Adjusting blade on Husqvarna chain saws

Always read the manual first! Here's an excerpt for a model 51-

Mounting guide bar and chain

Always wear gloves, when working with the chain, in order to protect your hands from injury.


Check that the chain brake is in disengaged position by moving the front hand guard towards the front handle.

Take off the bar nuts and remove the clutch cover. Take off the transportation ring.

Fit the bar over the bar bolts. Place the bar in its rearmost position. Place the chain over the drive sprocket and in the groove on the bar. Begin on the top side of the bar. Make sure that the edges on the cutting links are facing forward on the top side of the bar.

Fit the clutch cover and locate the chain adjuster pin in the hole on the bar. Check that the drive links of the chain fit correctly on the drive sprocket and that the chain is in the groove on the bar. Tighten the
bar nuts finger tight.

Tension the chain by using the combination wrench. Turn the chain adjuster screw
clockwise. The chain should be tensioned until it fits snugly on the underside of the bar. Hold up the tip of the bar and tighten the chain. The chain is correctly tensioned when there is no slack on the underside of the bar, but it can still be turned easily by hand. Hold up the bar tip and tighten the bar nuts with the combination wrench.

When fitting a new chain, the chain tension has to be checked frequently until the chain is run-in. Check the chain tension regularly. A correctly tensioned chain gives good cutting performance and long lifetime.