Another chainsaw question

[B21nut]

Your problem is not uneven grinding of the teeth. It is the bar. If one side of the groove the teeth ride in is higher than the other it will have this effect. Take your chain off and "sight" down the bar at the groove for evenness. File at a ninety degree angle to the bar flat surface.
John

 

[guyrj33]

I don't think it's the bar. Most likely the chains wern't sharpened properly. If the bar were the problem the saw would have cut in a curve before having the chains sharpened.
Flipping the bar over will show if it's the bar or the chain.

 

[anthonyk]

good advice. I called the sharpening guy and he say's he'll make it right. One last question, since I can't find the owners manual anymore. Any idea what the little blue button on the right side of the saw is for? I've got a husqvarna 359 model.
I've pushed it (eyes closed, breath held) and it made a buzzing scraping sound. Didn't do that again!

anthony

 

[Varmintmist]

Compression release, push it before you start it, makes life eaiser.
Blue button in, choke on, pull till it putts, take choke off, pull again and it will start. Hit the throttle and the compression release will release.

There are 1 of three things going on with your chain,

Most likely, teeth are ground shorter on one side
Next likely, depth gauges (rakers) are filed shorter on one side
Least likely, your bar is worn enough or bent. You bar has to be REALLY worn on one side to get the same thing you are talking about. Fililg the bar flat is really a good idea though.

Once you get it sharp, it will cut.

 

[anthonyk]

thanks VERY much. That little bugger was really stumpin' me.
/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
anthony

 

[KennedyDiesel]

Nice saw! Same one that I have. I think a file is still about the best way to sharpen a chain. A good chain will have a reference slash across the top of tooth to guide you with the angle. A couple of strokes per tooth with the chain TIGHT so it does not move and you should be OK. Even a novice like myself can do it. If you get things too screwed up, it won't hurt to have an expert do a touch up to get things back in shape though...

 

[newcountry]

How often do chains need to be sharpened? I don't think I've got too many hours on my saw yet but it's not going through the logs like it did when I first got it.

And BTW, I've tried to start the saw w/o pushing the compression button-- not fun!!

 

[beenthere]

I touch up my chains with a stroke or two from the file before every fill of gas mix.
Avoid touching dirt (be it on the ground or in the bark of the log) at all costs. It quickly takes the edge off the tooth. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[jeffinsgf]

I have recently started the same habit as "beenthere". If I hit each tooth with three strokes of the file every time I fill it up, the saw always cuts the same way --- and that is, very well.

I use a German filing tool that holds two files. One file is the normal round file for the tooth. The second is a flat file that takes down the chip limiter a bit to compensate for the filing of the tooth. The device also has a guide that rests on top of the next tooth in the chain to help keep you aligned. Filing angle is the only thing left to chance, and there is a starting guide for that. I was never very good at hand filing until I found this gadget. Wouldn't be without it now.

EDIT: I went looking for something and found this file holder after having a similar experience to the first poster. I paid to have three chains ground and none of them would cut when I got them back. Decided to take control there and then.

 

[Egon]

Touching up a chain often will really extend its life. The dull chains get hot and lose temper.

If I'm ripping with the chain saw there are frequents stops to let things cool down.

Egon