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What Causes Kickback On A Chainsaw?

We all like to use our chainsaws and there’s so much choice if you’re looking for the best chainsaw for cutting firewood for example. As what a review on BestOfMachinery.com have stated that there is currently a plethora of great electric chainsaws on the market. Some have already impressive features, and are closing the gap to gas-powered saws with comparable durability and performance. They are extraordinary machines and they are powerful. But, all that power can be an issue at some points. As you may know, a kickback is one of the most severe issues that can occur during using chainsaw and other cutting tools. What causes kickback on a chainsaw will be the main question which will be answered here.

What is a kickback on a chainsaw?

A kickback is a term used to explain the sudden movement of the chain bar up. It can be caused by two issues, which will be explained below. For now, we must emphasize the risk of this issue. A user can lose the control over the chainsaw which can cause a severe injury. As a matter of fact, kickback is known to be one of the biggest injury-causes in the world of chainsaws.

The severity of the kickback will depend on the power of the chainsaw, the length of the chain bar and the speed of the chain at that particular moment. Check out Verellenhc for good choices of chainsaw.

What causes kickback?

There are two main situations which can cause a kickback. The first one when the chain bar touches an object at the front, or at the nose of itself. At a high speed, a kickback will likely happen and it can cause a severe injury.

In the second case scenario, a chain guide will be caught in the middle of a wood you are cutting. Kickback will likely happen again and it is equally as dangerous as the one we explained earlier.

Both of these circumstances will cause the chain bar to ‘’jump’’ up. Because it is a quick and unexpected action, users are unable to stop it or control it. For example, a powerful chainsaw at the full speed will cause a kickback which will reach the neck, shoulders, and arms of the user. Keep in mind that most of the new chainsaws have up to 15.000 RPMs, so you can deduce the severity of the kickback.

Factors that increase the risk of kickback

Normally, kickback will never occur if you cut properly and you eliminate items at the front of the chain. But, there are a few factors that can increase the risk of a kickback. The most common is the improper maintenance of the chainsaw and the chain.  If the chainsaw is dull, you use an improper chain bar or you have damaged chain, the risk is significantly higher. An excessive depth of the chain guides is also a factor that can cause kickback. Make sure you replace the chain as frequent as it needs and makes sure you always use corresponding parts.

It is a nice thing knowing that new chainsaws come with a system that eliminates the risk of kickback. During it, an automatic brake will be activated topping the chain for turning.

The final word

Now you know what causes kickback on a chainsawand which factors increase the risk of it. Make sure you do everything you can in order to avoid the risk of getting a kickback.

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