Before firewood season opens, run a four-point pre-flight check: flush old fuel (E10 absorbs moisture over summer), dress any burr off the bar rails, check the drive sprocket for wear deeper than 0.5mm, and confirm your state's collection permit rules. Skipping this means fighting a dead saw on your first weekend instead of felling wood.
In Australia, the opening of the firewood collection season (typically Autumn) is not a suggestion; it is a logistical window. If you wait until the last moment to check your equipment, you have already failed. You will spend your first weekend in the State Forest fighting a carburettor instead of felling Ironbark.
At Alpine Chain Co., we view the chainsaw not as a garden tool, but as a life-support system for your winter heating. This is the Pre-Flight Checklist required to ensure your saw starts on the first pull and cuts until the trailer is full.
1. The Fuel System Flush Modern unleaded fuel, particularly E10, is hydrophilic—it attracts atmospheric moisture. If you left fuel in your saw over summer, that fuel has likely separated. The water settles at the bottom, rotting the fuel lines and stiffening the carburettor diaphragm.
The Directive: Dump the old tank. Run the saw dry before storage next time. For now, inspect the fuel pickup filter in the tank. If it is hard or slimy, replace it.
2. The Bar Dress Run your fingernail along the edge of your guide bar rails. Do you feel a sharp, wire edge hanging over the side? This is a "burr."
The Consequence: Burrs effectively widen your bar groove, allowing the chain to flop side-to-side. This causes crooked cuts and premature chain failure.
The Fix: Clamp the bar. Use a flat file to draw-file the rails until the burr is gone and the edge is square. You can flip your bar every time you sharpen the chain to equalize rail wear.
3. The Drive Sprocket Inspection Remove your clutch cover. Look at the drive sprocket (the star-shaped gear that drives the chain).
The Wear Limit: If the grooves cut into the sprocket teeth are deeper than 0.5mm, the sprocket is trash. A worn sprocket will stretch a new Alpine chain in less than 20 minutes. Never put a new chain on a ruined sprocket.
4. The Permit Reality (Know the Law) Do not risk your saw being confiscated.
Victoria: Collection is generally permitted in designated areas of State Forests during Autumn and Spring. The limit is typically 2 cubic metres per person per day.
NSW: You require a permit from Forestry Corporation. Fees apply, and collection is restricted to specific zones.
The Golden Rule: You may only take fallen timber. Felling standing trees (dead or alive) is a serious offence that damages habitat and incurs massive fines.
Part of preparing is having a sharp spare loop ready before the season starts. Match one to your saw exactly: Search by Chainsaw, or Search by Bar Stamp.
Firewood Season Pre-Flight — FAQ
Why does old fuel stop a chainsaw starting after summer storage?
E10 fuel absorbs moisture from the air over time. The water separates and settles at the bottom of the tank, which can rot fuel lines and stiffen the carburettor diaphragm, so it's worth draining old fuel before the season starts.
How do I know if my guide bar has a burr?
Run a fingernail along the bar rail edge. A sharp wire-like edge hanging over the side is a burr, and it widens the groove enough to let the chain flop side to side, causing crooked cuts.
How much firewood can I legally collect per day in Victoria?
Typically up to 2 cubic metres per person per day in designated State Forest areas during the Autumn and Spring collection seasons, and only fallen timber — felling standing trees is a serious offence.
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