After cutting yesterday i noticed a broken tooth on the 261 (20" Carlton chain). Went to sharpen the 14" chain(Stihl) on the 201 and two teeth broken off. Ive had this happen on old well filed down chains but these had a lot of meat. Anyone else experience this?
Growing up we’d use dead standing locust for fence posts in our pastures. Many are still there! But it was the hardest wood I’ve ever had the displeasure of using. We had a homelite chainsaw back then. The dead standing locust would destroy the chains in short order. I stay away from dead standing locust to this day cause of those experiences.
It’s unusual, but I’d say the amount you are filling out of the gullet is contributing to the failures. Wicked hook on some of those teeth
Ive noticed that recently on some of my sharpenings. I put the 5/32 file in an old guide when i sharpened the 201 earlier. I normally freehand with the file and no guide. A couple of my my 3/8 chains were aggresively sharpened by the prior owner and i just it kept it going. I may switch back to guide to lessen this or just start using my Harbor Freight dremel to sharpen. I havent sharpened the 261 and maybe ill use the dremel. Have you ever cut dead BL Chud ?
I have, but it’s not common. Locust is an uncommon tree for me. Someone recently mentioned sparks and I do recall seeing sparks. Use a bigger file to get the hook out. Focus on force towards the tooth. Rarely is any downforce required.
I was going to say the same thing. Those hooks are so deep, it might be best just to take a flat bastard file and file the hooks back quite a bit, then round file and create a mild C to get the chain back right, and then check the rakers.
I have a couple of chains that have that "hook" . Im almost sure it was caused by me using 3/8 files instead of 7/32. BUT I myself have lost a couple teeth off sawchains in the last couple years, and that was cutting conifers. I believe that there has been some QC issues with alot of sawchains here lately.
I've had teeth broken/ chipped several times while cutting BL. Once it was a new chain. Don't know if it was a bad chain or what. I'm usually pretty good with avoiding the ground, so I don't think that's the cause. I pretty much count on the chain being junk if I cut LOTs of dead BL.
Definitely not normal and I personally don't see any issue with your gullet filing. I keep em clear like that and have never broken off a cutter, that I can remember. And I've hit some nasty high tensile wire in apple trees and hardened screws while milling.
I use 3/16 on the .325 chain. I think im pushing to deep making a bigger gullet. I may switch to a larger file to lessen this. I agree with the QC as chains in question are Stihl. The 20" chain was Carlton.
I use the Husqvarna file roller on .325. It’s difficult to keep hook out with 3/16. I could be wrong, but I think someone sells a slightly bigger 3/16. Nicking the straps is one thing, but getting near the rivet is another level of deep
You need to actually lift the file up into the tooth as you file, rather than push straight back. If you think about it, the added steel of your top plate is trying to prevent the file from going up into it, so it naturally pushes the file down and you need to counter that. And then once the tooth is sharp the way you like it, make a few more passes down towards the tie straps and remove the gullet in a separate operation. Files are always smaller than the height of the chain in order to give you some hook, so you need to make a few more swipes down low. This is what gets a lot of people in trouble with the cheaper grinders that only use the thin wheels. They take one swipe straight down to the tie straps, which makes their cutter look like an angled J, rather than a C
