How To Prepare Your Chainsaw for Autumn Cutting Season

As the leaves start to drop across South Devon (more so after the heatwaves we have been having) the cutting season kicks into gear. Hedges need tidying, fallen branches need clearing, and firewood needs stockpiling before the cold sets in. But if your chainsaw has been sitting in the shed since spring, there's a good chance it won't be ready for the work ahead. Here at Chainsaw Revival in Paignton, we see the same thing every autumn: saws that won't start, chains that won't cut, and jobs that grind to a halt. The good news is that a bit of preparation now will have your saw firing up first pull. Here's our checklist.

1. Check and Sharpen the Chain

A dull chain is one of the most common problems we see, and it's easy to miss. If your saw is throwing out fine sawdust rather than proper chips, or you find yourself leaning into the cut to force it through, the chain has lost its edge. A blunt chain isn't just slower, it's genuinely more dangerous, because it's more likely to kick back and it puts extra strain on the motor.

You can touch up a chain yourself with a file and a bit of patience, but if it's badly worn or you'd rather have it done properly, chain sharpening is one of the services we offer. A freshly sharpened chain makes a bigger difference than most people expect.

2. Inspect the Bar and Sprocket

The guide bar takes a lot of punishment. Have a look for burrs along the edges, and check that the groove where the chain sits is clean and free of packed-in debris. A quick clean-out here keeps the chain running smoothly and helps the oil reach where it's needed.

It's also worth flipping the bar over every so often. Bars wear unevenly if they're always mounted the same way, so turning it around now and then evens out the wear and makes it last longer.

3. Use Fresh Fuel and Beware Ethanol

If there's one thing that catches people out more than anything else, it's old fuel. That leftover petrol sitting in the tank or the can since summer is the number one reason saws refuse to start come autumn.

Modern petrol contains ethanol, which draws in moisture over time and gums up the carburettor. The result is a saw that won't fire, or runs rough and stalls. Always start the season with fresh fuel, mixed to the correct ratio for your two-stroke, and consider using a fuel stabiliser if the saw is going to sit for a while. If your saw won't start no matter what you try, a gummed-up carburettor is very often the culprit and it's a job we sort out regularly.

4. Clean the Air Filter and Check the Spark Plug

These are five-minute jobs that make a real difference. A clogged air filter starves the engine of air and makes the saw run poorly, so give it a clean or swap it out if it's past saving. While you're at it, pull the spark plug and check it, a fouled or worn plug can cause hard starting and rough running. Both are cheap, simple fixes that prevent a lot of frustration.

5. Check the Bar Oil and Lubrication

Your chain needs a constant supply of oil to run safely, so make sure the reservoir is topped up with proper bar oil. Just as importantly, check that the oiler is actually working, run the saw for a moment and watch for oil flicking off the bar tip. Running a chain dry generates huge amounts of heat and will wreck the bar and chain in short order, so it's well worth the ten-second check.

6. Know When to Bring It In

Plenty of this you can do yourself, and we'd always encourage you to keep on top of the basics. But if your saw won't start after you've worked through the checklist, or it's simply overdue a proper service, that's where we come in. We handle chainsaw servicing and repairs across Paignton and the wider South Devon area, from a quick tune-up to a full strip-down.

Booking ahead beats the autumn rush, too. As soon as the weather turns, the workshop fills up fast. So if your saw needs attention, getting it in now means it's ready when you are.

Give Chainsaw Revival a call and we'll get you sorted for the season ahead.