Oregon® User Tips: Sprocket-Nose Bars

Cutting chain can cause injury if incorrectly fitted to a chainsaw or if the saw is used improperly. Install, adjust and maintain the chain as recommended by the manufacturer of your chainsaw. Beware of kickback, particularly when cutting with the bar nose. Kickback can lead to dangerous loss of control of the chainsaw and result in serious injury to the saw operator or bystanders.

Before using any chainsaw, thoroughly read the manufacturer's operating and safety instructions. Oregon® offers low-kickback chains for nearly all applications. We strongly recommend you use low-kickback chains unless you have experience and special training for dealing with kickback.

Some Do's & Don'ts

1. Do not use the bar as a prying tool. If you get hung up, wedge it out or cut it out with another saw.

2. Do not use the sprocket area of the bar tip when limbing. If the limb pinches the bar, the nose may be burned. This is identified by blue spots in the damaged area, indicative of a weakened nose section.

3. Do keep the tension tight.

4. Do grease regularly. Ideally, at each gas tank refill and always at day's end to prevent rusting.

5. Do check the bar for square rails, which you want, and excessive groove wear, which you don't want.

6. Do check nose sprockets for broken teeth tips and replace the sprocket if broken.