The oiler is one of the most important parts of a chainsaw because it keeps the chain and bar from overheating and rusting. It also ensures that the chain teeth remain sharp and protected.
Every once in a while, you have to stop what you are doing and check whether your chain is getting oiled properly or not. If there’s not even a single drop of oil on your chain, you gotta act fast because this can damage your chainsaw.
Sometimes adjusting the oiler is the solution, and sometimes you have to clean it from the inside before adjusting to ensure a proper oil flow.
In this guide, we will show you How Do You Adjust The Oiler On Stihl MS 251. This guide applies to other Stihl chainsaws as well.
Things You Need To Adjust The Oiler On A Stihl MS 251
Estimated Cost
Assuming that you have wrenches and screwdrivers lying around, you can adjust your oiler without any money at all.
Time Needed
You can successfully adjust your oiler within 10 to 15 minutes approximately. It may take a bit more depending on your work speed.
Tools and Materials Needed
Now let’s look at the things we will need to adjust the oiler or clean it.
- A flathead screwdriver.
- An adjustable wrench.
- Leather gloves.
Please note that sometimes adjusting the oiler does not help solve the oil flow problem. In such cases, you have to clean the oiler and then adjust it.
How Do You Adjust The Oiler On Stihl MS 251 – Easy Steps
So, we will start with cleaning the oiler in this step-by-step guide.
Step 1 – Preparation
If you have already used the chainsaw, you have to turn it off and wait for it to cool down before opening it up. Working with a hot chainsaw is not recommended.
After it has cooled down, wear a pair of leather gloves because the chain’s teeth are sharp, and you could easily get hurt. So, safety first. Now you are ready to move to the next step.
Step 2 – Opening up the bar
This might sound too complex, but it is really easy. Take an adjustable wrench and locate the bar of your chainsaw.
It is the cover plate that protects the chain. You will see two nuts holding the chain. Fit your wrench on the nuts properly and rotate the wrench counterclockwise.
Once you are done removing the nuts, the bar should come off easily. Now remove the chain as well. This will make the cleaning part effortless.
After removing the bar and the chain:
- Clean the whole surface.
- Take out all the gunk.
- Make sure it is cleaned up properly because this is where the oil comes out. If this outlet is clogged up, you won’t get what you expect no matter how much you adjust the oiler.
Now put the chain and bar back on, and use the wrench to screw in the nuts again. Just in case you forgot, you have to rotate the wrench clockwise now.
Step 3 – Adjusting the oiler
Now that you have unclogged the oil outlet, the only thing that remains is to adjust the flow of the oiler. No matter what you do with the chainsaw, you have to always set the flow of the oiler to the maximum.
Yes, this will drain your oiler faster. Remember that bar oil is inexpensive. Your chainsaw is not. The more oil flow you have, the better protection your chainsaw will get.
Now put your chainsaw upside down on a flat surface. The location of the oiler adjustment hole should be pointed out in the instruction manual, but if you can’t find it, it is usually right beneath the bar. Just look for a hole that has a flat screw-like thing inside.
Once you find the hole, it is straightforward from now on. Take a flathead screwdriver and insert it in the hole. Slightly rotate the screwdriver left or right until it clicks in.
Rotate the screwdriver again, but now in a clockwise manner until you hit the limit. Don’t put too much force. And voila, you have done it.
Final words
If you own a chainsaw and use it frequently, you should know about its anatomy and how things work. Sending it to a service shop every time is a waste of money when you can do it yourself.
Yes, Stihl MS series chainsaws are remarkable when it comes to efficiency, durability, and longevity.
But, just like all the other chainsaws, it needs your attention from time to time. Gunk can build up inside; the oil flow could get low. You have to deal with all these problems yourself.
We have shown you how to clean and how to adjust the oiler on Stihl MS 251, but if these steps don’t help, guess you have to look inside the clutch drum.
