Cessco Sells ICS Products for Less Tensioning Video
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Proper chain
tension will
affect the life of
your chain.
Cessco sells other ICS Products Also
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503-288-1242
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Ensure Proper Chain Tension.
You should be able to pull the
chain around the bar by hand
- be careful to avoid sharp
edges on the guide bar.
Chain tension too loose
can result in the chain
coming off the bar...
... Or allow the drive sprocket
to spin without turning the
chain, which can chew up the
drive links.
Chain tension too tight, a lot
of the power of the saw goes
into turning the chain rather
than into the cut
Over tensioning can also
result in premature chain
stretch - resulting in
wasted diamonds.
A properly tensioned
chain will turn easily
and the drive links will
almost hang out of the
guide bar groove.
This chain is in need of
proper tensioning.
    PROPER CHAIN TENSION
    If the chain is too loose, it could come off the bar, or
    it will allow the drive sprocket to spin without turning
    the chain, which can chew up the chain drive links. If
    the chain is too tight a lot of the saw's power goes
    into turning the chain rather than into the cut. In
    extreme over-tightened cases, the saw may not be
    able to turn the chain at all. In addition, damage can
    occur to the bar nose and premature stretch may
    occur.
    How To Check Chain Tension
    Before cutting, check for proper tension by pulling
    the chain around the bar by hand. If you cannot
    easily pull it by hand the chain is too tight and
    needs to be loosened.
    When To Tension
    All chains have a tendency to stretch when used.
    Diamond chains stretch more than wood cutting
    chains because of the abrasive materials they are
    cutting. When a chain stretches to a point where
    the drive links are hanging approximately 1/2" - 3/4"
    (12-18mm) below the bar, it's time to tension the
    chain.
 When to tension the diamond chains on your ICS TwinMAX-32 (P/N 71486).
    How To Tension
    To tension the chain, first loosen the side cove rnuts,
    then while holding the nose of the bar up, use a
    screw driver to turn the tensioning screw clockwise
    until the chain drive links hanging below the bar are
    just beginning to enter the bar groove. Continue to
    hold up the nose of the bar and firmly tighten the
    side cover nuts, (20-ft-lbs, 27Nm).
    And remember, it's the side cover nuts that
    hold the bar in position.
How to tension the diamond chains on your TwinMAX-32 (P/N 71486).
    How To Prevent Chain Tensioner Breakage
    Do not attempt to adjust the tensioner without first loosening the side cover nuts.  
    Do not use the saw without making sure the side cover nuts are tight.  If the side
    cover nuts are not tight, the bar can slip backwards during cutting and break the
    tensioner pin..
    Additional Information
    Concrete cutting chainsaws operate with looser chain
    tension than wood chainsaws. It is common
    especially on gas powered, concrete cutting
    chainsaws to have the drive links hang
    completely out of the bar. Wood cutting chainsaws
    use oil to lubricate the chain. The oil makes the chain
    very slippery and allows the drive links to fully nest
    between the teeth of the drive sprocket. Concrete
    cutting chainsaws require water for cooling and
    flushing the cut.  Water is not as good as oil as a lubricant. Also, there are concrete
    particles mixed in with the water. As a result, sometimes the drive links do not nest
    properly on the drive sprocket. When this happens, the chain acts like it got tighter.
    There may seem to be "tight" spots and "loose" spots as you pull the chain
    around the bar. If you tension when the chain is in one of the loose spots, it will
    be tight at some point in it's rotation around the bar. Rotating the chain
    completely around the bar by hand will let you know you have the chain
    properly tensioned.
    Additional Tensioning Tips
  1. To reduce chain stretch and tensioning downtime, use 20 PSI (1.4 bar) or greater
    water pressure.
  2. Oil the chain at the end of the day to prevent rust but be careful not to over tension
    in this condition.
  3. When pulling the chain around the bar by hand, be careful not to touch the bar with
    thumb or forefinger. The bar rails can be very sharp. Grab only the diamond
    segments to pull the chain.
  4. Always pull the chain away from the Wallwalker. The point of the Wallwalker can
    also be very sharp.
  5. Always turn the engine off before tensioning the chain.