Chainsaw Clutch worn or too much rakers removed?

[CobyRupert]

Recently when I cutting through a log, the chain will bite/stall (slip the clutch), until I back the bar off and get the rpms wound up again.

How can I tell if I've taken down the rakers too much or if my clutch is worn (slipping too much)? Perhaps wait until I've sharpened (lowered) the cutter and see if it still slips?

I have a '97 Husky 55. Been a great saw. I switched it to the bigger 3/8" pitch chain a few years back and it became twice the saw that it was, with no problems turning the bigger chain.

Most of the time I'm sawing 12" diameter or smaller fire wood, except for the few cuts one makes on the trunk of something bigger.

I hand file, and after a few sharpenings when I see the cutters getting shorter I'll take the rakers down with a dremmel. (Also I use a straight edge to see how they compare to the cutters.) Being impatient, I only want to spend time taking down the rakers as few times as possible, so maybe I tend to take off more than I should knowing that with a few future sharpenings, the cutters height will get back to normal as compared to the rakers.

 

[motownbrowne]

That is a normal operating feature of the saw. You can pretty much bog down any saw with a sharp chain if you are levering on the handle. Whether it's bogging down to easily is hard to say from what we know. Maybe go buy a new chain for it and try that out. If the saw is sharp, you shouldn't have to lever on it much and it shouldn't have much trouble keeping it's RPMs up.

 

[jpm1]

Sounds to me that you got a good grind on your chain this time. Its just "hogging in" i like it when my chains do that!. Im a professional firewood cutter and cut a lot of it either with a chainsaw or processor. I do all of our chain sharpening with a grinder. Usually from 6 to 30 chains a week. Very seldom do i cut the rakers down in the chains early life, usually after the cutter is about 50 percent, then i will take it down about .030 below the sharpened cutter. On frozen timber, which it is now, i'll cut them way down, just have to hold the saw back a little, you get a big chip that way. If you can , take a picture of a couple of cutters on your chain and send me a PM, i might be able to see whats going on .. . Good luck , John

 

[kenmac]

I have a 55 . If your 55 has a 20'' bar/chain it will bog with a sharp chain especially if you grind down the rakers like I tend to do. mine does. If you have a 20'' bar/chain try an 18'' .. I upgraded to a husky 372xp and haven't had any bog down issues

 

[CobyRupert]

Yes, I definitely noticed it more when I took the rakers down, but was wondering how does one know if the clutch is worn?

 

[yomax4]

You will know if it's the clutch because it will wind up the RPM's but the chain hardly moves.. The clutch pads can expand a quite a bit and it takes a boat load of cutting to wear out a clutch. Oil in the clutch is a different story..I spray my clutches with a little solvent every time I pull the cover off.

 

[TomSeller]

it takes a boat load of cutting to wear out a clutch. .

Then I am glad I never cut up a load of boats.

 

[94BULLITT]

You need one of these to file the rakers properly.

Depth Gauge Tools - Chain Saw Accessories | STIHL USA Mobile

 

[CobyRupert]

You need one of these to file the rakers properly.

Depth Gauge Tools - Chain Saw Accessories | STIHL USA Mobile

Hmmm. Will check these out. Thanks.

 

[94BULLITT]

Hmmm. Will check these out. Thanks.

Lowes carries the Oregon brand depth gauge.