sharpen electric chainsaw

[jimmyjennings]

I sharpen my petrol chainsaw without taking the chain off. You can easily move the chain along to get to all the teeth.

I just got a Makita (UC3520A) in addition (electric mains).

I cannot for the life of me see how to move the chain along to get at all the teeth.

I'm starting to think that there is no clutch and the gearing down from the motor to the chain drive means it can't be done.

There's nothing in the manual.

Is there a trick or an unmentioned 'disengage' thing or do I have to take the chain off each time.

Anyone got any ideas?

Thanks - JJ

[nepia]

Without plugging the saw into the mains try pressing in the safety release button and squeezing the trigger as if you wanted to start the chain running: you should be able to move the chain - use the file on the back of a tooth.

This works on my leccy Stihl and I can't see the controls being significantly different with a Makita.

[jimmyjennings]

Many thanks for the extremely quick reply nepia and you are 100% right . I thought I'd tried that - and all combinations of things that move but I'd just tried to move the chain by hand and obviously not hard enough. There's a bit of resistance - more than the Stihl petrol one but using the file certainly makes a big difference. Thanks again. JJ

[warren]

I take my bar and chain off .. it's easier and less likely to damage me