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How to use an Einhell chainsaw

Updated: 22 October 2026

A new Einhell chainsaw often fails the first cut for ordinary reasons: an empty oil tank, a chain mounted backwards, or a bar left dry while you chase battery charge. This page walks through oil, tension, chain direction, and a first ground cut for the models in the [Einhell chainsaw comparison](/hub/forestry-tools/einhell-chainsaw). It does not rank which saw to buy. Pack count sits on the [Einhell 18V vs 36V chainsaw](/hub/forestry-tools/einhell-chainsaw/sub/einhell-chainsaw-18v-vs-36v) page. Peter F. used the saved listings and the public safety notes. This is not a laboratory test. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

A new Einhell chainsaw often fails the first cut for ordinary reasons: an empty oil tank, a chain mounted backwards, or a bar left dry while you chase battery charge.

Our top picks

Einhell Einhell GE-PS 18/15 kit

Best overall

Einhell Einhell GE-PS 18/15 kit
9.4/10about £155.38
View offer
Einhell Einhell GE-LC 18/25 Li Solo

Best value

Einhell Einhell GE-LC 18/25 Li Solo
8.8/10about £79.99
View offer
Einhell Einhell GH-EC 2040 mains

Rank 3

Einhell Einhell GH-EC 2040 mains
8.0/10about £79.00
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Make it safe to touch
  2. 2.Oil before the motor runs
  3. 3.Chain direction and tension
  4. 4.Test the chain brake before you cut
  5. 5.The first cut stays on the ground
  6. 6.When to stop and call someone

Make it safe to touch

Remove power before you touch the chain. On Power X-Change saws, take the battery out and keep it out while you fit or adjust the chain. On GH-EC mains models, unplug the lead so nobody can plug it in while your hands are on the bar. Manual reprints for the GE-LC 18 class and the GP-LC 36/40 repeat battery removal before service. If a cordless manual mentions a mains plug, read that as remove the packs. Wear gloves on a sharp chain, and the rest of the PPE set HSE lists for ground chainsaw work before you run the motor. A chain brake is not a substitute for gloves while the chain is loose.

Oil before the motor runs

These listings do not ship a filled oil tank. Buy bar and chain oil for automatic lubrication, or for the GE-PS applicator. HSE INDG317 warns against used engine oil. Pour to the manual’s minimum mark before the first run. UK reviewers on the GE-LC Solo note that a dry bar drops performance. The GE-PS kit uses an applicator, not the tank on a GE-LC rear handle. The GP-LC 36/35 lists 115 ml with a sight glass, the GP-LC 36/40 lists 230 ml, and GH-EC mains saws quote 160 ml. Check your own tank before you copy another model.
Einhell Einhell GE-PS 18/15 kit

Testsieger

Einhell Einhell GE-PS 18/15 kit
9.4/10about £155.38
View offer

Chain direction and tension

Mount the chain so the cutters face forward on the top of the bar. UK reviews on the GE-LC Solo say a reversed chain will not cut. Seat the bar, align the chain on the sprocket, and fit the cover loose enough that you can lift the chain slightly at the centre. Manual reprints for the GE-LC 18 class and the GP-LC 36/40 describe about three to four millimetres of lift at mid-bar, then a recheck after a few minutes because a warm chain tightens. GE-LC listings advertise tool-free tension. If the FORTEXXA 18/30 or GH-EC screw feels bound, slacken the bar nuts slightly first. The GE-PS uses a stored hex key after a tool-free bar swap. Recheck about every ten minutes. A chain coming off is a repeated UK theme on the GE-LC kit when tension or technique is wrong.

Test the chain brake before you cut

Start the saw as the manual’s lock-off and trigger sequence describes, then confirm the brake stops the chain when you apply hand-guard pressure. If it does not stop, do not cut. Under the Consumer Rights Act, goods should match their safety description. Kickback is the bar nose throwing the saw up and back. INDG317 treats it as a real risk even with a brake. Keep the nose out of pinch cuts, use both hands, and stay below chest height.

The first cut stays on the ground

Support the branch or small log so the kerf does not pinch the bar. Stand to the side of the cut line and plan an escape path if the wood moves. Do not use these steps from a ladder or above shoulder height. Hire trained tree work for that. Short-bar shrub cuts are on the Einhell chainsaw for pruning page. If a GH-EC plug falls out when the cable is tugged, stop. UK reviews on the 2040 treat that as a recurring fault, worse on raised work. Fix the socket or lead before you continue.

When to stop and call someone

Stop when the chain brake fails a check, when kickback throws the saw despite correct technique, when you must cut above chest height or on a ladder, or when a Tree Preservation Order or felling rules you have not verified apply to the tree. Stop mains work when the plug will not stay seated. Call a professional arborist for stems you cannot fell safely on the ground with clear escape routes.

Common questions

Which way does the chain go?
Cutters face forward on the top of the bar, in the direction of travel. Follow the diagram in your model manual. UK GE-LC reviews warn that reversing the chain stops cutting.
How tight should the chain be?
Manual reprints cite roughly three to four millimetres of lift at mid-bar for GE-LC and GP-LC class tools. The drive links should stay engaged, and the chain should still move by hand. Recheck after warm-up.
What oil goes in the tank?
Bar and chain oil for automatic systems, not used engine oil. Fill to the manual minimum before the first run.
How do I test the chain brake?
With the saw running as the manual instructs, apply hand-guard pressure where the listing describes it and confirm the chain stops. If it does not, do not cut.
Why does the chain jump off?
Often low tension, a dry bar, dull cutters, or a forced cut. Refit the chain, oil it, set the tension, and let it cut without pushing as hard as a petrol habit.
Can I use the saw on a ladder?
This page assumes ground cuts only. HSE treats elevated cutting as professional work. Hire trained help instead.
What if the mains plug keeps falling out?
Stop using the saw until the connection is reliable. UK reviews on the GH-EC 2040 describe unplugging under a light tug as a safety stop, not a technique to work around.

Related pages

Einhell chainsaw buying guide

Best Einhell chainsaw

Einhell chainsaw

Einhell 18V vs 36V: when a second pack is worth it

Einhell chainsaw for pruning: a short bar, two hands

Sources

Public sources listed for this comparison, October 2026. Prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures in that set. We did not run a lab test.

  1. HSE INDG317, Chainsaws at work (retrieved October 2026)
  2. HSE chainsaw PPE (retrieved October 2026)
  3. GOV.UK, when a felling licence is needed (retrieved October 2026)
  4. GOV.UK, tree felling: getting permission (retrieved October 2026)
  5. Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (retrieved October 2026)
  6. Einhell UK GE-LC 18/25 Li-Solo (retrieved October 2026)
  7. Einhell UK batteries (retrieved October 2026)
  8. Einhell UK GP-LC 36/35 Li-Solo (retrieved October 2026)
  9. Consumer Rights Act 2015 (retrieved October 2026)