Stihl Chainsaw Information

Components

• Stihl chainsaws are composed of three main parts, the power head, the bar and the chain. The power head consists of the motor and its component parts. As of 2010, there were more than 50 models of available Stihl chainsaw power head. Stihl chainsaw bars and chains are distinguished by their label color, size, sprocket and chain pitch.

Power Head

• Stihl power heads provide several safety features including chain breaks, hand guards and more. Stihl chainsaws utilize single-cylinder, two-stroke motors that require gasoline and two-cycle engine oil.

Guide Bar

• Stihl guide bars are differentiated by their physical characteristics and safety features. Guide bars marked with green are reduced kickback bars and guide bars marked with yellow are merely low kickback bars. The sprocket of the bar refers to the number of teeth used to transfer power from the power head to the guide bar.

Chains

• Chains for chainsaws are measured based on their size -- or pitch. The pitch of the chain must match the pitch of the bar and power head in order to work properly. Stihl chains also use a color system that includes green, yellow and red to indicate the level of kickback reduction provided with a given chain.