If your Milwaukee chainsaw isn’t well-lubricated, it may cause the chain to break or increase the chances for a kickback as you cut wood (source). You could get severely injured (or worse) from a kickback, so it’s best to avoid this. To do that, you need to find out why the saw chain isn’t getting oiled and fix the problem.
If your Milwaukee chainsaw is not oiling the chain, you can fix this issue by cleaning the guide bar’s passageway if it’s clogged, replacing the stripped gears, repairing the faulty oiler, and filling the oil reservoir. You can also pour the oil directly into the bar for it to reach the chain.
1. Your Oil Reservoir Isn’t the Correct Level
If your oil reservoir isn’t at the correct level, it may result in your chainsaw not oiling the chain. You should frequently check the chainsaw’s oil level in the reservoir and refill it if the tank is less than a quarter full.
It’s good to get into the habit of refilling the reservoir immediately after a full battery discharge or before you use the chainsaw. By doing that, your Milwaukee saw will always have enough oil to deliver to the chain and keep it well-lubricated while you operate the tool (source).
You should use high-quality chain oil in your saw to enable it to function correctly and at full power, as low-quality lubricants can damage the chainsaw.
Some of the best oils you can use include:
- The Oregon Bar and Chain Oil (link to Amazon): protects against rust in the long term and comes in two sizes for convenience.
- The Sun Joe Premium Oil (link to Amazon): also an excellent choice since it works great in low temperatures and is compatible with all your garden tools.
How To Fix
To fill your Milwaukee chainsaw’s reservoir level, follow the steps below:
- Always remove the battery pack before you go on to refill the tank.
- Lay the chainsaw on a firm table or the ground with its blade side facing down.
- Remove the oil cap and place it in a safe place near you.
- Pour the chain oil carefully into the reservoir.
- Securely put back the oil cap.
- Run the saw for about 30 minutes to allow the oil to deliver to the chain before you work the tool.
2. The Passageway Is Clogged
Sometimes the passageway may get clogged with sawdust, preventing the oil from getting to the chain and lubricating it. You should regularly clean your oiler’s passageway (and, ideally, the rest of your chainsaw) to stop this from happening.
The passageway can also clog up because of carbon buildup, especially if you haven’t properly cleaned the chainsaw in a long time. As such, if you notice blackish, soot-like deposits on the device, you can follow my easy DIY guide on cleaning the carbon buildup on your chainsaw.
How To Fix
If the bar is already blocked, here’s how you can unclog it:
- Unplug the charger from the power source to reduce the risk of injury.
- Remove the battery pack from the chainsaw.
- Wear protective gloves to prevent the chain from cutting you.
- Take off the drive cover from the tool and remove the guide bar along with the chain.
- Use a soft bristle brush and mild soap to thoroughly clean the bar while paying particular attention to the oiling holes to ensure they are clear of debris (source).
- Push a paperclip inside the holes to further remove any remaining debris.
- Wipe the bar with a damp cloth and let the tool dry before mounting it back on the power tool.
3. Your Oiler Is Faulty
The automatic oiler is supposed to consistently feed small amounts of oil into the bar as you cut wood. However, with time, the oiler may get blocked, faulty, or break, stopping the saw chain from receiving the oil.
How To Fix
You may have to clean the oiler or replace it entirely if unblocking it fails. To unclog the oiler, you will have to remove the sprocket cover and the guide bar to access the oiler’s nozzle where dirt or debris is stuck.
On the other hand, if the oiler is damaged, you should replace it with a new one from the manufacturer or take it to the nearest Milwaukee chainsaw service facility to get it changed.
4. Automatic Distribution Is Faulty
Your Milwaukee chainsaw should automatically distribute oil across the chain, but this could spell a problem if it doesn’t. In this instance, you should get it repaired, or you could need a new oiler altogether.
How To Fix
However, if the automatic oiler fails to deliver the oil to the guide bar, and you urgently need to use the chainsaw, then you can manually distribute the lubricant:
- Use a grease syringe to pour enough oil down the bar holes to lubricate the bar and chain to stop them from wearing out (source).
- Start the chainsaw after filling the guide bar with oil so the chain can rotate and soak up oil from the groove.
5. The Pump Drive Gear Is Worn
The pump gear or worm gear operates the oil pump as it turns, and the pump sends the oil all the way to the chain. However, the drive gear’s teeth could wear out for a few reasons:
- Age
- Improper storage
- Too much strain from overusing the oil pump
When this gear is stripped, it cannot pump oil to the bar and, eventually, the chain.
How To Fix
To fix this, you will have to replace the pump, which comes in a complete kit with the gear with teeth. This is a relatively simple task if you’re a mechanic, but otherwise, you should take it to a nearby Milwaukee chainsaw service center or a repair store to get it replaced.
If you’re interested in replacing it yourself, check out this YouTube video:
6. Guide Bar and Chain Are Incorrectly Assembled
When the bar is wrongly assembled, the holes on the guide bar will fail to receive the lubricant from the oiler to distribute to the chain. As a result, the oil will gather around the oiler and the surrounding parts, causing leakages.
Likewise, if the chain is incorrectly fitted around the groove, the oil delivered from the bar won’t be able to reach it.
How To Fix
You should check your Milwaukee chainsaw to see if you properly installed these parts and if not, correctly reassemble them. The guide bar holes should align with the oiler, and the chain should sit securely around the bar groove without any sag.
Summary
When you realize that your Milwaukee chainsaw is not oiling the chain, you should check its oiler, guide bar, chain, and pump gear to ensure they are in good working condition. If not, fix the part causing this problem to enable the chain to cut wood efficiently. Also, ensure the reservoir has sufficient oil to pump to the chain.
