How to Prepare Your Trees for Winter Storms

Those of us living in cold winter climates have experienced this one way or another—a tree or tree branch broken under the stress of a snow storm. Every winter roads are blocked, property is damaged, and people get hurt because of fallen trees, but there are steps you can take to minimize this risk, and also ensure that your trees will remain a part of your landscaping.

Pruning trees for dead or weak branches will not only keep your trees from causing damage, but in younger trees, it will often result in a burst of growth in the spring. This will result in beautiful landscaping and stronger trees in the summer months. Check out our winter tree pruning tips and tricks below.

Which branches to cut

Cracking branches: If you see any cracks in branches, it's just a matter of time before these branches break under pressure. It's best to get rid of them.

Decaying branches: Dried out and decayed branches should be removed before they fall off naturally.

Disproportional branches: If a branch's diameter is 2/3's larger than the diameter of the trunk, it's likely the trunk won't be able to support the branch when put under a great deal of stress.

Diseased branches: Disease can spread to the entire tree if it's not addressed. This should be a rare occurrence, but it's something you should check for nonetheless.

What to remember

Work from the top down: Ladders can be used for pruning trees, but it's best to use use a pole trimmer or clipper to reach high branches. If the job is out of reach, you should call a professional.

Cut with the collar: You want to cut a branch parallel with the collar of the branch (the part where the branch and trunk meet). You also want to cut just outside the collar, but not so far that you leave a protruding stub. For branches that can be cut using clippers (and haven't formed a collar) cut as close as possible.

Cut with the natural shape of the tree: The tree will look best and thrive if it's cut along its natural shape.

Cut large branches in multiple sections: On large branches, especially if you're using a chainsaw, cut the branch in multiple sections. Don't try to cut the entire branch off in one cut. You could injure yourself, damage the tree, or both.

Once your tree is pruned, you'll have the peace of mind that it won't cause any damage in the winter and that your yard will look great in the spring.

Shop HLSProParts.com for the best selection of chainsaw parts and have your equipment ready for whenever you need it.

What to Check if Your Chainsaw Won't Start

If you've given the pull cord on your chainsaw a few pulls to no avail, you might consider bringing your chainsaw into a service center to get it looked at. Before you jump the gun on getting your chainsaw fixed, however, you should do a simple check of a few components on your chainsaw to determine if you really need to spend the money on a professional.

Check gas tank: Obviously if there isn't gas in the tank, your saw won't start, but your gas could also be old. If you haven't stored your chainsaw properly, you will have to get rid of old fuel and refuel your chainsaw. If you have a habit of letting your chainsaw sit for long periods, add Star Tron Enzyme Treatment to your gas so that it won't go bad as quickly.

Check spark plugs: An old spark plug is a cheap and easy fix, so you can easily change it without getting a professional involved. Check your chainsaws manual for the type of spark plug you need. There is a good chance it is a Bosch WSR6F.

Check air filter: If your air filter is clogged, your engine might not be getting the air it needs to run. Usually you can simply clean your air filter with a brush or compressed air to get it working properly, but if it is damaged you will want to replace it as soon as possible to avoid getting debris in your engine.

Clean your chainsaw: You will also want to clean your chainsaw and make sure there isn't any extra debris interfering with starting it. Check out our chainsaw cleaning guide for instructions on how to properly clean your chainsaw.

If your saw still won't start, it might be time to bring the saw into a professional that can check out your carburetor, fuel lines, timing and compression and get your saw up and running.

HLSupply carries a wide selection of chainsaw parts and supplies for trusted brands including Stihl, Husqvarna, Poulan, Jonsered, and more.

How to Extend the Life of a Diamond Saw Blade

Everyone wants to get more out of their equipment. Whether it's properly maintaining your engine, cleaning your power tools correctly, or storing your chainsaw properly, we go to great lengths to make sure our tools are in working order when we need them. Not only will extending the life of your diamond saw blade save you money on expensive replacement blades, but it also reduces extra stress on your engine, extending the overall life of your cut-off saw. Read on for five steps to extending your cut-off saw blades.

1. Use the correct diamond blade for your saw and cutting technique

Many blades are either designed for wet or dry cutting only. Before you start using a particular technique, be sure that your saw blade is designed to be used that way. At HLSProParts.com we carry Ox Diamond Saw Blades, which are designed for both wet and dry cutting.

2. Let the blade cool at regular intervals

It's not a mystery that concrete saw blades get hot. If you want to extend the life of your blade, it's crucial that you don't make continuous cuts with an overheated blade. This is more important for dry cutting than wet cutting. After a few cuts, let the saw run freely so that the blade can cool down and then you can resume the job.

3. Make sure your water supply is operating correctly

If you are wet cutting, make sure your water supply is giving you enough water to prevent excessive friction on your blade, which will cause your blade to wear too quickly by stripping away layers of diamonds before they have been fully used.

4. Let the blade do the work———don't force it

It's important to let your tools do their job. By forcing your saw through whatever material you are cutting, you are putting excessive pressure on the blade and not allowing the diamonds to make the cut. This not only will dull your saw more quickly, but makes your work physically harder. If your saw is cutting slowly, it might be time to sharpen your blade. Which leads us to...

5. Keep your blade sharp

Keeping the blade sharp is critical to extending the life of your blade. Check out our blog on sharpening diamond saw blades for step by step instructions on how to do this. This will make your cuts easier, relieve stress on your engine, and help get your jobs done faster.

Bosch WSR6F Spark Plug Product Feature

One of our most popular products at HLSupply is the Bosch WSR6F Spark plug. This particular spark plug fits many power tools including trimmers, edgers, blowers, chainsaws, and cut off saws from brands including Stihl, Husqvarna, Jonsered, Husky, Echo, and many more. In fact, this is the OEM spark plug for many of these tools and we recommend checking your owner's manual because it's likely you will find the Bosch WSR6F is the suggested spark plug for your power tool.

If your owner's manual doesn't recommend a Bosch WSR6F spark plug, you may still be able to use it. This plug replaces NGK BPM7A, NGK BPMR6A, Champion CJ7Y, and Champion RCJ6Y spark plugs as well, which are the most commonly used spark plugs throughout the major power tool brands.

As such, we have found that the WSR6F works just as well as the spark plugs installed at the factory. Your power tools will run just as they were designed to using one of these spark plugs, which means reliability throughout even the most intense jobs. There are more expensive plugs available, but if your power tool was designed with the WSR6F in mind, and you haven’t made any significant modifications to your engine, this is the only plug you will need.

Replacing your power tools' spark plugs regularly is important to the life and efficiency of your engine and at an affordable price of $2.79 per plug at HLSProParts.com, there's no reason to let a simple spark plug change linger and risk damaging your tools. We are also happy to offer 20% off purchases of 5 or more Bosch WSR6F spark plugs, so you can stock up for the whole year or replenish your entire team's supplies at a great price.

Visit our ignition parts page for everything you need to get your chainsaw, cut off saw, trimmer, blower, or other power tool up and running. Please don't hesitate to get in touch with us by email or through our Facebook page if you have any questions about specific tools. We are always happy to help!

Hyway Cylinder Assemblies, Piston Assemblies & Other Chainsaw Parts

Hyway Brand aftermarket chainsaw parts have been trusted by both novice and professional arborists for years. The company is very responsive to end user feedback, which means an always improving product and some of the best replacement chainsaw parts available on the market. Hyway is also known for quickly developing parts for new saws, and keeping parts for old saws available long after the saw has been manufactured. Waiting weeks or months for an original manufacturer replacement part usually isn't an option, especially for professionals, and with Hyway parts, it also isn't necessary.

Hyway currently has parts available for Stihl, Husqvarna, and Jonsered chainsaws. A few of the models that the brand makes replacement parts for include:

• Stihl: 036, MS360, TS700, TS800, MS440, MS261, MS361
• Husvqvarna: 357, 359, 55, 55 Rancher, 51, 350, 351, 353
• Jonsered: 2156, 2159, 2094, 2095, 2063, 2065, 2071, 2171

In addition to these models, HLS Pro Parts has Hyway replacement parts for many other models, and we are always adding more; browse the most recent selection here.

Hyway Cylinders & Pistons

Hyway is known particularly for their cylinder & piston assemblies. Experienced chainsaw owners know that just because a saw isn't running doesn't mean it's useless, and fortunately brands like Hyway provide parts that can have a busted saw running like new. Made from Nikasil, Hyway cylinders and pistons will last for years no matter how hard you plan on running your saw.

Other Hyway parts carried by HLSProParts.com include:

• Crankshafts
• Starter kits
• Air filters
• Recoil springs
• Anti-Vibration Buffers
• Throttle wire
• Gasket sets
• Muffler covers
• And much more

Visit our Hyway page for our complete selection of aftermarket parts from Hyway. With aftermarket parts of this quality, you won't need to buy expensive OEM parts next time your chainsaw engine needs a rebuild.

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Storing Your Chainsaw for Winter

Storing gas power tools for an extended period of time it's important for making sure your tools are ready to go the following season. If you won't be using your chainsaw over the winter, follow these steps to properly winterize your chainsaw.

Empty the Fuel Tank

There are a couple ways you can empty your fuel tank. Most fuel today has a short shelf like because it contains ethanol. Some high quality, high octane fuels or fuels treated with a treatment such as Star Tron Enzyme Treatment can be stored safely for up to 2 years, but generally speaking, you will want to remove the fuel both for safety reasons and because fuel can thicken over time, doing damage to your carburetor.

Remove the fuel from your tank and add a small amount of high grade, ethanol free fuel, or fuel that has been treated with a fuel stabilizer back into your tank. Start the chainsaw 10 feet from where you were removing and adding fuel, and let it run until the engine stops.

Clean the Saw

What's better than firing up a freshly cleaned chainsaw next season? Cleaning your chainsaw and all its components might not be entirely necessary, but it will ensure that your saw is ready to go next season. At the very least you will want to remove the bar and chain and wipe them down to prevent any rusting or corrosion. You will also want to wipe the bar and chain down with WD-40 or another rust preventing oil. Check out our chainsaw cleaning guide for more tips on getting your saw in top shape.

Store Properly

Storing your saw in a dry place is crucial to keeping all of the components corrosion free. In addition to keeping moisture away from your saw, you don't want any dust or debris building up on your chainsaw throughout storage. If your chainsaw came with a case, store it in the case or find a relatively air tight container to put the saw in that will keep dust out.

If you follow these steps, by the time next season rolls around, your chainsaw will be ready to go!

HLSupply.com supplies quality aftermarket chainsaw parts and supplies for a number of makes and models including Stihl, Husqvarna, Partner, and more.

Cutting Wet Wood with a Chainsaw

Winter is rapidly approaching, and with it, wet conditions. Between autumn rain and eventually winter snow, working with a chainsaw in wet weather is inevitable. Here are a few tips for cutting wet wood with a chainsaw:

• Cutting wood in rain or snow is okay for your saw: If you're nervous about your saw getting wet, don't worry. Gas powered chainsaws are perfectly okay to use in wet weather; the same is true for the log itself. Cutting through wet wood is fine for your chain and bar, though there might be some extra build up from wet saw dust. It's nothing you can't clean off with a rag, though.
• Check your air filter: Speaking of wet build up, your engine's air filter could potentially be subject to wet debris getting caught in it. If the engine feels like it's not running correctly or it's struggling, check the air filter for any debris.
• Be wary of slippery conditions: Obviously when surfaces are wet (or icy), things can get slippery. It's important to make sure you have solid footing when you're working in the rain or snow and make sure you have a solid grip on the saw at all times.
• Use weather appropriate clothing & protective equipment: Wet weather boots and gloves with extra grip will go a long way in avoiding any mishaps. Wearing warm and water resistant clothing will also ensure that you're comfortable and can stay focused on the job.
• Use the correct type of chain for frozen wood: Not all chains serve the same purpose, and for frozen logs you will need one with semi-chisel teeth. These rounded teeth cut at a slightly slower pace, but you won't have to stop and sharpen your chain in the middle of a job because your chain is dull. Check out our blog post on chainsaw teeth for more information on chain types.
• Be wary of debris frozen to the bark: Cutting through dirt and rocks won't go well for your chainsaw chain. Make sure the logs you're cutting don't have a lot of debris frozen to them, particularly on the bottom of the log where you wouldn't see it.

Here are some things to consider before sharpening a chainsaw with a round file.

HLSupply.com provides quality aftermarket chainsaw parts from both new and discontinued chainsaws, and also carries a variety of parts for other power equipment including blowers, concrete saws, and rammers.