Install chain in DeWalt Pole Saw

When the chain turns, its sharp cutting tips face forward. Wipe your finger across the length of the chain and feel all the sharp cutting tips. I do this several times, like at 1:40. It becomes a habit.
No surprise I suppose that an electric-powered chain saw like Dewalt here and a gas-powered like my Stihl both operate the same. We buy in to the marketing myth that the newest technology is better and I get it: electricity and gasoline are different. But the point is not electric or gasoline, it is the chain saw and this Dewalt and my gas-powered Stihl operate so much alike that it was easy to transfer my knowledge of Stihl (gas) to Dewalt (electric).
For example and this is what did surprise me: Gasoline-powered chain saws for decades have a problem where the chain can be strung forward or backward but running it backwards is useless. So if the Dewalt people really wanted to improve on chain saws when they went electric they could start there. They didn't.
My background is more publishing and marketing and not so much outdoor power equipment (ope) but when I got somewhat good at ope I realized marketing people run this circus. At first I -- mistakenly -- thought this equipment would be the domain of engineers. Nope. Dewalt. Briggs-Stratton. Husquvarna (sp?), Deere, Craftsman they're all interchangeable names that these big companies pass back and forth like chips at the table. You look carefully at the modern operator's manuals and it's amazing how they leave out all the hard stuff. Go back and find an operator's manual from 1970 and prior. Big diff. I'm not saying it was a better product back the, just that back then engineers still controlled the operator manuals. Today they're controlled by the marketing guys and ladies and to read them you'd think these things were all simple and perfect.
Oh oh I hear someone at my door. Oh no it's the marketing police come to talk to me. Bye now.

[@loelstein]

Best video ever. No fluff or unnecessary banter - just clear and concise instruction.

[@saallday294]

Thanks you! This is exactly what I needed.

[@jazzcanada2001]

Thank you so much! I have been struggling on how to fix this Lose chain always and how to reinstall it.....Great Video!

[@suzannekrol6863]

No mention of the tiny "horseshoe" washers that are on the hex screws? It seems no one mentions them or shows them and supposedly they're "necessary"

[@Expendable69]

Thank you sir.

[@aroundvanburen]

you're welcome!!!

[@swanchilds]

Thank you!

[@aroundvanburen]

glad you liked it

[@TheFatSonny]

Awesome explanation! Clear and to the point. Is there a file or specific sharpener you would recommend? I've used the ones by Stihl on gas powered saw blades that simultaneously sharpen the teeth and flatten the depth gauge in one motion. I just bought the DeWalt pole saw and haven't researched this for this saw. Thank you sir!

[@aroundvanburen]

Sorry I stopped using devices to sharpen dull chain saw blades. Instead I make chain saw blades last longer by 1.) never dulling them on dirt, rock, etc.; 2.) minimize number of limbs i cut; 3.) minimize cuts I perform on any single limb; 4.) Gang up multiple jobs into one session with the chain saw. I did everything wrong when I was new to chain saws. Now my time spent, in one session of chain sawing, is 40% cutting limbs and 60% maintenance (set-up chainsaw and job(s); stopping to clean, adjust, and tighten chainsaw; after job clean-up the chainsaw).

[@SmoothBassVO]

What direction should the chain go in?

[@aroundvanburen]

When the chain turns, the sharp cutting tip is facing forward. Wipe your finger across the length of the chain and you feel all the sharp cutting tips. In the video I perform this action several times, like at 1:40. It becomes a habit.

[@wism1480]

very well done

[@aroundvanburen]

thanks - getting back to basics