I have tried everything I can think of to get my saw to oil the chain but I can't figure out how the oiler works. Can you explain it to me please?

Clabair, February 2009

None are gravity fed & none pressurize the oil tank. Either the ears have sheared off the pump drive where they contact the clutch cup, or the nylon pinion gear has stripped.

studmonkey, July 2009

The oiler is a pump driven off the crank. It sucks oil from the oil reservoir through a tube - usually plastic with a metal filter on the end. The oil is then fed directly from the pump to the chain, usually through a drip hole under the bar end near the sprocket. The little holes on the bar end match this oil hole and are there to allow the oil to get to the groove in the bar. If they are blocked the oil just makes a mess around the sprocket, so if you've got lots of oil around the sprocket, but none on the bar, clean the holes out.

You won't be able to get at the oil pump without some serious stripping, so check the oil filter on the tube in the oil reservoir first.

wes, March 2009

none are gravity fed and older saws seldom have working pumps. try getting it to work with diesel in oil tank before trying it with oil.

ned flanderz, February 2009

it depends on the make of saw. some pump it through a little gear pump, some have a lever to do it manually. MOST pressurize the tank with crankcase pressure that is held by a little one way valve. if your cap is not airtight it won't work and the oil mustn't be too thick. if it's a POULAIN CHAINSAW- THEY NEVER WORK. some have a filter in tank they may be clogged

muleman, February 2009

Don't know of any chainsaw oilers that are gravity fed. Principly because the viscosity of the chain oil is too thick and more importantly a chainsaw is used at various different angles, so unless the resevoir had a multitude of feed holes it simply wouldn't work.

All chainsaw chain oilers are pump fed from a gear mounted on the crankshaft normall located behind the clutch assembly.

pleasant, February 2009

It's gravity fed. Use a pipe cleaner (tobacco) to unblock the oil channel that is situated above or next to your chain. Alternatively empty the oil compartment, place your lips over the fill hole and blow while turning the chain by hand..don't suck or start the machine whilst doing this!! If air does not get out you have a blockage Wipe your mouth before licking your lips.
Hope this helps

HoleyMoley, February 2009