My first chainsaw...am seeking general advice on product use etc

You may have the chain tensioner set a little too tight.

Additional things to check:

• The sprocket on the end of the guide bar is greased, and turning smoothly.
• The chain brake is working correctly (not dragging or only partially disengaging).
• The guide bar is straight, not bent or twisted, burr free, and the groove the chain travels in hasn't been squeezed together.
• The chain tension is set correctly.
• The chain oiler is functioning correctly (and you have a sufficient amount and correct type of bar oil).
• Chain is in good condition, and the correct one for the saw. Make sure all of the links flex smoothly.
• Chain is sharp. A dull chain will put more pressure on the guide bar because the cutting teeth aren't digging into the wood efficiently (and usually a person pushes harder on the saw when the chain is getting dull).

Chain side tensioning
http://husqvarna.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/590/kw/chain%20tensioning%20screw/related/1

the bar is determined by the engine capacity
small 35 cc engines run 350- 450 mm bar
bigger the engine the bigger the bar
as for the chain
the bigger the bar the bigger the pitch of the chain
talk with a shop that sells chain saws ( sthil--Mccolluck etc) and get the chain and bar suitable for the motor size

What it looks like you have there is you're chain Tensioner screw It is used to tighten the chain on the bar the washer goes right Where it is you find a small hole on the bar of the chainsaw That Whole must line up perfectly with the tensioner. Just reassemble put the chain on Titan the tensioner You'll be ready to go. Hope this helps

First of all, make sure the saw is off. Also, before removing bolts, make sure the chain brake is not engaged (the chain should move freely).
Remove the guide bar side panel. Using a scwrench or wrench, unscrew the nuts and remove the plate to access the chain.

The side plate on most chainsaws will be held on by two nuts. Loosen the blade adjustment screw (a pin that is usually driven by a screw and pushes the blade out from the chainsaw to keep the chain tension tight).

The old chain is ready to be removed now that the sprocket plate is off of the saw. Pull the nose of the chainsaw's bar away from the chainsaw to release it from the tensioner.

Remove the old chainsaw chain.

The chain will easily remove from the guide bar with all that slack in it. Note the orientation of the cutting edges of the chain so you put the new one on the same way.

Pull the drive links out of the guide bar and slip the other end of the chain around the clutch drum.

Steps to Install a New Chainsaw Chain
Thread the new chain onto the saw.

Carefully thread your new or recently sharpened chainsaw chain around the chainsaw's clutch drum, making sure that the drive links engage in the sprocket.

Thread the rest of the drive links into the guide bar and around its nose, making sure all links are in the guide bar slot.
Align the guide bar.

With the chain properly threaded along the clutch drum and guide bar, put some tension into it by pulling on the nose of the guide bar away from the chainsaw.

While pulling the guide bar, make sure to seat it onto the saw's adjustment pin.

Replace the side plate.

The side plate is ready to go back on as long as the guide bar is properly positioned beneath.

Replace the plate and the nuts that hold it into position, but do not tighten the nuts down all the way yet. The guide bar must be allowed to move a little while the chain is tightened to the correct tension.
Tighten the chain to the correct tension. Use the tensioning screw to the side of the guide bar to adjust the tension on the chainsaw chain.

Finish tightening the side plate nuts.

The chainsaw chain replacement is now complete.


And here is a great overall reference guide to keeping a chainsaw sharp and running. Sharpening a chainsaw chain is a great way to extend the life and is less expensive and easier than replacing a chain. There are small grinding tools (like a dremel) that can be run off a small 12v battery or your vehicle battery that allow for quick 'tune-ups' on your chain if you are out cutting and need to sharpen your chain.
http://www.pcta.org/pdf/STUCHAP2_web.pdf

With the chainsaw positioned and with the bar/chain combo loosely assembled properly on the chainsaw power-head. With the guide bar/chain adjuster inserted properly into the bar. Using a rag or wearing gloves. Notice how much up and down movement is at the guide bar tip. You must use this to your best advantage!! With the chain adjuster loose. finger tighten the bar nut or nuts. Hold the bar-chain assembly in the up position. To tension the chain, turn the adjuster in the correct direction to tighten the chain. DO NOT LOOSEN YOUR HOLD ON THE BAR, KEEP THE BAR IN THE UP POSITION. Rotate the chain along the bar to make sure it is free to move back and forth, KEEP THE BAR UP. Tighten the tensioner until the chain just touches the bottom of the guide bar. Check for back and forth movement again. Tighten the tensioner no more than a quarter of a turn. CONTINUE TO HOLD THE BAR UP. Now tighten the bar buts or nut snugly against the sprocket & chain guard cover. Check for movement again. If satisfactorily tight and free movement is attained the chain bar combination is properly adjusted.
This scenario will change with different types and brands of chainsaws. It is always very helpful if posters would include a modicum of make, model information with their queries.
Waltster

Got to homelite.com and input your model number.
WARNING:
When servicing, use only identical Homelite
replacement parts. Use of any other parts may
create a hazard or cause product damage.
WARNING:
Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses
with side shields during power tool operation or
when blowing dust. If operation is dusty, also
wear a dust mask.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Avoid using solvents when cleaning plastic parts.
Most plastics are susceptible to damage from
various types of commercial solvents and may be
damaged by their use. Use clean cloths to remove
dirt, dust, lubricant, grease, etc.
WARNING:
Do not at any time let brake fluids, gasoline,
petroleum-based products, penetrating
oils, etc., come in contact with
plastic parts. Chemicals can damage, weaken or
destroy plastic which may result in serious
personal injury.
LUBRICATION
All of the bearings in this product are lubricated with
a sufficient amount of high grade lubricant for the
life of the unit under normal operating conditions.
Therefore, no further lubrication is required.
REPLACING THE guide BAR AND
CHAIN
See Figures 34 - 43.
DANGER:
Never start the engine before installing the
guide bar, chain, clutch cover, and clutch drum.
Without all these parts in place, the clutch can
fly off or explode, exposing the user to possible
serious injury.
maintenance
Fig. 34
Fig. 35
Fig. 36
WARNING:
To avoid serious personal injury, read and
understand all the safety instructions in this
section.
n Always place the switch in the stop “ ” position
before you work on the saw.
clutch
cover
Run
Position
sprocket
Page 26 — English
cutters
bar
groove
chain drive links
Fig. 38
maintenance
chain rotation
chain drive links
Fig. 37
n Make sure the chain brake is not set by pulling
the chain brake lever/hand guard towards the
front handle to the run position.
NOTE: When replacing the guide bar and chain,
always use the specified bar and chain listed in
the Bar and Chain Combinations section later
in this manual.
n Wear gloves when handling the chain and bar.
These components are sharp and may contain
burrs.
n Press in on the clutch cover lock knob and rotate
counterclockwise until the clutch cover can be
removed.
n Remove the bar and chain from the mounting
surface.
n Remove the old chain from the bar.
n Lay out the new saw chain in a loop and
straighten any kinks. The cutters should face
in the direction of chain rotation. If they face
backwards, turn the loop over.
n Place the chain drive links into the bar groove
as shown.
n Position the chain so there is a loop at the back
of the bar.
n Hold the chain in position on the bar and place
the loop around the sprocket.
n Fit the bar flush against the mounting surface
so that the bar studs are in the long slot of the
bar.
n Replace the clutch cover ensuring that the
adjusting pin in the clutch cover is in the bar
chain tensioning pin hole and that both bar
studs are securely in their respective holes in
the clutch cover.
NOTE: The adjusting pin may need to be slightly
repositioned with the chain tensioning dial so
that it is aligned with the position of the bar chain
tensioning pin hole.
n Replace the clutch cover and rotate clutch
cover lock knob just enough to hold the cover
in position.
NOTE: The bar must be free to move for chain
tension adjustment.
n Lift the tip of the guide bar up to check for sag.
n Remove all slack from the chain by rotating the
chain tensioning dial clockwise until the chain
seats snugly against the bar with the drive links
in the bar groove.
n Release the tip of the guide bar and, if the chain
sags, turn the chain tensioning dial clockwise.
Repeat this process until sag does not exist.
n Hold the tip of the guide bar up and tighten the
clutch cover lock knob securely.

You might want to purchase a combination set with a new bar and chain, if so, Oregon #108764 is the 16" length set.

If you only want either a chain or bar, then the following are the correct ones for your chainsaw:

Chain 16" @ 3/8" pitch = #91VX054G (low profile, semi-chisel)

Bar 16" = Oregon #160SDEA318 (w adjustable chain tensioner)
Bar 16" = Oregon #160SDET318 (no adjustable bar slot for use on chainsaw originally equipped with the Intenz bar only)

Hope you find this very helpful and best regards!

You just fill it to the top, it is for lubricating the chain and bar. For the engine you must use gas premixed with 2-stroke oil for chainsaws in the correct mix.

I strongly advise you to try to find a manual for the saw and study it carefully. Gas-powered chain saws are one of the most dangerous tools you could have in your hands and requires knowledge about how it works, how to operate it safely, how it should be adjusted and serviced, how to determine if the safety systems are functioning, what safety gear you must have etc.

Bar/chain tension is generally controlled by a small screw adjuster... Basically you slightly loosen the nuts that are holding the bar onto the chainsaw, then turning the chain tension adjustment screw, this physically moves the bar outward from the saw, or inward depending on which way you turn it... When tightening, the bar moves outward away fromt he saw, in effect making the bar length slightly "longer" in regards to its position against the drive mechanism. This results in the chain on the bar being "stretched" and tightened against the bar as a result.

Hope that helps!

the 16" has 54 links

this should be part number
McCULLOCH16" REPLACEMENT CHAINSAW CHAIN 91V-54