Stihl Chainsaw Chain Not Moving: The Ultimate Guide

It was a cold Saturday morning. I had my coffee and my boots on. A pile of oak logs was waiting for me. I grabbed my Stihl saw and pulled the cord.

The engine roared to life. It sounded strong. I squeezed the trigger. I expected the chain to spin.

But nothing happened.

The engine revved, but the chain sat still. It did not move an inch.

Have you been there? It is frustrating. You just want to get to work. You might think your saw is broken. I thought so too.

But don’t panic. A Stihl chainsaw chain not moving is a common issue. It is often a very simple fix.

Here is what I learned that day. These steps helped me get back to cutting fast.

1. Check the Brake

I have to admit, this was my first mistake. I felt a bit silly when I found it.

Stihl saws have great safety features. The main one is the chain brake. It is the black plastic paddle in front of the top handle. If the saw kicks back, this brake stops the chain.

I looked at my hand guard. It was pushed forward. The brake was on.

What I did:

• I turned the engine off.
• I pulled the black paddle back towards me.
• I heard a loud “click.”

That click is the sound of success. It means the brake is off. I started the saw again. The chain spun perfectly. Always check this first. It is easy to bump it by accident.

2. Is the Chain Too Tight?

A few weeks later, I had the same problem. But the brake was off.

I remembered I had just put on a new chain. I wanted it to be secure. So, I cranked the screw tight. Really tight.

I learned a lesson that day. If the chain is too tight, the engine cannot turn it. The friction is too high.

My Quick Test: I turned the saw off. I put on my thick gloves. I tried to pull the chain along the bar by hand. It would not budge.

The Fix:

• I loosened the side nuts.
• I turned the tension screw to the left.
• I pulled the chain up again. It lifted a little bit, then snapped back.

That is the sweet spot. It should move freely by hand.

3. Hidden Gunk in the Bar

Sometimes, the chain is fine. The problem is the track it sits in.

I took the bar off the saw. I looked closely at the groove. It was packed tight. It was full of old sawdust and sticky oil.

This gunk acts like dried glue. It grabs the chain links. It stops the Stihl chainsaw chain from moving.

How I cleaned it: I used a small flat tool. I ran it down the entire groove. A long strip of dirt came out. It was satisfying to see. Once the track was clean, the chain glided smooth.

4. The Nose Gear Was Stuck

I checked the tip of the bar next. There is a small star-shaped gear there. It is called the nose sprocket. It helps the chain turn the corner.

I tried to spin it with my finger. It was stuck solid.

I had been cutting dirty wood. Grit had jammed the little bearing. If this gear won’t turn, the whole chain stops.

The Solution:

• I sprayed some cleaner on the tip.
• I worked the gear back and forth.
• After a minute, it spun free.

Quick Problem Solver

Here is a simple chart based on my own trial and error.

What I Saw	The Likely Reason	My Quick Fix
Engine revs, chain is locked	The brake is on	Pull the guard back until it clicks.
Chain won’t pull by hand	It is too tight	Loosen the screw until it snaps back.
Chain is stuck in one spot	Dirty bar groove	Scrape the gunk out of the rail.
Bar tip gets very hot	Stuck nose gear	Clean and oil the tip sprocket.

Final Thoughts

There is nothing worse than a broken tool when you have work to do. But usually, a Stihl chainsaw chain not moving is just a sign. Your saw needs a little care.

For me, it is usually just the brake. Or maybe I tightened the chain too much. Now, I always do a check before I start. I spin the chain by hand (engine off!) to be sure.

Take your time. Check these simple spots. You will be making sawdust again in no time.

Stay safe out there!

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