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3-29-'24, WBR Live, “Daily Constitution”, “Hillbilly Friday”, The Retirement network: Watching paint dry and grass growing (home repair and Golf). Today, “Zen and the art of Chainsaw maintenance.” In the spring, when a young plant's heart turns to sap, A chainsaw is a valuable 'hedge' to keep wildfire from devaluing your primary residences. I have a bunch of small brush to reduce before the plants turn green after the winter shut down. There are a number of things required to keep a chainsaw working well (thus reasonably safe) that one needs to be aware of. Most pertain to the storage and yearly prep for moderate use in the warmer days. Toe two big areas are fuel conditioning, and chain sharpening. You can just take it into the home shop every year and have them bitch and overcharge you for the pleasure, but just some simple awareness can save some money and a bunch of animosity from the local hardware. There are two additives to use in 2 cycle engines if you don't want to do a full cardio set, to start it the next time (after drying the spark gap with a Bic). Besides the compression oil mixed with the fuel, the fuel also needs to be mixed with a storage compound because fuel grows old and goes bad. (one more reason I prefer propane whenever practical). The other half of the 'Spring Cleaning' is chain maintenance and sharpening. One could just buy a new chain whenever the last one goes dull, but a chain sharpening kit (with correct use) is a good investment. MOVE THE FILE IN ONE CONTACT DIRECTION ONLY! Not only will the file dull cause of wear from the opposite contact movement, but the file 'sharps' will be bent down to reduce grab from any sharpness the file may have on it's own. So, unless you are cutting dry soft Pine, and feeling like cleaning out the entire fuel system pathways of tired fuel, to get the engine to start according to the 3(?) step instructions, spend the morning sharpening your blade. (Lincoln).