Chain saw

A chain saw comprising:

• a guide bar for a saw chain;
• a housing having a side surface;
• a sprocket wheel cover having a press-on surface facing toward said housing;
• at least one stud fixed to said housing configured for threadably fastening said sprocket wheel cover to said housing with said guide bar clamped between said sprocket wheel cover and said housing;
• said stud having an outermost end and a free threaded end portion defining a first diameter;
• a nut having an end facing toward said housing and being configured to threadably engage said free threaded end portion of said stud;
• said guide bar being clamped between said side surface of said housing and said press-on surface of said sprocket wheel cover when said guide bar is in a mounted state;
• said stud having a thickening defining a second diameter greater than said first diameter;
• said guide bar having a slot-shaped opening formed therein wherein said thickening comes to rest in said mounted state thereof;
• said free threaded end portion of said stud having a maximum usable screw-in depth (tmax) for said nut extending from said outermost end of said stud up to said thickening thereof;
• a stop for said sprocket wheel cover;
• said stop having a stop surface;
• a support surface for contact engaging said stop surface;
• said stop being configured separately from said side surface of said housing and from said press-on surface of said sprocket wheel cover;
• said nut having an impermissible screw-in depth (t3) when the following conditions are present:
• said sprocket wheel cover is mounted, said guide bar has been removed and said stop is not present;
• said impermissible screw-in depth (t3) is measured from said outermost end of said stud to said end of said nut facing toward said housing;
• said stop surface being at a distance (a) to said support surface when said guide bar and said sprocket wheel cover are mounted and said nut is tightened;
• said support surface contact engaging said stop surface of said stop when said guide bar is removed and said nut is screwed onto said stud to a stop screw-in depth (t2);
• said stop screw-in depth (t2) being measured from said outermost end of said stud to said end of said nut facing said housing;
• and,
• said stop being so configured that said maximum usable screw-in depth (tmax) is greater than said stop screw-in depth (t2).