Sudden failure of the electric chainsaw oiler can ruin a productive day in the woods. Everything about the saw may be functioning properly: The motor hums along with a healthy chain. But eventually, the chain begins to smoke, the saw begins to make ragged saw, and the bar becomes hotter than your coffee maker.
This is the result of the saw’s automatic oiler failing to perform its essential function of lubricating the saw chain. Many users of electric chainsaws assume that if the oiler stops functioning, the entire saw are broken. But the failure of the oiler is usually limited to the oil system of the saw.
By understanding the causes of the failure of the automatic oiler for electric chainsaws and how to fix those causes, you can get back to cutting wood as quickly and efficient as possible. The list of the most common causes of failure of the automatic oiler of electric chainsaws is presented in order of priority of inspection of those potential causes. Following the order in which the causes are listed will save you both time and money when troubleshooting the oiler.
Common Causes of Electric Chainsaw Oiler Failure
1. Clogged Oil Port
The first thing that you should inspect is whether the oil port that feeds the saw chain is clogged. Common causes include sawdust, pitch from resinous wood, and thickened oil that accumulate over time. These components often coalesce into a sticky substance that forms a seal at the port.
The saw will sit idle for several weeks, or you will have been cutting resinous wood too frequently, leading to a build-up of this occlusive substance in the oil port. To remove this substance, remove the bar and the chain from the saw. Use a thin wire to scrape the oil slot and the groove that runs along the length of the bar.
Flush the oil port on the saw body using compressed air or chainsaw bar oil. Reassemble the saw and start the chain. The oiler should immediately begin functioning normal.
2. Blocked Oil Tank Vent
If you do not perform this step, your time will be wasted attempting to fix the problem of a failed oiler caused by a blocked oil slot. Next, you should inspect whether the saw’s oil tank has a blocked vent. The oiler for electric chainsaws use atmospheric pressure to draw oil from the tank.
The saw’s vent is located on the filler cap of the oil tank. Any blockage in that vent prevents the saw’s oil pump from drawing oil from the tank. This issue usually happens if the saw is stored in a location that is filled with dust or if you have neglected to clean the vent cap between the different seasons of the year.
The symptoms of a blocked oil tank vent are the same than those of a failed oil pump. In either case, unscrew the cap of the oil tank and inspect the vent for any blockages. Remove the obstruction using a pin or a blast of compressed air.
Replace the cap and ensure that the gasket beneath the cap is in good condition. If the saw’s tank cap is cracked, replace it. The cap is an inexpensive part of the saw and one that prevents many frustrations with the saw’s operation.
3. Damaged Oil Line
The third problem that you should investigate is whether the oil line inside the saw is damaged. The flexible oil line that connects the oil tank to the oil pump can crack, kink, or become detached from the saw after hundreds of hours of vibration over time. To inspect the oil line, remove the side cover and bar of the saw.
Follow the translucent oil line to locate any cracks, tears, or the oil line that has become detached from its barb attachment. Replace the oil line with a new line of the same diameter. Cut a new length of oil line and re-route it in the same way as the damaged oil line.
Secure the ends of the line with zip ties if the original oil line had loose barbs. The replacement of the oil line takes only about fifteen minutes of saw maintenance and will ensure that the saw runs efficiently for the remainder of its operating season. One of the components of the chainsaw that can fail is the oil pump.
4. Failed Oil Pump
While this is less common, it is still a problem that can occur in electric chainsaws. The saw motor either directly or indirectly drives the oil pump, which is a worm gear or piston. Over time, the oil pump can fail due to dried out seals and stripped gear.
To investigate whether the oil pump is the problem, unplug the saw’s power cord. Turn the saw’s drive sprocket by hand to see if the oil pump moves in reaction. If the oil pump’s components do not move when the sprocket is manually turned, it is likely that the oil pump has seized.
A technician can replace this component. The replacement saw pump part may only fit the model of saw you own; bring the old oil pump to the shop to recieve the saw pump part that will best replace it. Using the wrong type of oil can cause the automatic oiler to fail.
5. Incorrect Oil Type
Many users of electric chainsaws use other types of oil than the type recommended by the saw manufacturer. Using engine oil or vegetable oil may cause the saw to experience a failure in the automatic oiler. Additionally, using old transmission fluid can cause the same problem.
If thin oil is used, it may not effectively reach the saw chain. Using thick oil may prevent it from effectively traveling through the thin orifice of the saw. The solution to this problem is to drain the oil tank of the saw.
Flush the oil tank with the proper type of bar oil. Finally, refill the saw’s oil tank with fresh saw oil. If you work in the winter months, use a winter-grade bar and chain oil to prevent the oil from thickening.
The efficiency of the oil pump should immediately return to normal. One final component that can fail is the adjustment screw for the automatic oiler. On electric chainsaws, there is a flat-head screw that controls the amount of oil that is dispensed from the saw’s oiler.
6. Adjustment Screw Issues
If this screw is adjusted all the way down to the bottom during storage periods, it can create a jamming of sawdust into the screw. This jamming will prevent the oil from being dispensed in the saw chain. To fix the problem, you can locate the adjustment screw near the area where the saw bar is mounted.
The screw may be marked with a drop symbol. The screw should be turned counterclockwise two full turns from the fully-closed position of the saw. Turn the saw’s engine to half-throttle and watch for oil droplets or sprays from the underside of the saw bar.
Repeat the step if droplets do not appear within ten seconds. Once oil droplets begin to form, adjust the screw to ensure the saw chain remains wet but does not waste oil on the user’s boots. Finding the proper setting for the oil adjustment screw will prevent dry saw cuts and wasteful oil use.
7. Broken Oil Pump Gear
Another problem that can occur on electric chainsaws is that the saw’s gear inside the oil pump has failed. The saw motor’s drive shaft has a worm gear that drives a saw oil pump piston. The teeth of the worm gear can become worn or the plastic gear can crack over time.
Despite the saw motor still functioning, oil dispensing from the automatic oiler has stopped. The only way to fix this problem is to open the saw’s gearbox. If the saw motor’s sprocket can be turned but the oil pump shaft does not turn, the oil pump gear has failed.
Depending on the saw manufacturer, a repair shop may be able to purchase and install the saw’s worm gear and plastic gear. For more expensive saws, the cost of this repair may be comparable to buying a new saw. If the saw is still relatively new or has sentimental value, the repair is a good idea.
For saws that are already five years of age, a failing oil pump gear may signal more failures of the other saw component. Another potential problem that can cause the automatic oiler on an electric chainsaw to fail is an electrical issue. These problems are less common on the basic chainsaw models used by homeowners.
8. Electrical System Failures
However, these problems can be found on higher-end electric saw model. An electrical issue may involve a broken wire to the oiler or the saw’s control board. To inspect these components, a multimeter and the saw wiring diagram will be needed.
Unless you are comfortable with working on the electronics on a chainsaw, a technician should perform this last solution. To the saw shop owner, the failing oil pump has a fairly easy diagnosis. Once the technician rules out the oil pump as the cause of the failing automatic oiler, the technician can quickly diagnose the saw electric components and give you an accurate price for the saw repair.
9. User Error: Low Oil
Finally, user error is a problem that many people tend to overlook. The most common user error is forgetting to fill the saw’s oil tank with bar oil. This is a common error when individuals get absorbed in their cutting effort.
Ensure that each time you refill the saw battery or add fuel to a gas saw, you refill the saw’s oil tank. Some saw owners set a timer on their cell phones for forty-five minute period to remind themselves of the need to refill the oil tank. This small habit will significantly reduce the damage that can occur to the saw chain due to dry saw cuts.
A five minute dry cut can ruin a fifty dollar saw bar. Preventing this type of damage is essentially free. Getting your electric chainsaw oiler working again is rarely complicated.
All you have to do is figure out how to get to the oiler on your saw. The saw will fire right up. You can cut some wood to warm up the saw.
You’ll quickly see a line of oil come out of the saw chain where it meets the bar nose. This means that your saw is once again protecting itself. You can finally get to work instead of struggling with a smoking saw that squeals when you try to cut wood.
Just keep the oil ports on the saw clean. Use the proper lubricant for your saw chain, and always check the oil tank in your saw. If you take care of your electric chainsaw properly, it will serve you for many years.
