chain saw savvy

DISCLAIMER: As with anyone else these days, the suggestions offered here are not meant ot be a substitute for actual training. No promise of getting the saw working again is implied or intended. I've also got no idea how much you know about chainsaws so I'm trying to be as basic as possible. Having said that...

Someone sent me a question about chain saws. Don't know why they couldn't have gone to any number of commercial sites. Maybe because the writer is a woman and didn't want to deal with attitude from sales clerks at the chain saw retailer. Dunno. Anyway, I wrote her back with the following, plus the pictures included here:
     Without seeing what has occurred, and without knowing what make of chain saw you own, it may be something as simple as the bolts that hold the guide bar [some folks refer to this as the blade arm] to the saw coming loose. The saw chain should fit into the groove in the middle of the guide bar and shall have notches that fit into the groove. You have to be careful to put the blades to they face in the proper direction of how the saw cuts [generally clockwise] otherwise you'll have even greater problems that arise.
     I have included two pictures, the first shows the saw chain the second the guide bar. The saw side of the chain is at the top of the picture and faces the direction most likely to be on the top of the guide bar when properly attached.

     The second picture is the guide bar. There are two holes to the left side of the picture which is where it gets fitted on to two screwbolts. They have to be tightened and the guidebar has to be held taut while tightening them. Wear a pair of thick leather gloves to accomplish this since when pulling the guide arm taut, there is likely to be some contact with the blade.
     You ought to be able to find at least some maintenance manuals online through a google search; although many have them available only as pdf format files.
     Personally, I own two Stihls [they tend to burn oil but otherwise work just fine], one Poulan [works nice and clean and a small one can be handy for turning out ice sculptures] and a Sears Cratfsman [My first chainsaw. I'll never do that again. Hard to get parts for if you don't live near 'em and since the only people you can get to maintain them are Sears folks ...breaks the warranty anyway] But my true logger buddies generally swear by the Swedish Husqvarnas as the best that you can get.
     Here's a link to one non-pdf site with maintenace tips [no pictures, unfortunately] Well Grounded Grounds page about On Chainsaw Maintenance.
     Oregon Chain also has a good guidebook that, while certainly promoting their own products, provides general information that applies to many makes and models, especially for the information you seek.
     I don't doubt you may already know this but you may want to locate your closest dealer and get in touch with them for some pointers. Don't worry about asking what you think might be "stupid" questions. I realize that there will be some guys actually stupid enough to give you attitude since a woman may be asking the question, but not all maintenance guys are like that. And the serious chain saw dealers and [more importantly] chain saw USERS take the tool seriously and most of us are not shy about giving pointers to a novice user.
     Safety, after all, is more important than attitude.

Here's some other useful sites that offer tips on chain saws
 • About's How to fell a tree. This has links to a beginner's book course and other links that can help educate a character about chainsaws and using them.
 • The Timber Buyer's Network offers a well written online Chain Saw Basics Course put together by veteran logger Carl Smith.
 • Finally, a connect to sculptor Mike Burns chainsaw collection.