Your Rotatech carbide-tipped chain is designed for demanding cutting jobs and abrasive cutting conditions. Correct fitting, lubrication and maintenance help you get the most from it.
Important: Do not sharpen the carbide cutting tips with a regular chainsaw hand file. They require specialist sharpening equipment suitable for carbide.
Before fitting your chain
Check that the chain matches your chainsaw’s cutting setup:
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Pitch: must match the guide bar and drive sprocket.
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Gauge: must match the guide bar groove.
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Drive-link count: must suit your guide bar and saw.
Bar length alone does not confirm compatibility. Check the chain specification against your saw’s manual and guide bar markings.
Switch off the saw and prevent accidental starting before working on it. Disconnect the spark plug cap on petrol saws, remove the battery on cordless saws, or unplug corded electric saws. Allow the saw to cool and wear protective gloves when handling the chain.
Always follow your chainsaw manufacturer’s fitting instructions.
How to fit your carbide-tipped chain
1. Remove the existing chain
Release the chain brake as instructed in your saw’s manual. Loosen the sprocket cover fixings, release the chain tension and remove the cover, guide bar and old chain.
2. Check the bar and sprocket
Clean the guide bar groove and oil-feed holes. Inspect the bar, sprocket and tensioning mechanism for wear or damage before fitting the replacement chain.
3. Fit the new chain
Place the chain around the drive sprocket and seat the drive links in the guide bar groove.
Along the top of the bar, the cutters must point towards the bar tip.
Refit the guide bar and cover, ensuring the tensioning mechanism is correctly engaged. Leave the fixings loose enough to adjust the tension.
4. Adjust the tension
Follow your saw’s tensioning procedure. Where instructed, hold the bar nose up while adjusting and tightening the fixings.
The chain should sit against the underside of the bar without sagging, while remaining free to move by hand with gloves on and the brake released. The drive links must remain seated in the groove.
5. Check before cutting
Check the tension again, confirm the cover is secure and verify that the chain is receiving oil using the procedure in your saw’s manual.
A new chain may need tension adjustment during its first use. Stop and isolate the saw before making adjustments.
Sharpening carbide-tipped chains
Do not use a regular hand file on the carbide tips
Carbide cutting edges require a different sharpening method from standard steel chains. A regular round chainsaw file is not suitable for sharpening them.
Use a competent sharpening specialist with diamond grinding equipment suitable for carbide-tipped chains. The equipment, wheel profile and settings must match the particular chain.
Do not assume a standard electric chain sharpener or its supplied grinding wheel is suitable. Incorrect sharpening can damage the cutting tips or alter the cutter geometry.
Depth gauges also need checking during servicing. Their settings must follow the specification for your chain; do not lower them by eye.
Contact Rotatech if you need help identifying your chain or confirming its maintenance requirements.
When does your chain need sharpening?
Check cutting performance rather than working to a fixed number of hours.
Stop and inspect the chain if:
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Cutting becomes noticeably slower.
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You need to apply extra pressure to make it cut.
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It produces fine dust instead of the usual chips when cross-cutting.
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It pulls to one side or cuts unevenly.
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You notice unusual vibration or visible cutter damage.
These symptoms can also indicate tension, lubrication or guide bar problems. Check those before assuming sharpening is the only issue.
Caring for your carbide chain
Keep it lubricated. Use suitable bar and chain oil, keep the oil-feed holes clear and check oil delivery regularly.
Check the tension. Check before use and regularly during work, following your saw’s manual.
Clean after use. Remove accumulated resin, sawdust and debris using a suitable cleaner. Dry the chain and lightly oil it before storage.
Inspect the cutting tips. Check for chipped, cracked, loose or missing carbide inserts, as well as damaged links and rivets. Do not continue using a damaged chain.
Avoid contact with foreign objects. Carbide’s wear resistance does not make the chain damage-proof. Avoid soil, stones, nails and other metal. This chain is for cutting wood, not metal or masonry.
Need help?
For advice on chain compatibility, fitting or carbide-chain maintenance, contact the Rotatech team:
Email: sales@rotatechproducts.com
Telephone: 0114 308 6995
Always use your chainsaw’s operator manual alongside this guide.