Purpuse of a chainsaw spark arrestor
Spark arrestors are screens that limits the size of particles sometimes found in the exhaust gases of outdoor power equipment.
The idea is that by limiting the size of the exhaust particles (piece of carbon or other small debris), the thermal mass of the particle can be made small enough that it is no longer considered a substantial threat of fire hazard.
Where is a spark arrestor located on a chainsaw?
Position of the spark arrestor can be in the front, on the top or at the side of the muffler. It is always locked with a cover and screws. Remove the cover and once it is off, remove the spark arrestor.
Spark arrestor maintenance
When inspecting it, make sure the spark arrestor is intact and there are no rips and holes in it. Also, make sure there is no excessive carbon build-up. If there is any carbon build-up it will make your chainsaw run at a lower RPM and it will not breath very well.
Clean the carbon build-up from the spark arrestor with the wire brush.
Once the spark arrestor is clean, put it back in place.
Husqvarna recommends cleaning a spark arrestor on a chainsaw after every 50 hours of operation.