Chainsaw chain was dragging like crazy until I flipped it backwards by accident

I was out in my backyard in Portland last Thursday trying to cut up a fallen maple branch. The chain kept getting tight and smoking no matter how much I adjusted the tension. After 20 minutes of cussing at it, I realized I had put the chain on backwards facing the wrong direction. Soon as I flipped it around the cut went smooth as butter. Has anyone else done something this dumb with a simple fix?

3 comments

3 Comments

alex_johnson8d ago

Oh man, I did the same thing with my old chainsaw last year and felt like a real fool.

ryan_gibson848d ago

Wait, you were using one without the brake?

allen.ivan8d ago

Flipping a chain backwards wouldn't fix anything if the chain was actually binding or smoking from a tension issue. That's just a coincidence. The chain has a specific direction for cutting, sure, but putting it on backwards makes it cut worse and dulls the teeth faster. Sounds like the real problem was the bar or sprocket was worn out and the chain just needed to settle in after flipping. Probably gonna need a new chain soon anyway if it was that tight and hot. That falling branch might have been pinching the bar too which makes any chain drag.