Low profile chainsaw

A method of securing a chain bar on a chainsaw, comprising the steps of:

• positioning a chain bar on a chainsaw housing;
• positioning a chain cover over at least a portion of the chain bar so that the chain bar is located between the chain cover and the chainsaw housing;
• providing a tightening knob for tightening the chain cover against the chain bar;
• providing a clutch system for the chain cover;
• rotating the tightening knob in a first direction to increase the force applied to the by the chain cover to the chain bar, whereby the clutch system activates to prevent the force from going above a predetermined level;
• wherein the clutch system includes a clutch plate having a plurality of a pawl which has an inclined face, and the tightening knob includes a plurality of teeth which have an inclined face that corresponds to said pawl, so that when the tightening knob is rotated in the first direction and the predetermined force level is reached, the clutching system is activated and said plurality of said pawl rotate past said plurality of teeth.

A chain bar tightening clutch system for a chainsaw, comprising:

• a chain cover for holding a chain bar against a housing;
• a clutch system having a tightening state and a clutch state, and when in said tightening state said clutch system communicates an increasing force to said at least a portion of chain cover until said clutch state is activated;
• and
• when said clutch state is activated, said clutch system prevents said at least a portion of said chain bar from receiving an additional force from said chain cover during said clutch state.