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Bar oil, chain tension and storage
Updated
The most common owner complaint on battery chainsaw listings is not the battery. It is bar oil on the garage shelf. Some seeping after use is normal for any saw with an automatic oiler. The second most common is a chain that comes off, which is a tension problem. Both are manageable if you know what to expect.
Why a chainsaw drips oil when stored
STIHL's chainsaw FAQ explains it for any saw with this kind of oiler. Oil rides around inside the bar rails while the chain turns. When the chain stops, gravity pulls that oil down, and it seeps out under the bar and sprocket. STIHL says bar oil is thick, so the seeping can go on for several days, and that this is normal. Owners of the DEWALT DCCS621P1 are split on leaks in the review summary we read, with some reporting none and others a mess.
What helps, as general practice: store the saw on a tray or a piece of cardboard, wipe the bar and the area under the side cover after use, and do not overfill the tank before storage. If a saw pours out a full tank while sitting, that is not seepage. Contact the maker.
All seven picks have an automatic oiler or oiling system per their listings or maker pages. The Greenworks 40V 16 in and Milwaukee 2527-20 Hatchet have a clear window or reservoir, and the WORX WG322 has an oil level indicator. CDC's chainsaw safety page says to properly lubricate the bar and chain with bar and chain oil. A dry chain dulls fast, heats up and wastes battery.
Chain tension
Oregon says to check chain tension frequently during operation. New chains stretch, and a loose chain can jump off the bar. Two more points from Oregon's tensioning guide: the saw must be off before you adjust anything, and chain should only be tensioned while it is cool, not hot. On a battery saw, "off" means the battery is out.
| Tensioning | Saws |
|---|---|
| Tool-free dial or knob | EGO CS1613, Greenworks 40V 16 in, Husqvarna Power Axe 350i, BLACK+DECKER LCS1020 |
| Automatic, tool-free | WORX WG322 |
| Needs the included tool | DEWALT DCCS621P1 (tensioning tool in the box), Milwaukee 2527-20 Hatchet (scrench stored on the saw) |
Tool-free is quicker, which means you will really do it. Some WORX owners say the chain comes off often, so auto-tension is not a reason to stop checking.
Battery storage and end of life
NFPA says the chance of a lithium-ion battery overheating or catching fire goes up when it is damaged or improperly used, charged or stored. For a saw pack that means: use the maker's charger, let a hot pack cool before charging, store packs indoors and dry, and take the battery off the saw for storage. Stop using a pack that is swollen, cracked or hot when idle.
When a pack dies, EPA says lithium-ion batteries should not go in household garbage or recycling bins. Take them to a battery recycling or household hazardous waste collection point, and tape the terminals or bag each battery separately to prevent fires.
A short after-use routine
- Battery out.
- Brush chips from the bar, sprocket cover and oiler port.
- Check tension once the chain is cool.
- Top up bar oil for next time, but not to the brim.
- Sheath on, saw on a drip tray, battery stored apart.
Run your own wood through the bar length and cuts calculator, or compare all seven picks on the roundup page.