Cleaning a chainsaw

I want to give my chainsaw a good wash before winter.
I want to remove all the caked on sawdust and such. Is there a cleaner that is safe to do this with that won't effect the oiling of the chain?
I will be using it in winter as well, so the goal is not to remove the oil, just the crap that is building up.

I would take a putty knife and get the worst off and then a stiff brush and call it a day.



I have never cleaned mine with more than a whisk broom.

bud16415 said:

I would take a putty knife and get the worst off and then a stiff brush and call it a day.



I have never cleaned mine with more than a whisk broom.

Click to expand...

That is how I did it before. I want to do a better cleaning.

Would go with this then and then some spray oil.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Super-Te...LzI1J6S3nYRYqbdPi-UaArYZEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

bud16415 said:

Would go with this then and then some spray oil.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Super-Te...LzI1J6S3nYRYqbdPi-UaArYZEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Click to expand...

I have a can of brake cleaner around.... somewhere.

I would take the chain and bar off and brush and scrape. Then reassemble.

JoeD said:

I would take the chain and bar off and brush and scrape. Then reassemble.

Click to expand...

Been there, done that, multiple times. I want it almost new clean. It's almost 10 years old. I figure a deep clean is needed every now and then.

pressure washer??

I just went through this too, but a complete cleaning .
1) remove chain and clean, then run something inside the track that the chain runs in. also lubricate the bearing at the end. keep on pumping in grease until it run pure.
2) remove the hosing assembly for the pull cord. wash with gas and a tooth brush so all the saw dust and grease are gone and all the air vents are 100% open.
3) brush the vanes inside the hosing assembly same as above.
4) remove air filter and replace , also in that area clean with gas and tooth brush and wipe all parts dry with paper towel .
5) get carb cleaner and hose down the carb. if needed replace carb kit
6) fill gas tank with gas and turn upside down to get any crap out of the tank , repeat if necessary
7) check chain and re sharpen or replace
8) fill gas and lub as required
9) reassembly and give it a try
Just so you know i live in Canada and this is my third saw, last year i put up 17 cords .

billshack said:

I just went through this too, but a complete cleaning .
1) remove chain and clean, then run something inside the track that the chain runs in. also lubricate the bearing at the end. keep on pumping in grease until it run pure.
2) remove the hosing assembly for the pull cord. wash with gas and a tooth brush so all the saw dust and grease are gone and all the air vents are 100% open.
3) brush the vanes inside the hosing assembly same as above.
4) remove air filter and replace , also in that area clean with gas and tooth brush and wipe all parts dry with paper towel .
5) get carb cleaner and hose down the carb. if needed replace carb kit
6) fill gas tank with gas and turn upside down to get any crap out of the tank , repeat if necessary
7) check chain and re sharpen or replace
8) fill gas and lub as required
9) reassembly and give it a try
Just so you know i live in Canada and this is my third saw, last year i put up 17 cords .

Click to expand...

I am in Canada and I may do a cord a year.

Your list with what to use and how to do it makes a lot of sense.