What is the purpose of a decompression valve on a chainsaw?

What is a decompression valve?

The purpose of a decompression valve on your Husqvarna chainsaw is to make starting a chainsaw easier.

The engine cylinder of a chainsaw holds a mix of fuels.

For the engine to start, this mixture needs to be compressed, but too much pressure can make starting your chainsaw difficult. When you pull the starter cord on your product, the piston moves inside the cylinder, compressing the fuel and air, which raises the internal pressure. With bigger engines, this pressure can be hard to overcome, but a decompression valve lowers the pressure, making the engine easier to start.

How does a decompression valve work?

A decompression valve releases some of the compression from the combustion chamber during the starting procedure, making the engine easier to turn over when pulling the recoil rope.

At Husqvarna® we only use the manual type of decompression valve used in manufacturing and design. This type of decompression valve is activated (opened) by the user before attempting to start the chainsaw. Once the engine starts, it resets the valve to a closed state.