How to tighten a chainsaw chain: Step-by-step guide

This guide helps your correctly adjust your Husqvarna chainsaw chain tension for safe, efficient cutting.

A loose or overly tight chain can cause poor performance, wear parts faster and increase safety risk.

Why chain tension matters

Proper chain tension ensures:

• Safety: A loose chain can jump off the bar and cause injury; an overtight chain increases strain on the engine.
• Performance: Correct tension keeps cuts smooth and consistent.
• Longevity: Helps your bar, chain and drive components last longer.

Tools you will need:

• Combination spanner (comes with many Husqvarna models)
• Protective gloves and eye protection
• Clean, dry workspace

Step-by-step instructions

1. Prepare the chainsaw

1. Turn off the chainsaw and let it cool completely.
2. Engage the chain brake. This prevents the chain from moving while you work.
3. If you have a battery-powered chainsaw, remove the battery.

2. Loosen the guide bar

1. Use the combination spanner to loosen the bar nuts that secure the clutch cover.
2. Don’t remove the nuts: Just loosen them enough so the bar can move slightly.

3. Adjust the chain tensioner

1. Lift the tip of the guide bar slightly to take slack out of the chain.
2. Turn the chain tensioning screw clockwise to tighten the chain.
3. Turn slowly: Over-tightening can damage parts.

4. Check correct tension

• The chain should not hang slack on the bottom of the bar.
• You should just be able to pull the chain around by hand with gloves on.
• If the chain won’t move, it’s too tight: Back off slightly.

Good tension: chain snaps back into place without slack.

5. Secure and finalise

1. Tighten the bar nuts again with the spanner once the tension is correct.
2. Release the chain brake and test the chainsaw carefully before cutting.

Quick tension check before every use

• Grab the chain in the middle of the bar—it should lift slightly.
• The chain should not sag or hang loose.
• If you see slack, tighten following the steps above.