Tensioning devices for maintaining tension in chain saws

A method of assembling a chain saw cartridge to a tensioning device of a chain saw, the method comprising the steps of:

• (i) prior to coupling the chain saw cartridge to the tensioning device, a user of the chain saw manually moving a saw bar mount of the tensioning device in a proximal direction with respect to a housing of the tensioning device to a cartridge loading position, wherein the saw bar mount comprises at least one post received within at least one channel of the housing, wherein the tensioning device comprises at least one spring located between the saw bar mount and the housing, whereby the user manually moving the saw bar mount in a proximal direction with respect to the housing to the cartridge loading position increases a restoring force of the least one spring of the tensioning device;
• (ii) while the saw bar mount is in the cartridge loading position, coupling the chain saw cartridge to the tensioning device, wherein the chain saw cartridge includes a saw bar, a drive cog, and a chain around the saw bar and the drive cog, wherein the step of coupling the chain saw cartridge to the tensioning device comprises coupling the saw bar of the chain saw cartridge to the saw bar mount of the tensioning device;
• and
• (iii) releasing the saw bar mount from the cartridge loading position, wherein the restoring force of the at least one spring is adapted to bias the saw bar mount in a distal direction, thereby tensioning the chain of the chain saw cartridge, and wherein the step of releasing the saw bar mount from the cartridge loading position is performed by the user by actuating linear movement of an actuator, which allows the restoring force of the at least one spring to bias the saw bar mount and the saw bar in the distal direction.