Need bow(s) for chain saws

Chain Bender · May 14, 2012

I know they are as rare as hen's teeth, but I figured if there ever was a place to ask about them this would be the site.

I have an old (late 80's) Husqvarna 266 se that I ran over today and bend the bow pretty bad. I've beat and beat and eye balled and beat some more and have got it so the chain will run/pull though it without dragging. I've folded 220 grit sandpaper twice and run through the groove until it feels pretty smooth, but we all know the minute bends left in the bow will soon wear out a chain.

I also have a Stihl 038 Magnum that I would really love to put a bow on. That is one powerful saw.

If anyone has one or two or knows where I can beg, borrow or steal one please let me know.

thanks in advance,
Chain Bender

Jerry/MT · May 14, 2012

Chain Bender said:
I know they are as rare as hen's teeth, but I figured if there ever was a place to ask about them this would be the site.

I have an old (late 80's) Husqvarna 266 se that I ran over today and bend the bow pretty bad. I've beat and beat and eye balled and beat some more and have got it so the chain will run/pull though it without dragging. I've folded 220 grit sandpaper twice and run through the groove until it feels pretty smooth, but we all know the minute bends left in the bow will soon wear out a chain.

I also have a Stihl 038 Magnum that I would really love to put a bow on. That is one powerful saw.

If anyone has one or two or knows where I can beg, borrow or steal one please let me know.

thanks in advance,
Chain Bender

Are you talking abour the bar on the chain saw? There 's a low cost tool to deal with straightening the groove. Look at www.bailleys.com.

tcreeley · May 14, 2012

I have a Husky 266SE I bought in 1984. Powerful and runs great. I used to have a 20 bar on it and I swapped it out and put in an 18 bar with a smaller chain. You can always by a new bar and a new chain if you need to. Don't forget to grease the tip. I wouldn't trust a straightened bar- get hurt if chain jumps and breaks.

HUSQVARNA 266, 20" BAR & CHAIN COMBO FOR CHAINSAWS | eBay

buy now for 39.95!:laughing::laughing:

Chain Bender · May 14, 2012

Jerry/MT said:
Are you talking abour the bar on the chain saw? There 's a low cost tool to deal with straightening the groove. Look at www.bailleys.com.

Well, kinda sorta! They don't make them any more since weekend warriors weren't smart enough to use them. Too many were getting cut badly so they got outlawed. It isn't finger shaped like a bar, it is shaped like half of a bow or bow tie. Will really fell a big tree with a good size saw, say 65+ cc's or 4+ horse power.

CB

RandyBell · May 14, 2012

You are talking about the bars that are set up in a loop with the center hollow, right? I have seen them on ebay rarely, they can be found and can get expensive.

RobertN · May 14, 2012

Like this?
http://www.arboristsite.com/stickies/109002.htm

RobertN · May 14, 2012

chainsaw bow bar | eBay

Chain Bender · May 14, 2012

RobertN said:
chainsaw bow bar | eBay

Yes sir, that what I'm looking for. Thanks much,
CB

Scooby074 · May 14, 2012

Bowsaw... there's something that gives me the fear...

Supposed to be much easier on the back though...

Chain Bender · May 15, 2012

Scooby074 said:
Bowsaw... there's something that gives me the fear...

Supposed to be much easier on the back though...

MUCH MUCH EASIER! Once you get the tree on the ground just stand the saw up on the top of the log and pull the trigger. The weight of the saw will melt through so fast. Although they are more tempremental than a bar, once you learn how to use one you'll wonder why you haven't had one since you bought your first saw.

I took an old Poulan into the shop to have a new pull cord and a carb cleaning and tune up and while I was at the counter two different loggers offered me $200 for just the bow on it.

It's definitely not for limb work or saplings unless you are a bear.

CB

RobertN · May 15, 2012

There were a bunch there on Ebay.

Also looked like Bailey's might have them, but no pictures. They would be worth calling.

Chain Bender said:
Yes sir, that what I'm looking for. Thanks much,
CB

Jerry/MT · May 15, 2012

Chain Bender said:
Well, kinda sorta! They don't make them any more since weekend warriors weren't smart enough to use them. Too many were getting cut badly so they got outlawed. It isn't finger shaped like a bar, it is shaped like half of a bow or bow tie. Will really fell a big tree with a good size saw, say 65+ cc's or 4+ horse power.

CB

I lived in the big tree country of the Pacific NW for many, many years and I've seen a lot of logging equipment, but i've never seen a bow until someone posted the pictue in this thread. All the loggers I knew used long bar chainsaws for felling, limbing, and bucking. Never too old to learn something new! What's the purpose of this type of chainsaw "bar"?

Scooby074 · May 15, 2012

Chain Bender said:
MUCH MUCH EASIER! Once you get the tree on the ground just stand the saw up on the top of the log and pull the trigger. The weight of the saw will melt through so fast. Although they are more tempremental than a bar, once you learn how to use one you'll wonder why you haven't had one since you bought your first saw.

I took an old Poulan into the shop to have a new pull cord and a carb cleaning and tune up and while I was at the counter two different loggers offered me $200 for just the bow on it.

It's definitely not for limb work or saplings unless you are a bear.

CB

They certainly have a following for sure.

I guess the only issue is the huge kickback zone. If you only enter wood at the bottom quadrant near the spur, i guess there would be no problem...

Too bad they were banned..

Chain Bender · May 17, 2012

Scooby074 said:
They certainly have a following for sure.

I guess the only issue is the huge kickback zone. If you only enter wood at the bottom quadrant near the spur, i guess there would be no problem...

Too bad they were banned..

The kickback is exactly why they were discontinued. The un-knowing were trying to do overhead work with them and getting their heads split open like over ripe watermelons when it kicked back on them. Some people's children!!!

I wish I had a picture of mine and several that I saw at a Stihl dealer Tuesday. Mine has an aluminum C shaped bracket that will cover almost all of the chain on the bottom of the bow for leg protection I presume. The same bracket can also be put on the top of the bow as well. There are only 2 1/4-20 bolts holding the bracket on. The ones I saw Tuesday had the guards on the top and the bottom of the bow. That only left about a 20" gap between the "goat's foot" and the forward end of the top bracket. I also should add that the saws belonged to the county Emergency Management Department. I guess that is the only way that they can be made safe enough for a government employee to use it! ;-).

CB

Mud Mechanik · May 17, 2012

CB, I have one that came off of a Stihl 041 farm boss, the bow was new when I bought the saw and only has a few hour of use on it, I'll post pictures in the next few days and we'll see if it is what you want.

Chain Bender · May 17, 2012

Mud Mechanik said:
CB, I have one that came off of a Stihl 041 farm boss, the bow was new when I bought the saw and only has a few hour of use on it, I'll post pictures in the next few days and we'll see if it is what you want.

I'd sure be interested in it if it will fit my 038. Do you still have the chain too? I doubt I could buy a ready made one, but I could have one made I guess.

Let me talk to the Stihl dealer when I pick mine up and see if it will fit. I imagine ours are close enough in size that the bow/bar studs are the same size.

I'm definitely interested.

tks,
CB

Mud Mechanik · May 17, 2012

Yes, it has the chain on it but I believe it is the wrong chain, it is somewhat thinner than the rails and if it is a daily user, it would eventually leave ridges on the outer edges of the bow that would need to be filed down. It does have the aluminum guards on the top and bottom sections of the bow.

Chain Bender · May 17, 2012

Mud Mechanik said:
Yes, it has the chain on it but I believe it is the wrong chain, it is somewhat thinner than the rails and if it is a daily user, it would eventually leave ridges on the outer edges of the bow that would need to be filed down. It does have the aluminum guards on the top and bottom sections of the bow.

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Sounds good to me. Let me do some research (asking the pros) and I'll get back to you soon.

thanks,
CB

Chain Bender · May 19, 2012

From everything I can read bows/bars/chains are interchangeable between the two. PM me with a price and we'll work from there.

Chainsaw Parts | Discount Online Parts | Affordable Parts for Chainsaw

tks,

CB