I have another thread about possibly upgrading but before I do, this saw has been pretty good to me. LN I went to dice up a tree I felled the other day and the saw just wasn't cutting. Turns out the noob that I am had chain on backwards, flipped the chain and thought I'd be back in business but I was still having issues, it wasn't cutting and I noticed no wood chips flying. Before long the saw was smoking a little so I stopped. Did a little a research and realized that I never file the rakers down on the chain since I got it, I just sharpen the teeth (I know what a noob) so I did and ran out this morning to see if corrected the problem which it made it better as I can clearly see wood chips flying creating a nice pile but something is still up with it. Saw seems to just get bogged down and chain won't spin. Did I just burn this guy out? Or maybe didn't file rakers down correctly and should replace the chain? Or could it be the clutch/sprocket needs replacing? Clearly was an improvement this AM with the rakers filed, thinking easy test would be a $20 new chain. Any thoughts or advice as always greatly appreciated, thanks fella's!
Yeah I may have again am a noob, tried to use my dang file kit guard but certainly could have botched the whole job up. Hoping maybe the quick fix could be a new chain!
Will do when I get home TN! Let me ask a quick question how often do you replace the chain? Is there a point where you can't file it any longer and you just need to replace the chain? It's 2yrs old, I've used it pretty good in those two years and have sharpened several times over that period.
There is normally a mark on the top plate of the chain that you use as a guide for your angle. I go to then normally. You can sharpen it pretty far.
Get a new chain. Your chain is messed up at this point. Sometimes when a chain is run backwards it mushrooms the drivers out some and then the chain will not ride smoothly through the groove in the bar. When you get your new chain compare it to your old one to see where you might be having some issues.
When you file the rakers too much, it will grab a lot and yes, to the point of stopping the chain. But that does not necessarily mean you have to replace the chain. Just don't be aggressive when sawing; that is, don't force the saw into the wood. Let it cut itself into the wood. It drives me nuts to watch folks forcing a saw. That danged thing is a tool you bought to saw work; let it do the work! It is sort of like a video I watched on youtube one time. A guy bought a hydraulic splitter and was showing off how great it was. Yet, he seemed to be working as hard as he probably did without the splitter! Amazing. People buy tools yet won't let the tool do what it is supposed to do. That said, of course it will do no harm to put another chain on it. But if you intend on buying another saw, why put out the dollars for a new chain on an old saw?
chain brake definitely isn't on it's cutting but just not very well. Still on the fence with replacing it, if a cheap chain fix does I'll keep for now but if it's much more to repair time to maybe move on
Where is the smoke coming from? Be a good idea to pull muffler and look at piston/ring. Does rope pull feel as hard to pull as before?
I couldn't really zero in on where it was and wasn't paying much attention I just stopped. Rope still feels like it's not gripping and it's slipping I have to pull it pretty slow for it to catch and fire her up! Thinking I wore this out, looks a little worn.
Maybe pulley fingers are worn enough to barely grab pawls, so you might not be able to tell compression changes from rope. If saw is harder to start, acts boggy, stumbles on throttle up - when it did not last week - gotta think about decreased compression - scoring. Pull the muffler and post pics.
This is pretty much my thoughts as well. And if you take the rakers down too much, go buck up some wood and eventually you'll catch up to them.
Look at the nose sprocket for damage and make sure the chain pulls around easily by hand before you start it. Remember to pull the chain in the same direction that it runs if you don't and you slip you could be taking a trip.....
