5 Rules for Breaking In a Chainsaw

Don’t let it idle for a full tank Idling a new saw for a full tank glazes the cylinder and can kill the engine. The real break-in requires heat cycles and varying loads.

Run the first tank doing light cuts Use the first tank for limbing and small logs. Let the saw cool completely before refueling.

Progress to moderate and then full-throttle cuts On the second tank, do moderate cuts. On the third, use full throttle in bursts, but avoid sustained max RPM. After that, run it normally.

Use the correct oil mix and warm it up Follow your manual’s oil mix ratio, usually 50:1 for modern saws. Warm the saw for 30 seconds before cutting, and don’t let it idle more than a minute during break-in.

Find the middle ground between babying and abusing A lazy break-in glazes the cylinder; a too-aggressive one can score it. Work the saw properly to add years to its life.