Stihl HT 56 C Instruction Manual page 25

24 Maintaining and Sharpening the Saw Chain
► Hold the file horizontally (at a right angle to the
side of the guide bar) and file according to the
angles marked on the file holder. Rest the file
holder on the top plate and depth gauge.
► Always file from the inside to the outside of the
cutter.
► The file only sharpens on the forward stroke –
lift the file off the cutter on the backstroke.
► Avoid touching the tie straps and drive links
with the file.
► Rotate the file at regular intervals while filing to
avoid one-sided wear.
► Use a piece of hardwood to remove burrs from
the cutting edge.
► Check angles with the filing gauge.
All cutters must be the same length.
If the cutters are not the same length, they will
have different heights. This makes the chain run
roughly and can cause it to break.
► Find the shortest cutter and then file all other
cutters back to the same length. It is best to
have this work done by a servicing dealer on
an electric grinder.
0458-555-8321-C
24.7
90°
The depth gauge determines the height at which
the cutter enters the wood and thus the thickness
of the chip removed.
a Specified distance or setting between depth
gauge and cutting edge.
This setting may be increased by 0.2 mm
(0.008") for cutting softwood in the mild weather
season – no frost.
Chain pitch
inch
1/4 P
1/4
3/8 P
0.325
3/8
24.8
The depth gauge setting is reduced when the
chain is sharpened.
► Use a filing gauge to check the setting every
time you sharpen the chain.
► Place a filing gauge (1) that matches the chain
pitch on the chain and press it against the cut‐
ter – if the depth gauge projects from the filing
gauge, the depth gauge has to be lowered.
Saw chains with humped drive link (2) – upper
part of humped drive link (2) (with service mark)
is lowered along with the depth gauge.
Depth gauge setting
Depth gauge
Setting (a)
(mm) mm
(6,35) 0,45
(6,35) 0,65
(9,32) 0,65
(8,25) 0,65
(9,32) 0,65
Lowering depth gauges
1
English
a
(inch)
(0.018)
(0.026)
(0.026)
(0.026)
(0.026)
2
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