Your chainsaw’s anti-vibration system is crucial. Not only does it keep you safe, but it also saves you from muscle fatigue.
If your chainsaw anti-vibration is not working, it is most likely due to the chain or bar being worn, broken, or loose. You may have to replace, lube, or tighten the defective part. It is also possible that a clogged air filter is causing the issue.
Below, I’ll give you the top four reasons your chainsaw isn’t using its anti-vibration function correctly. But first, let me explain the anti-vibration system and go into the consequences of any defects with it.
The Importance of Your Anti-Vibration System
As you know, when you use a chainsaw, it tends to vibrate. That isn’t a problem in itself due to the physics of how a chainsaw works. However, you don’t want to feel too much of the vibration in your shoulders, arms, or hands — especially when there’s the risk of you losing your hold on the chainsaw while it’s operating.
That’s where the anti-vibration system comes in.
The anti-vibration system on your chainsaw (as its name implies) reduces vibration by applying a slight amount of pressure to the chain via a spring mechanism when it becomes loose or starts to spin out of control (source). The spring pushes against the bar, which transfers energy from your hands into slowing down or stopping the blade from spinning.
Why Your Chainsaw Needs an Anti-Vibration System
You want to reduce vibration in a chainsaw for the following reasons.
- Prevention of operator fatigue and other health issues (source): Excess vibration can cause health problems such as tingling hands and fingers, numbness or soreness in the arms and shoulders, carpal tunnel syndrome (inflammation of the nerves in your wrist), tendonitis (inflammation of tendons), or even hand-arm vibration syndrome (tendon disease).
- Conservation of fuel: Vibrating engines require more fuel than non-vibrating ones do. If you’re working with a small saw, this might be fine, but if you’re working with something bigger, your fuel will run out before you know it.
Now that I’ve covered everything you need to know about your chainsaw’s anti-vibration system, let’s get into its most common issues and their corresponding fixes.
1. Your Chainsaw Is Worn Out
The most common parts that need replacing are the chain, bar, and sprocket. Most chainsaws have a simple design that makes it easy to maintain them on your own.
A broken chain is the most likely cause of your chainsaw vibrating too much. If you’re cutting something that’s too hard for your saw, it could break the chain causing it to jump off your bar and possibly hit you in the face.
If your chainsaw has AV buffers, they may be worn out and require replacement.
This video shows you what this looks like in your chainsaw and how to replace it:
This fix is more complicated, so if you’re worried about completing it on your own, you may want to call a professional instead.
How To Fix It
You can check for worn-out parts by looking at the following:
- Chain: Check if there are any cracks or nicks in the chain. Also, look for rust, and inspect the teeth to see if they’re worn down or bent.
- Bar/sprocket. Examine both sides of the bar using a magnifying glass. Check for cracks in both halves of each tooth (a.k.a. “lands”).
Again, you may want to leave the fixing or replacement to professionals.
2. Something Is Loose
If at least one part of your chainsaw is loose, it can cause vibration, noise, and the chain to jump off the bar. Usually, the offending part is either the chain guide bolt or nut. If you tend to overload your saw or cut too much with one stroke, your chainsaw will likely have loose parts as well.
How To Fix It
First, make sure the anti-vibration knob or handle is screwed in tightly. If it’s loose, it can cause the chain to vibrate and buzz while the chainsaw is in operation.
If that doesn’t work, check if there are any loose or broken parts in the chainsaw itself.
Depending on the part that’s loose and how serious the damage is, you can either tighten or oil the offending part or replace it altogether.
For example, if you haven’t changed your chain recently, it may be loose and rattling around on the bar. To fix this, loosen your chain tension by loosening the motor cover plate screws. Then, adjust them with a flathead screwdriver until they’re tight enough to hold without putting too much strain on the motor or causing damage to its internal parts.
3. Your Chainsaw Isn’t Reacting Well To Its Fuel or Oil
It’s also possible that your chainsaw is vibrating too much because it’s using the wrong type of fuel or oil. The wrong type of fuel or oil can cause your chainsaw to run inefficiently — which, in turn, causes it to vibrate more than you’d like.
How To Fix It
Luckily, the solution to this problem is simple: Get decent fuel and oil for your chainsaw (source). I suggest higher-quality stuff if you use your chainsaw for at least a couple of days per week. If your chainsaw isn’t getting much action, a mid-level oil or fuel should do.
4. Your Chainsaw’s Air Filter Is Clogged
If you’re trying to use a chainsaw in an area with a lot of dust and debris, your air filter may become clogged quickly, causing your chainsaw to vibrate too much. This is likely the issue if you’re doing lots of work outdoors or with big trees, meaning your chainsaw sucks in a lot of unwanted gunk.
How To Fix It
There are two ways you can clean your chainsaw’s air filter:
- Take out the spark arrestor at the end of your bar and clean it with compressed air or a rag (source): Be careful not to poke yourself with anything sharp; it’s easy to get hurt when cleaning out these delicate parts. You can also use paper towels provided you’re using ones that don’t have any holes.
- Replace your old air filter with a new one. Ideally, you should do this before summer ends. You may have some extra leftover filters lying around, or you can order new ones online.
Your chainsaw should get fueled properly to work well. But how can you make sure? Click on the link to read my step-by-step guide.
Summary
If your anti-vibration system is malfunctioning, it’s likely a loose part, a worn-out part, or your filters. If you’re unsure what’s causing the problem with your chainsaw’s anti-vibration system, take it to your local dealer or an authorized repair center.
