RYOBI is a well-known manufacturer of power tools and outdoor products. Its high-quality, pro-level yet affordable products are widely used by professionals, DIY, woodworkers, and garden enthusiasts worldwide. Some challenges and problems arise from time to time. We’ll discuss these here and offer various solutions.
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RYOBI’s gas and electric pole saws share some of these problems:
1. Pole saw won’t start
2. Pole saw motor is underpowered and sluggish
3. Pole saw chain comes off
4. Pole saw overheats and cuts off
5. Pole saw won’t cut properly
6. Pole saw vibrates excessively
RYOBI Gas Powered Pole Saw
Traditionally, RYOBI gas-powered pole saws are considered more suitable for heavy-duty work. Gas-powered saws cost more, are noisier, and cause more pollution than electric saws; professionals prefer them. They take RYOBI gas-powered pole saws outdoors, where they can perform heavy-duty work in the remotest locations without risking any loss of power.
1. Pole Saw Won’t Start
You are ready to start pruning, but the RYOBI pole saw won’t start.
Solution 1: Inspect the Gas Tank
The first thing to do is check if there is gas in the tank. If not, fill in about a quarter of a tank or so, and try to restart the saw. Gas-powered saws may have clogged carburetor and internal fuel filter screens, especially when left unused for some time. If no fuel reaches the engine, the saw will not start.
Solution 2: Check the Spark Plug
Spark plugs work hard to get the engine going; with time, they are likely to wear off, the porcelain insulator may become damaged, and the electrode may collect carbon. Observing any one of these signs means that the plug is faulty. Replace damaged plugs and clean dirty ones.
Take out the plug and remove the carbon with a wire brush and vinegar, petrol, or a spray-on plug cleaner. Use a rag to clean the firing tip. Repeat the action until you remove all carbon deposits. Put the plug back in and try to start the pole saw again.
Solution 3: Test the Carburetor
When a pole saw is left unused for an extended period, the fuel may harden and clog the carburetor. A clogged system causes interrupted fuel delivery to the engine – or no delivery at all, causing the engine to work intermittently. Remove the saw top cover and take out the carburetor. Use a carburetor diagnostic and replacement kit to determine if the saw needs cleaning or replacement.
2. Pole Saw Motor Is Underpowered and Sluggish
When you release the safety latch on the saw and press the trigger switch, the motor starts up, but the saw is slow and without power.
Solution
Remove the cover and check the air filter. While a dirty filter isn’t helping the pole saw, it is unlikely to be the culprit. Still, cleaning or replacing the air filter is recommended. Next, remove the spark plug and inspect it for damage. Use a spark plug gapping tool to check the plug’s gap.
3. Pole Saw Chain Comes Off
Having the chain coming off the sprocket is frustrating. The good news is that it is the most straightforward problem to fix.
Solution
The chain on your saw is the moving part that takes the brunt of the saw’s operation. Tensioning, oiling, and lubricating the chain ensures you get the best from your RYOBI pole saw. Remove the cover and use a metal brush, a rag, and a blow gun or compressed air duster to remove oil, dirt, and grime from the chain and the bar.
Remove the bar and the chain from the sprocket. If the sprocket is loose, there will be no tension, and the chain will likely come off. Make sure the sprocket and its retaining ring are well secured. Next, remove the chain from the bar. Make sure you know the direction of the chain for reassembly later. Clean the bar oil from the bar.
Check the adjusting block situated to the right of the sprocket. The adjusting block is the device you use to increase the chain’s tension. One end of the Allen key has a tool you can push into the tensioning mechanism. Turning the key clockwise will move the block to the right and increase the tension.
Stick the Allen key into the groove and turn it anticlockwise to loosen the tension. Put the chain over the bar, minding its direction. Move the other end of the chain over the pully to ensure it moves freely. Push the bar and chain into the sprocket. Stick the Allen key back into the groove and turn it clockwise until you get the chain’s tension right.
Put the cover back on and tighten it well. You can adjust the tension anytime by loosening the cover’s bolt slightly, inserting the Allan key, and turning it to increase or decrease the tension.
4. Pole Saw Overheats and Cuts Off
Your pole saw gets increasingly hotter during work, then it cuts out entirely. Power returns after you switch off the engine and wait a few minutes. A few minutes after you resume working, the saw heats up again and cuts out.
Solution
Usually, all motors of high torque and speed power tools generate heat handled by the saw’s cooling system. You are justifiably worried when your pole saw heats up and cuts out. Luckily, the culprits are often easy to diagnose and fix.
Gas engines require an open airflow. Check and clean the air filters and vents. The saw’s idling speed may be too fast. Tweak the saw’s idling speed RPM through the idling button in the carburetor. The button balances the air-to-gas ratio in the engine when the saw is idle.
Check for an excess or lack of bar and chain oil. Check the operations manual for the correct gas application. The chain tension may be incorrect. Check the chain’s tension and experiment with a few tension levels.
5. Pole Saw Won’t Cut Properly
Working with a non-functioning pole saw is a frustrating waste of time and resources. Especially considering that an operational saw should cut through wood like butter.
Solution
Over time, the chain may become worn or dull. Use a file to sharpen the chain. If this does not help, this may be the time to get a new chain, to replace the dull one.
The chain needs to fit the bar and tension correctly. Open the saw cover and remove the bar and chain. Clean the bar, put the chain back in, insert the bar and chain back in the sprocket, and use the adjusting block to set the correct tension for the saw.
6. Pole Saw Vibrates Excessively
Your pole saw’s chain does the pruning on one end of the tool while you guide, move, and apply pressure as you operate the saw from the other end. Increased shakes and vibrations through the saw make it harder to control it.
Solution
Loose parts on your saw will cause vibrations, an indication that sooner or later, the unhinged parts will fly out of the machine or clutter inside it – causing damage to the saw, which will stop working. Check the saw systematically now to avoid future damage.
Check the saw’s cover, handles, and various moving parts. Check for loose screws and bolts and tighten them. Remove the saw’s cover and look for loose, chipped, or broken washers and tightening rings. Lastly, check the air vents, muffler bolts, filter box, bar, and chain.
RYOBI Electric Powered Pole Saw
The choice between a gas-powered and electricity-powered saw is, in fact, a choice between tools powered by gas or battery. People must consider their options when working away from a power outlet. On the one hand, there is a lightweight, portable, reasonably cheap cordless saw with its limited energy source. On the other hand is the heavier, more expensive, gas-powered saw, whose abundant power source one can easily carry in their truck.
Away from power users’ needs, DIY and home or workshop-based users will have two electricity-powered options in addition to a gas-powered one.
1. Pole Saw Won’t Start
You try to switch on your RYOBI pole saw, and… nothing. The saw won’t start.
Solution 1: Inspect the Power Source
A corded pole saw is connected to an outlet directly or via an extension cord. Check the outlet for burn marks and other signs of damage. Inspect the power cable and plug prongs: are they hot? Are they showing signs of burning? Has the cord cover melted? Repeat the inspection with the extension cord. Lastly, determine if the tool blew a fuse or tripped the circuit breaker.
Cordless Electric Pole Saw users should find out if the battery is charging. Plug the battery into the charger. The RYOBI charger flashes a red light when you plug in an empty battery, followed by a lit battery symbol when charging. Finally, the charger will display a solid green light once it completes charging the battery. If this does not happen, the charger and battery may need some cleaning. Remove dirt and grime from the contacts on the charger and the battery.
Solution 2: Check the Electrical Current
If the power cords, charger, and battery are in good working order, use a multimeter to check that the wires link the battery to the switch, from the switch to the motor, and onto the chainsaw, delivering electrical current all the way through.
Solution 3: Clean the Saw’s Inside Parts
Remove the chain cover using a 10mm bolt, followed by the bar and chain, which you pick as a single unit and pull off. As the inside part of the saw is revealed, you will see the dirty, grimy, and oily parts. Remove them with a screwdriver and use a rag to wipe them off.
Use a blow gun or compressed air duster to remove the dirt and dust from the cooling vents on the saw-cutting head pole.
2. Pole Saw Motor Is Underpowered and Sluggish
You have no problem starting the saw. The motor kicks in – but it produces only a little power.
Solution
Check the electric circuit to the motor. Remove the cover, handles, and guard, as well as the oil pump drive, fasteners, and washers. When you have removed all the covering parts, you will have direct access to the electric motor and its connectors to the battery.
Now you can test the motor, the switch, and the battery connector. Check all connectors, clean contact points, and tighten the screws that hold the wires in place. Use a multimeter to check the circuits as you switch the power on and off. Keep checking that the saw works as you reassemble it to ensure the problem is solved.
3. Pole Saw Chain Comes Off
Any user knows that, sooner or later, the chain will detach from the sprocket and the pully and come off. It is easy to fix. Here’s how it is done.
Solution
The chain on your saw is the moving part that takes the brunt of the saw’s operation. Tensioning, oiling, and lubricating the chain ensures you get the best from your RYOBI pole saw. Remove the cover and use a metal brush, a rag, and a blow gun or compressed air duster to remove oil, dirt, and grime from the chain and the bar.
Remove the bar and the chain from the sprocket. If the sprocket is loose, there will be no tension, and the chain will likely come off. Make sure the sprocket and its retaining ring are well secured. Next, remove the chain from the bar. Make sure you know the direction of the chain for reassembly later. Clean the bar oil from the bar.
Check the block situated to the right of the sprocket. This is the adjusting block, a device you use to increase the chain’s tension. One end of the Allen key has a tool you can push into the tensioning mechanism. Turn the key clockwise to move the block to the right and increase the tension.
Stick the Allen key into the groove and turn it anticlockwise to loosen the tension. Put the chain over the bar, minding its direction. Move the other end of the chain over the pully to ensure it moves freely. Push the bar and chain into the sprocket. Stick the Allen key back into the groove and turn it clockwise until you get the chain’s tension right.
Put the cover back on and tighten it well. You can adjust the tension anytime by loosening the cover’s bolt slightly, inserting the Allan key, and turning it to increase or decrease the tension.
4. Pole Saw Overheats and Cuts Off
Your pole saw heats up and stops working. After you let the saw rest for a few minutes, it cools off, and you can resume working until it heats up and cuts out again.
Solution
Your pole saw is a powerful tool that requires high torque and speed, which are heat generators that require cooling. Loose, cut, broken, and worn wires may shorten and heat up. Check all wires and connectors and clean all contact points. Reattach disconnected wires and tighten the screws.
Shortened circuits generate heat. Follow the electricity flow from the battery or power cord to the chainsaw. Check the saw’s circuits with a multimeter as you switch the power on and off. The cooling system prevents the motor from overheating. Check and clean air filters and vents. The chain tension may be incorrect. Try out a few tension levels.
5. Pole Saw Won’t Cut Properly
Working with a non-functioning pole saw is a frustrating waste of time and resources. Especially considering that an operational saw should cut through wood like butter.
Solution
Over time, the chain may become worn or dull. Use a file to sharpen the chain. If this does not help, this may be the time to get a new chain, to replace the dull one. A chain needs to fit the bar and tension correctly. Open the saw cover, remove the bar and chain, clean the bar, put the chain back in, insert the bar and chain back in the sprocket, and use the adjusting block to set the correct tension for the saw.
6. Pole Saw Vibrates Excessively
Working with a pole saw is demanding because the chain saw could be a few feet away from you as you cut tree brunches. Recently, the saw has been shaking and vibrating excessively.
Solution
Vibrations appear when some part of the saw is loose. Some users ignore the vibrations until, eventually, the loose part flies out of the machine or rotates inside it and causes damage. You must inspect the saw thoroughly, starting outside the saw and moving in.
Start with the handle and various grasping sections of the saw. Loose handles will render the saw unusable. Tighten all loose screws and bolts. Replace broken or missing washers and tightening rings. Other potential culprits are the air filter box, bar and chain, and muffler bolts.
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