How Often to Flip a Chainsaw Bar

Your chainsaw’s bar is a key component responsible for guiding the chain’s movement, allowing the tool to cut through various wooden materials. Chainsaw bars are designed in a way that allows the bar to be mounted right-side up or upside down, which means people can extend the bar’s lifespan – but how often should you flip the chainsaw bar?

How Often Should Chainsaw Users Flip the Bar? 

Flipping your chainsaw bar is the process of turning the chainsaw bar the other way to increase your tool’s overall efficiency. While there is no golden rule as to when you should flip your chainsaw bar or how often you should do this, most professional chainsaw users recommend flipping the bar after every use. 

Cleaning your chainsaw is required maintenance after using your chainsaw, so why not flip your guide bar while cleaning your tool? Other users prefer flipping their bar less frequently, only flipping it when they sharpen their chainsaw chain. Some take an even more relaxed approach, only flipping the bar when replacing the chain entirely. 

Ultimately, your personal preference will determine how often you flip your chainsaw bar. You should choose a time to flip your bar and stick to it, like after using your chainsaw or when sharpening/replacing the chain. Adding a bar flip to your routine maintenance will ensure you don’t forget this simple yet important practice. 

Chainsaw guide bars are designed to be installed in two different positions to extend the bar’s lifespan. Most models will have a logo or label to help you identify the side. It’s also possible to mark your bar so that you know which side is currently being used and which side the bar must be flipped to. 

Why Do Chainsaw Users Flip the Bar? 

Most of a chainsaw’s cutting takes place near the bottom of the guide bar, where contact is made with your cutting materials. Since areas of the guide bar that experience the most pressure will dull and wear out faster, chainsaw bars don’t wear out evenly, with increased wear along the bottom of the guide bar. 

As this section of the bar wears out, the bar’s ability to securely hold the chain in place will be impacted. Ultimately, this wear prevents the chain from moving smoothly, effectively reducing its ability to cut properly. The chain’s movement will cause a wider cutting swath, negatively impacting the quality of your cuts. 

Since chainsaw bars can be installed upside down or right-side up, you can flip the bar to prevent the negative effects of uneven wear. Once your guide bar has been flipped, the heavily worn areas will be given a break while another part of the bar endures the friction between the chain and bar while cutting materials. 

Flip Your Chainsaw Bar In 8 Steps

You only need a screwdriver and the spanner that came with your chainsaw to flip the bar and extend its lifespan. You can follow these eight simple steps to properly flip your chainsaw’s guide bar! 

Step One: Reduce Your Chain Tension

Since your chainsaw bar supports the chain, you’ll need to reduce the chain’s tension and free it to access your bar when flipping it. You’ll notice the chain starts to wobble between the bar and guide rail as you loosen it. 

Step Two: Loosen the Sprocket Cover’s Nuts 

Use the spanner that came with your chainsaw to loosen the two nuts holding the chainsaw’s sprocket cover in place. Generally, a 0.75-inch spanner is required to loosen these nuts. Removing the cover will expose the chainsaw’s sprocket and bar. 

Step Three: Remove Your Chainsaw Bar 

You can now remove the guide bar from your chainsaw. Take note of an identifying label or logo to ensure you flip it to the right side. Clean your bar before flipping it to ensure it functions properly. 

Step Four: Flip Your Chainsaw Bar 

If your chainsaw bar was installed right-side up, you must flip it, so it’s positioned upside down. If your bar is installed upside down due to a previous flip, flip the bar so that it’s right-side up again.

Step Five: Replace Your Sprocket Cover 

You can now replace the sprocket cover. Make sure you screw the sprocket cover’s nuts back into place. 

Step Six: Tighten the Sprocket Cover’s Nuts

It’s important to ensure your sprocket cover’s nuts are tightly fastened to ensure the bar properly guides your chain while cutting materials. 

Step Seven: Adjust Your Chain’s Tension

It’s time to tighten your chainsaw’s tensioning screw, which is typically positioned between the bar and the guard rail. You must ensure the chain is correctly tensioned and isn’t too tight or loose since this can negatively impact the effectiveness of your chainsaw.  

Step Eight: Remember to Flip Your Bar Again

You can use your chainsaw again now that the guide bar has been flipped! However, since regular use of your chainsaw will cause part of the bar to wear faster, it’s important that you don’t forget to flip the bar again. You can flip the bar when you clean your chainsaw after use or when you sharpen/replace the chain. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

There is no golden rule for how often a chainsaw bar should be flipped. The best times to flip your chainsaw bar are when you’re cleaning it after use or when you’re sharpening/replacing the chain. Regularly flipping the bar will drastically improve the bar’s lifespan and ensure it properly guides the chain while you’re cutting materials.