Replacing Your Engine vs Getting a Tune-Up

Should you consider replacing your chainsaw’s engine, or is it just time for a regular tune-up? That depends on a few different factors. The chainsaw carburetor is critical to all types of engines and chainsaws are no exception. When the carburetor is adjusted correctly, your chainsaw produces maximum power and the engine will have a longer life. Minimal smoke is produced and the motor idles smoothly.

Now, when a chainsaw’s engine is poorly tuned and the carburetor is poorly adjusted, it’s a different story. The fuel doesn’t burn well (due to the air/fuel mixture ratio), causing a poor power stroke and lots of smoke. Over the long term, the engine will be damaged. Outside of carburetor adjustments, there’s also the matter of old stale gasoline or having too much oil mixed with the engine fuel.

If you’re still having difficulty, consider replacing the chainsaw carburetor. HLS Supply offers several carburetors within a variety of price ranges. Consider our Original Tillotson Stihl carburetor, or perhaps take a look at our Husqvarana OEM Zama carburetor.

Alternatively, perhaps the issue lies in parts of your chainsaw engine, such as the fuel line or the cylinders. Generally a compression test will be enough to determine whether the engine’s cylinder / piston is in need of replacement. If you’re looking for a cylinder kit, consider the Husqvarna EM Cylinder Kit.

It’s best to make sure that your engine is properly tuned before use. In order to protect your investment, be as proactive as possible in making sure that the above mentioned factors have been reviewed for quality assurance.

Once you’ve tuned or replaced your chainsaw’s engine, your saw is sure to run more efficiently and cleanly. This allows your saw to last longer and require less maintenance and troubleshooting in the long run.

Oh, and here's a good piece on choosing lubricant for small engines, if ya need Lubricant.

Our Favorite Examples of Chainsaw Art

We enjoy crafting all kinds of different chainsaw art. There’s no better way to express your artistic skills than to take a chainsaw to wood! It’s unique, creative, and lets you display your talents in an unusual way. More and more artists are experimenting with chainsaw art as a new way to carve out something lasting and iconic.

The art form has become popular over the last thirty years, with all sorts of interested artists trying out chainsaw carving as a new means of expressing themselves. The skillset’s popularity stems from a combination of the ancient concept of woodcarving and the modern technology of electric chainsaws. Today, chainsaw art is exceptionally popular all over the world.

Some of our favorite examples of chainsaw carving are regularly posted on our Facebook Page because we genuinely enjoy discovering and sharing new artists and examples of their work. One of our recent favorites is this seasonally appropriate pumpkin carving done entirely by chainsaw – a high degree of difficulty considering how small pumpkins are:

Another example of recent chainsaw carvings include this wooden owl on a stump, painstakingly cut and refined over many hours of cutting. A carving like this requires intense concentration and focus over an extended period of time. It’s not easy to do!  As a result, it’s probably one of the most impressive examples of chainsaw art that we’ve seen in a long, long time. Carvings like these portray the level of mastery that some chainsaw artists have, truly separating them from the pack.

One of our recent favorite instances of well-done chainsaw carvings is this sculpture of a group of bears. Take a look at how lifelike their fur coats and facial expressions look – it’s really quite incredible. The larger bear was carved with a curious expression, facing forward and half-raising a paw in the air.

These are three of our recent favorite examples of chainsaw carving. When it comes to chainsaws, no one has as many parts from leading brands as HL Supply does. Take a look at our collection of chainsaw parts and accessories here, so you can put together a chainsaw that’s right for you and your needs.

We carry aftermarket chainsaw parts for all kinds of chainsaws, including newer and older models. Take a look through our collection, and find the chainsaw that fits your budget and size requirements.

Of course you'll need to sharpen that chainsaw, but before you read that, read this.