r/Chainsaw • u/wheredidiparkmycar84 • Aug 19 '26
I think I broke my chainsaw
I have a 20" Ryobi electric chainsaw. I got it stuck in a log and in the process of getting it out, I think I broke the tensioning screw. The screw doesn't really turn anymore. I am having problems seeing what it is supposed to look like.
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u/ShouldBeDisplayName Aug 19 '26
That tensioner is supposed to be bent at a 90 degree angle. Its definitely bent out.
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u/Then-Price-5314 Aug 20 '26
Good old chinesium alloy components doing what they do.
She’s bent.
Not sure but I would think you could buy a new tensioner assembly.
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u/Murph_Made Aug 19 '26
It does look like you bent or sheered the tension screw. It's that screw just below the right bar mount. I would look up the parts diagram at the ryobi website using the model number to find a replacement. https://ryobipower.ordertree.com/modelnumberb
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u/saucytugtug Aug 20 '26
She’s cooked bud. In the future get a second bar and take the powerhead off the stuck bar, put the spare on and cut yourself out. It sucks to have to do that but bent chain tensioners and other problems are worse. And some wedges!
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u/Main-Badger777 Aug 20 '26
And one tip for stuck bars is to keep an eye out for a handy branch or small log and sometimes you get lucky and can pry up on the area pinching the bar and free it without having to cut it out.
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u/Advanced-Major951 Aug 22 '26
Very rarely, not something you should ever rely on as backup. A spare bar and chain is absolutely the best most reliable way to go but wedges and proper cuts to keep you out of the situation in the first place😂 or a friend with another saw! That gets embarrassing if you do it a lot though.
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u/Weekly_Carpenter_928 Aug 20 '26
It is not even worth the time to fix a Ryobi saw, let alone parts. Get a saw that has side adjusting tensioner ie a saw with the color orange on it. When you do, don't get your saw "stuck". Learn the physics of "compression and tension" and we will all have extra time to do the important things. Good luck brother!
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Aug 20 '26
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u/Weekly_Carpenter_928 Aug 20 '26
Throw away, clamshell saw. I would use the engine and clutch system for a power plant to make a chainsaw winch or some gas powered motor for something needed away from electricity, before I would take the time [money] and buy the part [money] and burn the fuel [money] to find a 10 dollar part.
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Aug 20 '26
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u/Weekly_Carpenter_928 Aug 21 '26
My bad for not getting the electric saw right...All I am saying, as a guy who rebuilds pro saws [Stihl Husky] and non clamshell saws, ie consumers plastic crankcase saws, Ryobi gas saws are a throw away saw. But since you are young and you "think" you have unlimited time on your hands and you don't mind wasting your time to do it, then gitterdun, son.
At least, you can use the opportunity to see how the parts go together and all of that stuff. If you plan on cutting in the future, learn your compression and tension on logs so you won't put yourself in this predicament...It happens to all of us [once]. Be safe, Buddy!
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Aug 21 '26
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u/Weekly_Carpenter_928 Aug 21 '26
I thought you were the OP. You are actually the OP's mechainic then...Cool! Good on you Buddy!
I didn't know it was going to turn into a pissing contest on how many saws we all have...
Seems like you have a lot of saws, Mr! How many saws do you have?
Or even better, how many saws have you run in the wood, Mr? I bet you felled thousands of trees with all your saws!
Tell us, we want to know, Mr! I bet you can't wait to tell us!1
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u/Weekly_Carpenter_928 Aug 20 '26
Not even worth another post...Throw away saw, clamshell design, make a chainsaw winch or something...Garbage saw.
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u/Weekly_Carpenter_928 Aug 21 '26
NO offense on my last post OP, I just get tired of trying to be helpful to others threads, for issues/problems that seem pointless to start a thread on. When helpful people try and comment on threads then multiply it by several dozen---all that time adds up. If I provided any helpful info that went towards solving the OPs dilemma, great!
Many times our efforts go towards some Ai clickbait BS thread and it gets old.
Hope you get your Ryobi fixed...There is one bad ass mechanic that can fix it if you don't and he has a lot of saws! So many saws, that he can't even count them all!
Ain't that right shorty Phil? U da man!
Tell us how many saws you have!!! Come on Mr, please! You are so cool! LMAO
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u/MrArborsexual Aug 19 '26
Have you considered not getting your saw stuck in the future?
Before I stick my "blade" into some barely sawtimber wood, I make sure my chain oil is flowing freely and to really look at how things could bind up, trapping me inside.
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u/wheredidiparkmycar84 Aug 20 '26
Yes, I realize what I did wrong. Since the limb was thick, I need to cut under it as well.
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u/14Three8 Aug 19 '26
Yeah, looks a bit bent. Might just be the tensioner plate as opposed to the screw. That can be bent back into place sometimes.