8 Causes of Excessive Chainsaw Smoke in a Troy-Bilt

You have seen smoke coming from your chainsaw but are unsure if this is a serious issue. Seeing smoke is usually not a good omen. When troubleshooting, it is helpful to know whether the smoke is coming from the chainsaw’s bar or exhaust.

Too much bar and chain friction, too much oil in the fuel mixture, water in the fuel system, or a blocked air filter might cause a Troy-Bilt chainsaw to smoke.

Smoking Troy-Bilt Chainsaw:

  1. An improperly or inadequately sharpened chain
  2. Overly restrictive linkage
  3. Oil tank with no bars and no chains
  4. Used the wrong kind of bar and chain oil
  5. Reverse oiler clogged
  6. Contaminated air filter
  7. There’s too much oil in the gas
  8. A fuel combination including water

Use extreme caution when attempting to diagnose and fix issues with your chainsaw. Before attempting repairs, it is necessary to turn off the chainsaw, let the engine cool, and then remove the spark plug boot.

Troy-Bilt Chainsaw

Before diagnosing, repairing, or operating, be sure you’ve read and understood all of the safety recommendations in the equipment’s operator’s handbook. If you are unsure of how to proceed, lack the necessary knowledge, or are unable to execute the repair properly, you should seek the advice of a professional.

Troy-Bilt Bar and Chain Saw user puffing on a Cigarette

If your Troy-Bilt chainsaw smokes during usage, the problem may lie with increasing friction between the bar and chain.

The chain may be too worn to run smoothly over the bar, or it may be poorly lubricated or stuck in place.

Damaged or Improperly Sharpened Chain on a Troy-Bilt Chainsaw

The chain on your chainsaw will become dull and smokey if you use it to chop wood. When cutting wood, greater force is required when the chain is dull or not sharpened properly.

Metal on metal friction from the pressure creates heat and smoke.

The following symptoms indicate that the chain needs to be replaced:

  • Forcing oneself to press harder on the bar in order to make a cut.
  • Every time you make a cut, you generate a fine dust called sawdust.
  • Splits or broken links in the chain.
  • Cracked teeth and dull rakers.

It’s not hard to sharpen the chain links yourself. Having a professional perform the sharpening for you is a good idea if you don’t know how to do it yourself. Not properly sharpening a chain can pose a significant risk to anybody using it.

Damage to a Troy-Bilt Chainsaw Caused by Dry Bar and Chain

When your chainsaw’s bar and chain aren’t properly lubricated, friction will increase. Possible causes include insufficient oil in the tank or a blocked oiler.

If the oil in the bar and chain tank is low or gone completely, fill it.

First, make sure there is enough oil on the bar by running the chainsaw at roughly half to three quarters of its maximum speed. Hold the bar less than a foot from the ground and observe for a line of oil to drip off it.

You should check the condition of the bar and the oil channel to ensure you are getting proper lubrication. If the guide bar is broken or worn, you should replace it and clean the oil channel.

Adjust the automatic oiler so that there is an adequate supply of oil. Adjusting the oiler’s output is as simple as turning a screw.

Every time you refuel your Troy-Bilt, it’s a good idea to also refill the bar and chain oil. However, if you are using a too-thin oil in the saw, you may have to check and replenish the oil more frequently.

A Troy-Bilt Chainsaw with the Incorrect Bar and Chain Oil

If the bar and chain oil is excessively watery, it might deteriorate the bar and chain and create friction, leading to smoke. Too light of an oil and the bar and chain can just slide right off.

Please use this ECHO oil or a comparable oil on your bar and chain.

Troy-Bilt Chainsaw Has a Too-Tight Chain

Over time, the chain’s link will get more loose, so be sure to check it frequently and re-tighten it. However, if the chain is tightened too much, it will no longer be able to rotate freely around the bar, leading to greater friction and smoke.

Tighten the chain on a Troy-Bilt chainsaw by following these steps:

  • Pull the wire from the spark plug.
  • To release the chain brake, please unlock the lock.
  • To remove the cover from the clutch and chain brake, unscrew the bolts holding the bar in place.
  • Keep the bar’s horns up.
  • To relax the chain, turn the tensioning screw counterclockwise, and to tighten the chain, turn the screw clockwise.
  • The bar must be held nose up while the retaining nuts are tightened once the proper tension is achieved.

The chain should be wrapped tightly around the bar, yet should be free to slide along it. Keep it snug so it doesn’t dangle from the railing.

The Troy-Bilt Chainsaw’s Engine Was Giving Off Smoke

If your chainsaw is producing smoke while in use, check for airflow problems, such as a clogged air filter or an incorrect fuel mixture.

A Troy-Bilt Chainsaw With a Clogged Air Filter

Using a chainsaw is a very grimy occupation. The air is filled with sawdust and bits of wood.

Of order to keep the engine in your chainsaw running smoothly, you need install an air filter. The filter prevents debris like dirt and sawdust from damaging the engine by entering the carburetor throat.

If you just sometimes use your chainsaw, you should inspect the air filter and change it once a year. If you plan on using the saw frequently, you should keep an eye on the filter to see if it gets too dirty, and replace it if necessary.

If the filter isn’t checked and cleaned on a regular basis, it might become so dirty that it blocks airflow.

As a result of the excessive amount of oxygen in the fuel, the engine will run hot and smoke. A shortage of air might cause the engine to fail.

The Troy-Bilt Chainsaw’s Fuel Mixture Has Too Much Oil

Mixing gas and oil at a 40:1 ratio is necessary for Troy-Bilt chainsaws. If you use more oil than that, you can notice the engine smoking.

When you figure out that the smoke is due to an improper gas-to-oil ratio, you may fix the problem by draining the tank and refilling it. Read this article to learn how to properly fuel a Troy-Bilt chainsaw.

In most cases, this won’t have any lasting effects. The accumulation of carbon in the exhaust system as a result of excessive oil consumption might disrupt engine operation.

Troy-Bilt Chainsaw Fuel System Leaks Due to Water Intrusion

White smoke is produced when water is included in the fuel mixture. Both the engine and the fuel system are susceptible to corrosion from water.

Empty the fuel tank and replace it with new gasoline and 2-cycle engine oil mix, such as this oil from MTD, rather than attempting to figure out how to conserve fuel and remove water.

If you want to get rid of any moisture and clean up the fuel system, using an additive like Sea Foam Motor Treatment is a good idea. Begin operating the saw to circulate the processed fuel.

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