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How to Sharpen Homelite SL Chainsaws
How to Sharpen Homelite SL Chainsaws. Whether your chainsaw is new or old, at some point, likely after just one use, you will need to sharpen your chainsaw. The Homelite SL chainsaw also needs a properly sharpened chain. You can tell your chainsaw needs sharpening when you have to push down on the chainsaw to make a cut. The chain should, rather,...
Whether your chainsaw is new or old, at some point, likely after just one use, you will need to sharpen your chainsaw. The Homelite SL chainsaw also needs a properly sharpened chain. You can tell your chainsaw needs sharpening when you have to push down on the chainsaw to make a cut. The chain should, rather, pull the saw through the cut, much like a can opener. You also want to resharpen your chain if you notice the cut pulling to the left of right, rather than just cutting straight.
Things You'll Need
Properly sized round file
Leather work gloves
Let the engine stop and cool off for several minutes it has been running. Place the chainsaw onto a flat, well-lit workspace so you can comfortably sharpen the chain. Pull back on the chain brake lever to disengage the safety brake and the chain spins freely.
Inspect closely the chain's individual teeth. Look for the tooth with the greatest signs of damage: chips, dings, burrs or bent points. You will want to start with the heaviest damaged tooth as you will need to apply, roughly the same amount of strokes to all teeth. If you over-sharpen one while leaving another longer your saw will cut to the left or right.
Find the heaviest damaged tooth. Put your gloves on and set the properly sized round file into the hook of the tooth. Check with your SL's manual for specific chain dimensions. If you can't find it there, check the box your last chain came in. Use only the properly sized round file.
Clasp your free hand around the bar. Position your body parallel to the bar. Set your arm and the file at an angle of about 60 degrees to the engine. If your chain has file guides on top of the tooth, use those as your angle reference.
Drag the file across the front edge of the tooth. Use swipes that are smooth and even, applying roughly the same pressure to each file stroke. Count the number of strokes you used to reshape the tooth to its proper angle while removing any nicks or burrs. Slide the chain up to the next tooth facing the same direction.
Repeat the sharpening process counting out the same number of strokes as the first. Apply the same amount of pressure and use the same angle as the first. Continue up one side of the chain, sharpening every tooth evenly. Flip the chainsaw around and use the same method for the other side of the chain. Use the same strokes as the first side.
