How do you know when the clutch is bad?

Although you may have a point Fred. Now that you mention it, when I was bucking Sunday I noticed that it was more likely to bog when I'd cut at the far end of the bar. If I had the dogs right up against a log 20" log I could bust right through, but if I was reaching and cutting towards the tip on the same log, it would bog down some.

 

I wondered about that since I grew up using Stihls that like to chug along at lower RPM's. But since then I've gotten used to using my 550xp, so I know how to let the high RPM's do the cutting with mild pressure.

 

Bent bar tip maybe?

 

He's getting similar results on two bars though (20 & 28"). Seems odd that two bars would produce the same issue.

 

True. Might just be the way it's biting the wood when he starts a cut.