid10472789-v4-728px-Clean-a-Chainsaw-Step-13Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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Be sure to spray your compressed air in the compartment on your saw where your carburetor was attached as well.

When you replace your spark plug, make sure the gap between the L-shaped metal piece and the top of the spark plug is 0. 026 inches (0. 66 mm). Put the new spark plug in so the narrow end is pointing up and screw it in tightly. [18] X Research source Replacing an old spark plug is a lot easier than trying to clean it.

You could break apart the gunk using a small screwdriver instead.