The Ultimate Chain Saw Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
2 min
The Ultimate Chain Saw Quiz
Image: Tom Kelley Archive/Retrofile/Getty Images

About This Quiz

You've just bought your first chain saw, and with good maintenance it may be the last time you'll need to buy one. But how does it work and what do you do with it? Take this quiz and learn how.
Where are the cutting teeth located on a chain saw?
on the chain
on the engine
on the pump
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The cutting teeth are located on the chain. It's called a chain saw for a reason!

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What horsepower does a regular 16-inch (40.6-cm) chain saw operate on?
1.5 horsepower
2 horsepower
3 horsepower
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Usually it runs on 3 horsepower.

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How frequent are the rotations of a two-stroke engine?
as often as a four-stroke engine
twice as often as a four-stroke engine
half as often as a four-stroke engine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A two-stroke engine has rotations twice as often as that of a four-stroke engine.

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What is located under the cover plate of a chain saw?
the throttle trigger
the pull-cord handle
the centrifugal clutch
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are a number of components located there, including the centrifugal clutch.

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What is the purpose of the air intake openings?
to supply air to the spark arrestor and spark plug
to supply air to the engine and carburetor
to allow for the release of hot air
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The air intake openings are needed to supply air to the engine and carburetor.

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What is the name of the component that obstructs air flow?
the choke
the magneto
the pawl
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's called a choke, and for obvious reason, too. It chokes (or obstructs) the air flow when necessary.

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What metal is the flywheel disc made of?
copper
steel
aluminum
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The flywheel disc, with its metal blades, is made out of aluminum.

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When the engine is idle, what keeps the chain from moving?
the drum
the crankshaft
the centrifugal clutch
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's the centrifugal clutch. It either engages or disengages depending on the status of the engine.

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How is the centrifugal clutch different from the clutch pedal in a car?
It works automatically.
It is painted a different color.
It is much smaller.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The centrifugal clutch works automatically. This prevents engine stalling.

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What does the magneto do?
It attracts magnetic energy in order to keep the metal disc rotating.
It generates a surge of high voltage for each revolution of the crankshaft.
It measures the force of power needed for each revolution of the crankshaft.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The magneto generates a surge of high voltage (10,000-20,000 volts) for every revolution of the crankshaft.

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How many coils are in the magneto?
one
two
three
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are two, a primary coil and a secondary one.

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What is the revolution ratio of the two coils?
The secondary coil turns 10 times more than the primary one.
The primary coil turns 100 times more than the secondary one.
The secondary coil turns 100 times more than the primary one.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The secondary coil performs 100 times the amount of revolutions of the primary one.

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Why does a chain saw need a carburetor?
to regulate the engine lubrication
to control the mix of fuel and air
to monitor engine overheating
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The carburetor has quite an important task. It controls the healthy mix of fuel and air in the engine.

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Which of these is the best description for the carburetor?
It's a handle.
It's a tube.
It's a plate.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The carburetor is a tube-like mechanism with a throttle plate across it.

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When the throttle plate is virtually closed, the engine is:
idling
operating on full power
overheated
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It means that the engine is idling. Conversely, a fully open throttle plate indicates an engine running normally.

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What is bolted into the engine of a chain saw?
the venturi
the flywheel
all the other components
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

All the chain saw components are bolted onto the engine.

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What lies at both ends of the crankshaft?
mufflers
roller bearings
pistons
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

At both ends are roller bearings.

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Approximately how big is the piston?
1.5 inches (38.1 mm) in diameter and 1.5 inches high
3 inches (76 mm) in diameter and 3 inches high
5 inches (127 mm) in diameter and 5 inches high
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The piston is quite small, measuring about 1.5 inches (38.1 mm) in diameter and 1.5 inches in height.

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How much does an ordinary chain saw cost?
about $100
no less than $250
more than $500
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Most ordinary chain saws sell for as little as $100.

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The electrical generator (or magneto) creates electrical currents. What is their nature?
They're low-voltage spurts of electrical energy.
They're periodic high-voltage pulses.
They're continuous currents.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The electrical currents created by the magneto are periodic high-voltage pulses of energy.

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You Got:
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Tom Kelley Archive/Retrofile/Getty Images