TIP 10: How to Tension a Chainsaw Chain Correctly

3 min read

Is your chainsaw chain too loose or too tight? In OVDV Tip 10, I show how to adjust the chain tension, check the guide bar and secure everything correctly.

A chainsaw chain that is too loose or too tight needs adjusting. In OVDV Tip 10, I show you how I check and adjust the chain tension, step by step.

I use a STIHL chainsaw in the video to show you where the tensioning screw is, how I adjust it and what I check before tightening everything again.

Where do you adjust the chainsaw chain?

On the chainsaw I am using, the tensioning screw is located near the guide bar. I show you how turning this screw changes the chain tension. First, I loosen the guide-bar retaining nuts slightly so that the guide bar can move. There is no need to remove them.

How I adjust the chain tension

  1. Locate the tensioning screw. I show you where to find it on this saw.
  2. Loosen the guide-bar retaining nuts. The bar must be able to move during the adjustment.
  3. Turn the tensioning screw. I adjust the tension gradually, rather than forcing it in one go.
  4. Watch the underside of the guide bar. The chain should sit against the underside of the bar instead of hanging below it.
  5. Check the tension. I pull the chain gently away from the guide bar to show what the correct adjustment looks like.
  6. Hold the guide-bar tip up while tightening the nuts. I then check the chain again, as the bar's position matters when securing it.

How tight should the chain be?

In the close-up, I demonstrate how far the chain moves away from the guide bar when I lift it. I mention approximately 2–4 mm during this demonstration. That is not a universal specification: use the tensioning instructions for your own chainsaw, guide bar and chain.

The chain should not hang loose beneath the bar, but it should not be so tight that it cannot move properly either. I also show how to check that the chain moves along the guide bar after adjustment.

Don't forget this final check

One thing I always pay attention to is lifting the tip of the guide bar while securing the retaining nuts. Otherwise, the position of the bar can change as you tighten them. Once the nuts are secure, I check the tension again.

Safety: Never make these adjustments with the engine running. Follow the safety instructions for your saw and take care around the sharp chain.

Watch OVDV Tip 10 to see the complete adjustment on the machine.

— Olivier

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Chainsaw Maintenance
Man operating a lawn mower in a grassy area with trees in the background

Portrait | Author

Olivier Vandevijver


I am the owner of OVDV in Laarne/Kalken and have more than 13 years of experience in the garden machinery sector. I advise, install and maintain robotic mowers from brands including Segway Navimow, STIHL and Honda — always based on the real situation of your garden: size, shape, slopes, obstacles and lawn edges. I also offer independent repair and maintenance of garden machines across different brands. And because a robotic mower can't do everything on its own, I also provide professional lawn edge care — so your garden stays not just automatically mowed, but clean and properly finished.
Learn more about him
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