How to Restore an Old Chainsaw

Unscrew the bar nuts holding the bar cover to the side of the saw with the wrench. Take the bar cover, bar and chain off the saw. Check to see if the bar is warped, cracked or bent; replace the bar if it is. Check the condition of the chain and replace if teeth are worn down or missing or if the chain looks too damaged to run.

Unscrew the oiler plate beside the bar posts and remove it. Clean the bar cover, the clutch area, the oiler plate, underneath the plate and the outer body of the saw with a rag and brush. Use a mild detergent to remove any caked-on buildup.

Unscrew the cylinder cover on top of the saw. Take the cover off and remove the air filter from its mounting plate. Take the foam element of the air filter out and replace it. Clean the area around the air filter mount, choke cover plate and the cylinder’s fins.

Wiggle the rubber boot off the tip of the spark plug. Unscrew the spark plug and remove it from the cylinder. Replace the spark plug and check the condition of the boot, the boot’s inner prong and the wire for any damage or loose connections. Allow a professional to service ignition system problems.

Drain all remaining fuel into an approved fuel container. Unscrew the choke cover plate on top of the saw and remove it. Unhook the rubber fuel hoses from the carburetor. Unscrew the mounting screw for the carburetor. Remove the carburetor.

Disassemble the carburetor carefully and soak the parts in a bath of carburetor cleaner overnight. Check the condition of the carburetor parts and replace as necessary. Reassemble the carburetor with the newly replaced parts.

Pull out the old fuel hoses and fuel filter. Wash the inside of the fuel tank with a mild detergent. Reinstall the assembled carburetor, the fuel hoses and the fuel filter into the tank.

Fit the piston stop into the spark plug’s cylinder hole. Rotate the clutch until the piston stops. Disassemble the clutch parts according to your saw’s specifications. Remove the washer, clutch drum, needle bearing, drive sprocket, clutch shoes and clutch spring. Clean and inspect all clutch parts for any damage. Replace any broken or worn clutch parts.