BLACK+DECKER LCS1020 20V MAX 10-Inch Cordless Chainsaw Kit

A light pruning saw with a stated 8-inch cut capacity

The LCS1020 is a 20-volt saw with a 10-inch bar. BLACK+DECKER's product page describes an 8-inch cut capacity and tool-free chain tensioning. Amazon's included components are the LCS1020 saw, one LBXR2020 battery and an LCS1620 charger, and the manual lists a guide bar scabbard among the parts. The bar and chain arrive packed separately and have to be fitted.

The manual says the product is for home use, that felling should only be done by a trained person, and that you should not cut above chest height or from a ladder. It is a saw for pruning, limbing and cutting small logs on a support.

The listing says automatic oiler; the manual says you press a bulb

The Amazon title includes the words automatic oiler, and a listing bullet mentions an oiling system. The maker's manual, which covers both the 20V LCS1020 and the 40V LCS1240, states that the 20V saw has a manual oiling system and that only the 40V model oils automatically. On the LCS1020 you slowly press a primer bulb on the oil cap three times, holding one second each time, before making each cut.

That is easy to forget, and the manual's troubleshooting table lists lubrication as the fix for an overheated bar and chain and says to lubricate before each cut. If you want oiling to look after itself, this model does not do that according to its own manual. The oil window shows the level, and the manual says to refill below a quarter full.

Charging takes about five hours with the included charger

The manual's charging table lists the LBXR2020 battery at 40 watt-hours and about five hours from empty to full on the LCS1620 charger, the pair Amazon lists as included. Faster BLACK+DECKER chargers in the same table bring that to about one to two hours but are separate purchases. The product page claims up to five times longer runtime without saying compared with what, so we do not repeat it as a fact.

The manual suggests charging fully before starting a job you need to finish on one charge. With a single small battery and a slow charger, plan short sessions.

Chain tension and replacement parts

Tension is set with a knob after loosening the bar locking knob one turn. The manual's front page warns twice in capital letters not to over-tension the chain and says to re-tighten frequently during the first two hours of use, because a new chain stretches. Correct tension is described as the chain snapping back after being pulled about 1/8 inch from the bar.

Replacement chain for the LCS1020 is BLACK+DECKER RC1000, service part 90609782, and the 10-inch bar is service part 90609787. The manual recommends a 4.5 mm file with a guide and says a chain should be sharpened no more than four times, because each sharpening reduces its low-kickback qualities.

Oil type, cleaning and safety parts

The manual asks for bar and chain oil, allows non-detergent SAE30 motor oil as a temporary substitute, and recommends vegetable-based bar oil when pruning live trees. It says to remove and brush-clean the bar and chain every few hours of use and to keep the bar's oiling hole clear.

The functional description lists a lock-off button and a front hand guard. It does not list a chain brake. The manual tells you not to hold the saw by the front hand guard. Kickback precautions are covered in safety pages we did not summarise; read them before first use.

Two-year home-use warranty

The manual gives the LCS1020 a two-year limited warranty for home use, with the 40V model getting three. Remedies are exchange through a participating retailer within its return period, or prepaid delivery to a BLACK+DECKER service centre for repair or replacement. Accessories are excluded, and commercial use voids it. Amazon's details also say two years. The product page only says warranty varies by product.