In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Chain Sharpening Issues

Discussion in 'Chainsaws and Power Equipment' started by firecracker_77, Apr 21, 2014.

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  1. firecracker_77

    firecracker_77

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    I just sharpened my chain with the electric sharpener. Saw seems to be pulling to the left and is not cutting impressively. Are the cutters uneven? Do I need to file the rakers? I'm lost here.

    I did not file the rakers but sharpened all the cutters.
     
    firecracker_77, Apr 21, 2014
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  2. firecracker_77

    firecracker_77

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    Bar was smoking like crazy and chain wasn't too tight and oil was topped off. I'm thinking it's the rakers dragging in the wood. I am confused and was hoping for a much better maiden voyage on this initial cutting with an electric sharpener. :confused:
     
    firecracker_77, Apr 21, 2014
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  3. Sinngetreu

    Sinngetreu

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    It not cutting, I could see the raker's being a problem, but I'm not sure that would make it pull to one side. That's usually uneven teeth.
    Is the bar cleaned out good? Did you flip the bar? Is the oil holes in the bar clear? Is the oil port clear? Did you grease the sprocket? Is the bar bent at all?
     
    Sinngetreu, Apr 21, 2014
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  4. mdavlee

    mdavlee

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    Check raker height and then angles and tooth length on each side.
     
    mdavlee, Apr 21, 2014
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  5. w8ye

    w8ye

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    You're different from one side to the other
     
    w8ye, Apr 21, 2014
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  6. firecracker_77

    firecracker_77

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    If that's the case, I'm going to stop and let a friend inspect my work. He's been sharpening a long time. Maybe I'll take the rakers down a bit and try cutting again in the morning. These chains are $33 a piece. No need to get too stupid with 'em
     
    firecracker_77, Apr 21, 2014
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  7. mdavlee

    mdavlee

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    Holy cow that's high for a chain. What is it a 32" loop?
     
    mdavlee, Apr 21, 2014
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  8. Sinngetreu

    Sinngetreu

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    Good idea. I'm sure there's a learning curve to the sharpener.
     
    Sinngetreu, Apr 21, 2014
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  9. firecracker_77

    firecracker_77

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    Just went through and filed all the rakers. Not sure if I did it right, but there's much more bite to this now. We'll see if it helps. Maybe when I sharpened the cutters, I had to take some raker off.
     
    firecracker_77, Apr 21, 2014
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  10. Sinngetreu

    Sinngetreu

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    I usually touch up the rakers every third sharpening. But that's with a hand file.
     
    Sinngetreu, Apr 21, 2014
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  11. Guido Salvage

    Guido Salvage

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    The farther back you file/grind a cutter the lower it gets. Consequently, you need to take down the rakers in order for each tooth to get a "bite". Pulling to one side can be caused by uneven cutters, a narrower gauge chain than what the bar takes or a bar that needs the rails dressed.
     
    Guido Salvage, Apr 21, 2014
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  12. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    You can use a small crescent wrench to check and see if the cutters are all the same length.
     
    MasterMech, Apr 21, 2014
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  13. DexterDay

    DexterDay Administrator

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    Or for $9 you can buy a cheap vernier caliper on eBay. I've bought 2 now. Had one in the garage. But needed a second for the basement shop.

    As to Firecrackers chain. It's likely a combination of both. The raker height and tooth length side to side.
     
    DexterDay, Apr 21, 2014
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  14. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    I just noticed my local HF has the 6" digital caliper on sale for $9.99. They do pretty good for chain measuring purposes.
     
    MasterMech, Apr 21, 2014
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  15. DexterDay

    DexterDay Administrator

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    Yep. I seen that ad Yesterday and ordered my second one. They are cheaper on the Bay. Not by much, but it's still a US seller. They are cheaper overseas, but take about 2-3 weeks.
     
    DexterDay, Apr 21, 2014
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  16. firecracker_77

    firecracker_77

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    I'm itching to go do a late night test on the chain. LOL! I'm going to learn this. It's that important.
     
    firecracker_77, Apr 21, 2014
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  17. DexterDay

    DexterDay Administrator

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    Some things are that important! :)

    But honestly, for less than $9 you can have a caliper from Chin/Jap, in about 2 weeks

    Also, do you own a Raker measuring tool? One comes in almost any good sharpening kit. Still provides a very good tool in each of their kits.
     
    DexterDay, Apr 21, 2014
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  18. firecracker_77

    firecracker_77

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    Honestly...I just used the grinding disc and shaved a bit off each raker. It was not at all precise. I'm going to try it out tonight.
     
    firecracker_77, Apr 21, 2014
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  19. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    Come to the G2G. Plenty of us there will be able to give you the basics.
     
    MasterMech, Apr 21, 2014
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  20. firecracker_77

    firecracker_77

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    That's a good topic. Chain grinding 101

    Is that before or after the drinking begins? :D
     
    firecracker_77, Apr 21, 2014
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