Chain Saw Question

[FamilyFarm]

I'm no chain saw expert and hopefully the dealer knows best. I guess now that I think of it, the only time I have cut 2-3 inch stuff is when that is the size of the limbs on a tree that I have cut and I am trimming them. This rarely would put the same bind as a small, tall tree swaying around while being cut. It all still seems odd to me, maybe just because I have never experienced it - not even with my "trim" saw (an old very small Poulan in Sears trim).
Terry

 

[FamilyFarm]

I'm no chain saw expert and hopefully the dealer knows best. I guess now that I think of it, the only time I have cut 2-3 inch stuff is when that is the size of the limbs on a tree that I have cut and I am trimming them. This rarely would put the same bind as a small, tall tree swaying around while being cut. It all still seems odd to me, maybe just because I have never experienced it - not even with my "trim" saw (an old very small Poulan in Sears trim).
Terry

 

[copperhead1967]

I was reading this thread and was thinking the same thing your dealer told you. I only had 1 chain ever come off my saw and it was cutting a bunch of new growth off of a stump. Lots of 1 and 2 inch stuff. I'm no expert but I just read thru my Husquavarna manual and it specifically says to not cut small stuff and use a brush cutter as your dealer mentioned.
I own a Troy Built weed wacker that also has a brush attachment. I paid about $160 for it about two years ago. I used the brush attachment once or twice and it beats you up pretty good. When nibbling thru the saplings it wants to kick back alot. I have come up with a solution to my brush clearing. I just start up the Kubota and "tear stuff up" /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif I may want to invest in a skid plate though because I feel I've been lucky so far

 

[copperhead1967]

I was reading this thread and was thinking the same thing your dealer told you. I only had 1 chain ever come off my saw and it was cutting a bunch of new growth off of a stump. Lots of 1 and 2 inch stuff. I'm no expert but I just read thru my Husquavarna manual and it specifically says to not cut small stuff and use a brush cutter as your dealer mentioned.
I own a Troy Built weed wacker that also has a brush attachment. I paid about $160 for it about two years ago. I used the brush attachment once or twice and it beats you up pretty good. When nibbling thru the saplings it wants to kick back alot. I have come up with a solution to my brush clearing. I just start up the Kubota and "tear stuff up" /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif I may want to invest in a skid plate though because I feel I've been lucky so far

 

[Diesel_Boy]

i was sort of in the same situation at my place. lots of 2 to 3 inch stuff to remove in one area. without buying any more attachments, i managed to pull them out with my tractor. took a few tries to see what works best, but it pulls them out, root and all. i put a chain with slip hook around the very base of the tree. the chain is longer than the tree is tall. i found that the tree bends, and the chain tends to slide right up the trunk. then i tried wrapping the chain around the base 3 times before applying either the slip or grab hook, also having the chain cross over itself at least once. worked like a charm. now i just need some time to finish the job.

 

[Diesel_Boy]

i was sort of in the same situation at my place. lots of 2 to 3 inch stuff to remove in one area. without buying any more attachments, i managed to pull them out with my tractor. took a few tries to see what works best, but it pulls them out, root and all. i put a chain with slip hook around the very base of the tree. the chain is longer than the tree is tall. i found that the tree bends, and the chain tends to slide right up the trunk. then i tried wrapping the chain around the base 3 times before applying either the slip or grab hook, also having the chain cross over itself at least once. worked like a charm. now i just need some time to finish the job.

 

[AMR]

A lot has been mentioned and I too am no expert but I have cut a lot of stuff with my Stihl 026 pro. I have cut everything from grass and bryers to huge oaks with my saw, it has run in the dirt, into rocks, into nails on trees, been pinched, fallen out of trees, been dropped, kicked, started on fire for a few seconds, submerged while ice fishing once, you name it. I believe that that the problems you have deserve a new saw from the dealer, it just does not sound right. When you are cutting down trees a lot of the cutting is going to be limbs that are 0" and up. I think that the way your saw is acting is just not right and I would guess you have a lemon on your hands. When I go for a day cutting I find that I have to adjust my chain after the first few minutes and then maybe every tank of gas, in the 10 years I have run this saw I bet the chain has come off less than 10 times and mostly because I was lazy or abusing the saw somehow. I say ask for a new one.

 

[AMR]

A lot has been mentioned and I too am no expert but I have cut a lot of stuff with my Stihl 026 pro. I have cut everything from grass and bryers to huge oaks with my saw, it has run in the dirt, into rocks, into nails on trees, been pinched, fallen out of trees, been dropped, kicked, started on fire for a few seconds, submerged while ice fishing once, you name it. I believe that that the problems you have deserve a new saw from the dealer, it just does not sound right. When you are cutting down trees a lot of the cutting is going to be limbs that are 0" and up. I think that the way your saw is acting is just not right and I would guess you have a lemon on your hands. When I go for a day cutting I find that I have to adjust my chain after the first few minutes and then maybe every tank of gas, in the 10 years I have run this saw I bet the chain has come off less than 10 times and mostly because I was lazy or abusing the saw somehow. I say ask for a new one.

 

[proudestmonkey]

I am going to try to do what the dealer suggested with this new chain, cut from the bar closer to where it meets the body of the saw, and see if that helps. If it doesn't, I am going to ask them to give me a different saw. I don't know if I have a lemon, or if this particular saw is just not very good at the particular application. I may upgrade to something else.

When the dealer told me that this happens to anyone cutting what I am cutting, I told them that, while I like this saw better than the poulan, the poulan never once had a bent chain in the entire year I used it. They didn't have a response to that.

I should also point out that their response was not just from one guy, but from the sales guy, one of the owners and the mechanic. They were all curious about my issue, and seemed to have lots of experience with this kind of problem. They have a contract with the local city trimming department, and said that when they cut buckthorn, they use this saw, and they have the same kind of problems with the chain--it goes with the territory. I have no reason to disbelieve them, they've been very good to me in every other respect, so I didnt' get the feeling they were just trying to get me out the door.

On the other hand, I can't say I feel like I've really gotten anywhere with this issue. I would be inclined to say I am doing something wrong, but the dealer looked things over and confirmed that I am using the machine properly, including how I've been putting it back together. I also rechecked the manual for the chain and the saw to make sure the chain and bar are a match--they are. I have a feeling that the guide links in the chain are just not very strong. When I suggested using a stronger chain, the dealer basically said that will make things worse. What do I know. Like I said, I just know this didn't happen with my other saw, ever.

I plan to use the saw as suggested later this week. If the chain bends again as quickly as it has in the past (seems pretty likely), I plan to take the saw back to the dealer and either ask for something else, or get a refund. Even if this is "just what happens" when cutting buckthorn, the saw is mostly worthless to me in that case because that is 90% of the reason I bought it.

 

[proudestmonkey]

I am going to try to do what the dealer suggested with this new chain, cut from the bar closer to where it meets the body of the saw, and see if that helps. If it doesn't, I am going to ask them to give me a different saw. I don't know if I have a lemon, or if this particular saw is just not very good at the particular application. I may upgrade to something else.

When the dealer told me that this happens to anyone cutting what I am cutting, I told them that, while I like this saw better than the poulan, the poulan never once had a bent chain in the entire year I used it. They didn't have a response to that.

I should also point out that their response was not just from one guy, but from the sales guy, one of the owners and the mechanic. They were all curious about my issue, and seemed to have lots of experience with this kind of problem. They have a contract with the local city trimming department, and said that when they cut buckthorn, they use this saw, and they have the same kind of problems with the chain--it goes with the territory. I have no reason to disbelieve them, they've been very good to me in every other respect, so I didnt' get the feeling they were just trying to get me out the door.

On the other hand, I can't say I feel like I've really gotten anywhere with this issue. I would be inclined to say I am doing something wrong, but the dealer looked things over and confirmed that I am using the machine properly, including how I've been putting it back together. I also rechecked the manual for the chain and the saw to make sure the chain and bar are a match--they are. I have a feeling that the guide links in the chain are just not very strong. When I suggested using a stronger chain, the dealer basically said that will make things worse. What do I know. Like I said, I just know this didn't happen with my other saw, ever.

I plan to use the saw as suggested later this week. If the chain bends again as quickly as it has in the past (seems pretty likely), I plan to take the saw back to the dealer and either ask for something else, or get a refund. Even if this is "just what happens" when cutting buckthorn, the saw is mostly worthless to me in that case because that is 90% of the reason I bought it.