chain reversed on chain saw

daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)

last year

Got a Craftsman electric chain saw, and I was disappointed at how poorly it cut. I at first never thought to check and GOODNESS GRACIOUS, the chain was delivered reversed, pointing in the wrong direction. I flipped it and bzzzt!, cuts wood like butter now. If your chain saw doesn't cut well, by all means make sure the chain is installed pointing in the right direction. In fact, if you buy a new saw, just LOOK to make sure if it is right. A complaint to Craftsman is in order.

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Comments (9)

KR Nuttle
last year
On my chain saw there is a glyph of a link with the correct orientation right on the body of the saw that you have to see a you install the chain.
PRO
beesneeds
last year
On the pair I have, there is an indicator. They also came without the chain on, I had to put the chain on as part of assembly. They are yellow, not Craftsman.
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daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
Original Author
last year
Yes, no question that all saws have an indicator on the guide bar. The issue for me isn't how to install the chain, but rather that when the device is sold with the chain on, you'd assume it was installed correctly. Never bothered to check.
PRO
beesneeds
last year
Good lesson in check your equipment before you use it then. Mistakes happen. I tend to skim through the owners manual as part of the checking for the first time with a new piece of equipment. After that, I just do a check over of the equipment before use. I make mistakes too, and the habit of a once over has helped with that considerably.
daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
Original Author
last year
Well, I could also check to make sure the plug isn't shorted out, or that the oil reservoir cap isn't cracked. But I shouldn't have to do that. And if the chain is delivered installed on the saw, seems like I shouldn't have to check that either. This is just a reminder that if the saw doesn't cut, that's what to look for.
PRO
beesneeds
last year
Ok.
KR Nuttle
last year
I agree partially with the if installed comment. HOWEVER. the question is WHO installed it. If the saw came from the factory assembled. then he is right, the chain should be installed properly. If some sales clerk at the store installed the chain to put the saw on display, then it could be install any which way.

Many things like this are partially disassembled in the packing box so the item utilizes the maximum space in the smallest box possible. This minimizes the shipping cost.
daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
Original Author
last year
It was in a sealed box when I bought it. How the store got into it and managed to screw up the chain and reseal the box is beyond me. Removing he chain from a chain saw does not, in any way, make the device more compact. You know that.
KR Nuttle
last year
But some remove the bar which has the chain does.